ProLiant BL p-Class Interconnect Overview - White Paper

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ProLiant BL p-Class interconnects
All network signals from the server bays are routed to the interconnect bays. HP offers four ProLiant BL
p-Class interconnect options that allow customers to choose how the networking and storage signals
exit the server blade enclosure. These interconnect options include two ProLiant RJ-45 patch panel kits
and two ProLiant GbE interconnect kits.
The two patch panel kits provide pass-through of network signals (RJ-45 Patch Panel Kit) or network
and storage signals (RJ-45 Patch Panel 2 Kit), thus giving customers the flexibility to choose the
switches they prefer. Alternatively, the two GbE interconnect kit options provide different levels of
Ethernet switching functionality and Fibre Channel signal pass-through. In general, customers should
choose the appropriate interconnect option based on the following criteria:
• The RJ-45 Patch Panel Kit provides Ethernet signal pass-through only.
• The RJ-45 Patch Panel 2 Kit provides both Ethernet and BL20p G2 Fibre Channel signal pass-
through.
• The GbE Interconnect Kit consolidates 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet NIC signals.
• The GbE2 Interconnect Kit provides consolidation of 1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet NIC signals,
advanced network capabilities, and BL20p G2 Fibre Channel signal pass-through.
Figure 4 contains an interconnect decision chart to assist customers in choosing the specific
interconnect kit and its orderable part number.
Figure 4. Interconnect decision chart