HP Virtual Connect Multi-Enclosure Stacking Reference Guide

11
Modules (including FlexFabric Modules) must be interconnected via stacking links. It is also highly recommended to have
at least one level of redundancy in the stacking links, meaning that you could lose any one stacking cable and still have
connectivity from any VC Ethernet module to any other VC Ethernet module in the domain over the remaining stacking
links.
The following examples represent a “dual-ring” topology: the VC Ethernet modules are connected as if they formed 2
rings, one with the left-side modules, one with the right-side modules. Each ring follows the rules laid out above
(connectivity from any module to any other even after failure of one stacking cable) independently of the other.
Virtual Connect firmware upgrades
The stacking topology is important in the scenario of a VC firmware upgrade: by default the Virtual Connect Support
Utility (VCSU) which is used for firmware upgrades activates the new firmware on all the modules on one side in parallel
by rebooting them, and then all the modules on the other side after the first side have come back up. Consider a single-
ring topology such as this picture with 3 enclosures which has been recommended in the past:
Enclosure
UID
Enclosure Interlink
PS
3
PS
2
PS
1
PS
6
PS
5
PS
4
OA1 OA2
Remove management modules before ejecting sleeve
FAN
6
FAN
10
FAN
1
FAN
5
2
1
3
5
7
4
6
8
UID
X1
HP VC Flex-10 Enet Module
X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 X6
SHARED
X7 X8
SHARED: UPLINK or X-LINK
UID
Active
Reset
OA/iLO
UID
X1
HP VC Flex-10 Enet Module
X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 X6
SHARED
X7 X8
SHARED: UPLINK or X-LINK
UID
Active
Reset
OA/iLO
Enclosure
UID
Enclosure Interlink
PS
3
PS
2
PS
1
PS
6
PS
5
PS
4
OA1 OA2
Remove management modules before ejecting sleeve
FAN
6
FAN
10
FAN
1
FAN
5
2
1
3
5
7
4
6
8
UID
X1
HP VC Flex-10 Enet Module
X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 X6
SHARED
X7 X8
SHARED: UPLINK or X-LINK
UID
Active
Reset
OA/iLO
UID
X1
HP VC Flex-10 Enet Module
X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 X6
SHARED
X7 X8
SHARED: UPLINK or X-LINK
UID
Active
Reset
OA/iLO
Master Enclosure
Enclosure ID enc2
Enclosure
UID
Enclosure Interlink
PS
3
PS
2
PS
1
PS
6
PS
5
PS
4
OA1 OA2
Remove management modules before ejecting sleeve
FAN
6
FAN
10
FAN
1
FAN
5
2
1
3
5
7
4
6
8
UID
X1
HP VC Flex-10 Enet Module
X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 X6
SHARED
X7 X8
SHARED: UPLINK or X-LINK
UID
Active
Reset
OA/iLO
UID
X1
HP VC Flex-10 Enet Module
X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 X6
SHARED
X7 X8
SHARED: UPLINK or X-LINK
UID
Active
Reset
OA/iLO
Base Enclosure
Enclosure ID enc0
Enclosure ID enc1
Uplink Ports
Uplink Ports
NOT RECOMMENDED