Technical white paper Networking flexibility in HP ProLiant servers with FlexibleLOM technology Table of contents Introduction 2 FlexibleLOM for rack mount servers 2 FlexibleLOM for blades 4 Conclusion 5 For more information 5
Introduction Servers with a NIC embedded on the system board are referred to as using LAN-on-motherboard (LOM) architecture. LOM architecture results in an efficient system design that does not require an add-on option for network functionality. Servers with LOM architectures offer optimum cost-to-performance solutions—if the NICs embedded on the server’s system board meet your specific network requirements. However, the “one size fits all” LOM strategy can create issues.
Figure 2 shows a FlexibleLOM adapter for an HP rack mount server. The adapter connects to (and in the same plane as) the system board and is secured to the chassis floor with a captive thumbscrew. As with traditional LOM implementations, the adapter’s network connectors are accessible through the rear panel of the server chassis. Figure 2: This illustration shows the installation of a FlexibleLOM adapter in an HP rack-mount server.
FlexibleLOM for blades FlexibleLOM technology for HP blade servers provides customers with the same NIC flexibility that customers of rackmount ProLiant servers have. The FlexibleLOM adapter for blades installs as a daughter card on the server blade board (Figure 4). Figure 4: This illustration shows the FlexibleLOM adapter for an HP BL460c server blade with the side cover removed.
Conclusion FlexibleLOM technology offers customers of select ProLiant servers the flexibility to choose bandwidth speed and fabric type. HP ProLiant servers can be preconfigured with the FlexibleLOM card that best meets your network requirements or, if you prefer, no card at all. You can preconfigure during the configure-to-order (CTO) or build-to-order (BTO) process, or through the HP iQuote channel sales service.
