Dell AX4-5 User Manual

Page 13

Introduction

Gigabit Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet provides the following network connections, depending on

your configuration:

• Public connection from the server modules to the public network
• Private node-to-node connection between the server modules for the

private network

• iSCSI connection between the server modules and storage system(s). For

The server modules include two integrated Gigabit Ethernet network

interface cards (NICs). You must configure at least two networks for each

PowerEdge cluster solution. One cluster network is configured for heartbeat

communications (private network) and is only accessible to the server

modules in the cluster. The other cluster network is configured for the client

network (public network) and is accessible to client systems. It is

recommended that you configure the same network interface on each node

for the same role in the cluster. For example, you can use the two integrated

NICs to provide the private and public cluster networks. Such a configuration

allows an expansion card in the server module to provide the I/O interface for

the shared storage system(s) in the cluster. Use a Gigabit Ethernet expansion

card for iSCSI shared storage systems and use a Fibre Channel expansion card

for Fibre Channel shared storage systems. For more information about iSCSI

Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module
The Gigabit Ethernet switch module provides a switched connection to the

integrated NICs on each server module. Using the internal connections in the

system chassis, the Gigabit Ethernet switch module can be used to provide

the following configurations:

• A switched connection to the client network (public network).
• Network connection to one or more server modules in the Cluster

configuration (private network).

• iSCSI connection between the server modules and storage system(s). For

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