Virtual Connect domain

[David Billot]

The VC Manager (and a VC domain) does not support more than one enclosure today. [Updated on 4/4/2008 12:26 PM]

[Yury Magalif]

Does anyone know if: 1. In VC firmware 1.21 can you have 2 enclosures in 1 VC domain using the "Add Enclosure" button? 2. If not, is the above in #1 possible with VC firmware 1.22? 3. If not, is the above in #1 possible with VC Enterprise Manager v1.0, or only 2 domains, managed together, is possible? 4. Will VC detect and use Stacking Links between 2 enclosures in Question 1,2, and 3 above? 5. If none of Questions 1-4 are currently possible, when/what firmware are those functionalities planned for? 6. If planned, will multiple enclosures in 1 domain and Stacking Links between multiple enclosures be available through VC Manager, or ONLY through VC Enterprise Manager? 7. As of April-5-08, ONLY VC firmware v1.21 is on the VC and individual blade web pages. Release notes for v1.21 state that it IS compatible with VC Ent Manager. However, on VC Ent Manager web page it says that ONLY v1.22 is compatible with VC Ent Manager, and there is a link to it. This is NOT the first time there is such confusion in VC firmware. Which one should we believe, and when will v1.22 be released on official VC pages?

[David Billot]

1. In VC firmware 1.21 can you have 2 enclosures in 1 VC domain using the "Add Enclosure" button? No, version 1.2x only supports single enclosure VC domains. 2. If not, is the above in #1 possible with VC firmware 1.22? No, version 1.2x only supports single enclosure VC domains. 3. If not, is the above in #1 possible with VC Enterprise Manager v1.0, or only 2 domains, managed together, is possible? VCEM does not provide VC domain stacking either. What VCEM does allow is for individual VC domains (single enclosure today) to share the same pool of MAC and WWN addresses, as well as provides the ability to move Server Profiles from one enclosure to another as long as they belong in the same VC Domain Group within VCEM. 4. Will VC detect and use Stacking Links between 2 enclosures in Question 1,2, and 3 above? No. VC will treat "spanned" enclosure connections just as it does a connection to an upstream switch. Each enclosure will remain in separate VC domains. 5. If none of Questions 1-4 are currently possible, when/what firmware are those functionalities planned for? HP does not disclose future product featues before they are announced. 6. If planned, will multiple enclosures in 1 domain and Stacking Links between multiple enclosures be available through VC Manager, or ONLY through VC Enterprise Manager? HP does not disclose future product featues before they are announced. 7. As of April-5-08, ONLY VC firmware v1.21 is on the VC and individual blade web pages. Release notes for v1.21 state that it IS compatible with VC Ent Manager. However, on VC Ent Manager web page it says that ONLY v1.22 is compatible with VC Ent Manager, and there is a link to it. This is NOT the first time there is such confusion in VC firmware. VC firmware 1.22 was a VCEM only release which is why it only appears on the VCEM product page (www.hp.com/go/vcem). Non VCEM environments should be running the VC firmware stated on the VC product pages - www.hp.com/go/bladesystemupdates However, we just released VC firmware 1.24 and thus we no longer require the separate firmware revisions. Look for the 1.22 firmware link to be updated on the www.hp.com/go/vcem page shortly. Thanks, Dave [Updated on 4/4/2008 12:26 PM]