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Multiple networks link speed settings, Mac cache failover – HP 1.10GB Virtual Connect Ethernet Module for c-Class BladeSystem User Manual

Page 87

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Virtual Connect networks 87

CAUTION:

After Expanded VLAN Capacity mode is configured, you must delete the VC domain

to return to Legacy VLAN Capacity mode.

IMPORTANT:

Expanded VLAN Capacity mode is not supported on the following VC Ethernet

modules:

HP 1/10Gb VC-Enet Module

HP 1/10Gb-F VC-Enet Module

If these modules are inserted into an enclosure that is in Expanded VLAN Capacity mode, they are

marked as incompatible.

Multiple Networks Link Speed Settings

When using mapped VLAN tags (multiple networks over a single link), these settings are used for the overall

link speed control. Select the checkbox next to each item to set the value.
These settings affect only newly created profiles.
To change these settings:

1.

Click the selection box, and then select a setting (100Mb to 10Gb):

o

Set preferred connection speed. This value is the default speed for server profile connections
mapped to this network. The server administrator can override this setting on an individual profile

connection.

o

Set maximum connection speed. This value is the maximum speed for server profile connections
mapped to this network.

2.

Click Apply.

Virtual Connect can only control link speed for Flex-10 NICs when they are connected to an HP Virtual

Connect Flex-10 Module. Virtual Connect cannot control the link speed of traditional NICs. For more
information, see "Flex-10 overview (on page

124

)."

IMPORTANT:

Each FlexNIC and FlexHBA is recognized by the server as a PCIe physical function

device with adjustable speeds from 100Mb to 10Gb in 100Mb increments when connected to an

NC553i/m 10Gb 2-port FlexFabric Converged Network Adapter or any Flex-10 NIC. For

NC551i/m Dual Port FlexFabric 10Gb Converged Network Adapters, the range is limited to
1Gb to 10Gb in 100Mb increments.

MAC Cache Failover

When a VC-Enet uplink that was previously in standby mode becomes active, external Ethernet switches can
take several minutes to recognize that the c-Class server blades can now be reached on this newly active

connection. Enabling Fast MAC Cache Failover causes Virtual Connect to transmit Ethernet packets on newly

active links, which enables the external Ethernet switches to identify the new connection and update their

MAC caches appropriately. This transmission sequence repeats a few times at the MAC refresh interval (HP
recommends 5 seconds) and completes in about 1 minute.
Virtual Connect only transmits MAC Cache update frames on VLANs that have been configured in the VC

domain. The update frames are VLAN tagged appropriately for networks defined on shared uplink sets. For

dedicated networks, only untagged update frames are generated, regardless of whether or not VLAN
Tunneling is enabled. In a VLAN tunnel, all customer VLAN tags pass through Virtual Connect transparently.

Virtual Connect does not examine nor record VLAN tag information in tunneled networks; therefore, it cannot

generate tagged update frames.