Migrate VC-Enet to 10GbE Pass-Thru

[Lefty]

Hello all,

Would appreciate input and advice on following:

Change VC-Enet modules on our C7000 Enclosure to HP 10 GbE Pass-Through.


Current setup (see attachment):
We have a Procurve Switch with two trunks, on trunk to each VC-Enet module.

The servers (BL460 G6) are running ESXi 4.1. The switch will be replaced to two 10 GbE switches and the pass-through connects with SFP+ copper. One NIC port to each switch for redundancy.

Old BL480 servers will be removed.


I have read the 10GbE Pass-Thru User Guide, but I still have some questions (since I have never seen this solution):


1) Can I manage (firmware upgrade, Pass-Thru module through OA? Or is it only SSH/Telnet?

2) How would you do the migration i general? Example: Replace C7000-modules first and reconfigure current switch. Then replace the core switches? Or change both modules and switch at the same service window?

3) How will Server Profiles be affected? Can I expect to define two ports per server, one per core switch?


Hope I explained this properly... if not I can explain some more! :)

Thank you in advance.

BR

Lefty

[David Claypool]

Pass-through is exactly that. There will be no profiles.

[JKytsi]

Might be quite hard...

1) Front panel or OA access for service and test and firmware updates

2) Big ?

3)You can't make settings/profiles/VLANs to pass-through --> those has to be made in ESX

Did You think how your ESX will connect SAN after this ?

[Lefty]

Ok, thanks guys for your input!

Jarkko, we are keeping FC-modules and replacing the VC ENET units only. FC-modules are connected to an EVA 4400. They should be able to keep their server profile for FC-modules and I configure networking in ESX?

[JKytsi]

That is HUGE problem. VC-FC modules do not work without VC-ENET modules!

[Lefty]

I see.

Can we move vc-modules to an empty slot and keep them there so we can still continue to use the FC-modules?

Appreciate your input.

Sorry for all questions, but I was not involved in the tech pre-sale. And I cannot find any good information.

Thanks

/Lefty

[JKytsi · Accepted solution]

No, VC modules must be in slot 1 & 2. Flex-10 modules can be anywhere with latest firmware.

[Lefty]

Thanks a bunch, appreciate the input!

We have discussed Flex-10 since we want to utilize the 10 GbE NIC's on our BL460c G6 blades. With current setup we only get 1+1 Gb per blade server which is not optimal.

If I understand this situation correctly we have following options:

1) Buy flex-10 modules to replace VC-ENET AND keep VC-FC modules. (or is VC-ENET still required even with flex-10?)

2) Buy 10 GbE Pass-Thru AND 4GB FC-passthrough.

3) Buy more 1/10 GB VC-ENET modules and add a dual/quad card. (The 10 GB NICs will still operate at 1 GB but we will have more NICs)

Any corrections or other options available?


Thanks!

[JKytsi]

Thanks a bunch, appreciate the input!

We have discussed Flex-10 since we want to utilize the 10 GbE NIC's on our BL460c G6 blades. With current setup we only get 1+1 Gb per blade server which is not optimal.

1) Possible. Flex-10 does not need VC-Enet module, it's the updated version of the first VC-ENET. 8 NICs per G6, internal vMotion network.

2) Possible, only 2 NICs per G6 and lots of cabeling. ESX vMotion needs external switch to operate

3) Possible, maybe easiest to implement as You can use previous Virtual Connect domain configuration and link new modules to it. Only 1Gb performance, internal vMotion network.

[Lefty]

Oki, thanks.

I have sent this back to our reseller. Let's see how this will be solved.