HP 1.10GB Virtual Connect Ethernet Module for c-Class BladeSystem - Manual (Page 103)

Server management 103
For multiple enclosures, FC bay groups will support FlexFabric modules similar to existing VC-FC modules.
FlexFabric module bay groups cannot contain any other type of VC-FC module, and any other VC-FC bay
group cannot contain a FlexFabric module. These module types are incompatible in the same bay group.
When an available port is used for Ethernet, it is no longer available for FC configuration, and vice-versa.
Likewise, a port that is removed from a network or fabric becomes available for configuration of another
network or fabric.
The FlexFabric VC module requirements also imply some additional constraints with current VC FC
requirements for bay groups. When a network is configured on a FlexFabric module using FC-capable ports,
those ports across the bay group are configured as Ethernet ports, becoming unavailable for FC. The similar
case applies when selecting the port type as FC.
There is a limitation on the NC551i LOM and the NC551m mezzanine card. FCoE and iSCSI connections
are not supported on the same adapter at the same time. By default, if a FlexFabric module is found in the
enclosure, FCoE connections are created for each server profile. If you do not wish to configure FCoE
connections, delete the default connections to allow the ports to be used for other connections, such as iSCSI.
To delete the connections, right-click the connection, and then select Delete Connection.
There are additional limitations with the supported LOMs and mezzanine cards that support FlexFabric
configurations. Both FCoE boot and PXE can be configured on the same port with the NC551i LOM and the
NC551m mezzanine card on different physical functions. Alternatively, iSCSI and PXE can be configured on
the same port. Only one PF can be configured for FCoE on a port.
When configuring FCoE connections, the port speed can be set to 1Gb, 2Gb, 4Gb, 8Gb, custom, or
disabled. The port speed is limited to a total of 10Gb, which must be shared between all defined connections
for that port. The custom speed allows you to better control the bandwidth between FC and Ethernet
connections. Valid custom speeds can be between 100Mb and 10Gb, in 100Mb increments. After all
connections are defined for a port, the actual allocated bandwidth will be calculated by VC Manager. For
bandwidth information see “Bandwidth Assignment (on page 107 )."
Upgrading or removing an HP Virtual Connect Flex-10 Module or
HP Virtual Connect FlexFabric Module
Upgrading an enclosure to Flex-10 or FlexFabric support or removing Flex-10 support requires several steps,
depending on the starting configuration.
Replacing a Virtual Connect Ethernet Module with an HP Virtual Connect Flex-10 Module or HP FlexFabric
Module in a horizontally adjacent bay pair hosting VC Manager (the horizontal bays housing primary
and/or standby modules)
CAUTION: Replacing the primary/standby bay pair modules with modules of a different type
requires the creation of a new VC domain, creating the probability that VC managed identifiers
(MAC, WWN, and Serial Numbers) could be assigned to different server ports or slots from the
original VC domain.
1. Upgrade the VC domain firmware to v3.15 or higher.
2. Delete the domain.
3. Remove all network uplinks from the modules to be removed.
4. Remove the existing non-Flex-10 or non-FlexFabric modules from both horizontally adjacent bays.
5. Install the HP Virtual Connect Flex-10 Modules or FlexFabric Modules.