Virtual Connect (VC Flex-10 Interconnect Module) uplink port

[chuckk281]

Hyun had a Virtual Connect question:

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If customer wants to connect directly it’s server with NIC into VC uplink ports in order to communicate each other.

Is it possible or not?

In my humble opinion, only if server with NIC supports vLAN tagging, we could connect it directly into uplink ports, I think.

And I have also verified that many NIC adapters support vLAN tagging.

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From Robert:

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It is absolutely possible.  I have used this in testing many times.  You are correct that the nic needs to be configured to match the type of VC network.  I would not try to use multiple vlans with tagging between the external server and the blade servers.   If it is not a SUS or a tunneled network, the external server must be in the same network address space (same untagged vlan) as the VC network. 

Keep in mind that the VC uplink port that the server is connected to must be the only port in that VC network.

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And input from Vincent:

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And also keep in mind that the server in question will be able to communicate with the blade servers in the VC domain, but with nothing else. It will need another NIC going elsewhere to communicate with anything outside the blade enclosure.

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Other comments or questions?