HP 1.10GB Virtual Connect Ethernet Module for c-Class BladeSystem - Manual (Page 9)

Overview 9
Overview
Virtual Connect overview
Virtual Connect is a set of interconnect modules and embedded software for HP BladeSystem c-Class
enclosures that simplifies the setup and administration of server connections. HP Virtual Connect includes the
following components:
• HP 1/10Gb Virtual Connect Ethernet Module for c-Class BladeSystem
• HP 1/10Gb-F Virtual Connect Ethernet Module for the c-Class BladeSystem
• HP Virtual Connect Flex-10 10Gb Ethernet Module for BladeSystem c-Class
• HP Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-Port Module for BladeSystem c-Class
• HP 4Gb Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Module for c-Class BladeSystem
• HP Virtual Connect 4Gb Fibre Channel Module for BladeSystem c-Class (enhanced NPIV)
• HP Virtual Connect 8Gb 24-Port Fibre Channel Module for BladeSystem c-Class
• HP Virtual Connect 8Gb 20-Port Fibre Channel Module for BladeSystem c-Class
• HP Virtual Connect Manager
NOTE: HP Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-port Module FCoE support for HP Integrity
BL8x0c i2 Series Server Blades with HP NC551m FlexFabric Converged Network Adapters will
be available in the Virtual Connect 3.17 release.
Virtual Connect implements server edge virtualization so that server administrators can upgrade, replace, or
move server blades within their enclosures without changes being visible to the external LAN and SAN
environments.
The Virtual Connect Manager is embedded on the Virtual Connect Ethernet or FlexFabric module. Users
access VCM through a web-based GUI or CLI. The Onboard Administrator provides a web link to the Virtual
Connect GUI. Use an SSH session to establish a console connection to the CLI.
The Virtual Connect modules support the HP BladeSystem c7000 Enclosure, the HP BladeSystem c3000
Enclosure, and all the server blades and networks contained within the enclosure. Virtual Connect FlexFabric
modules are only supported in BladeSystem c7000 enclosures with Virtual Connect firmware v3.15 and
higher.
The Virtual Connect Ethernet and FlexFabric modules enable connection to all brands of data center Ethernet
switches.
The Virtual Connect Ethernet and FlexFabric modules can also be connected to other devices, such as
printers, laptops, rack servers, and storage devices. To connect to devices other than switches, create a VC
network for that device and only connect uplinks for that network to that device. If you connect uplinks from
that network to other devices, one of the uplinks becomes standby due to the loop avoidance algorithm.
The Virtual Connect FC and FlexFabric modules enable connection of the enclosure to Brocade, Cisco,
McDATA, or QLogic data center Fibre Channel switches, but the modules do not appear as switches to the
Fibre Channel fabric.