HP Virtual Connect for c-Class BladeSystem Version 3.00 Setup and Installation Guide for HP Integrity BL8x0c i2 Series Server Blades, Fifth Edition

Installation 59
• External uplink ports within an uplink port set can be on the same for HP Integrity BL8x0c i2 Series
Server Blades or on multiple for HP Integrity BL8x0c i2 Series Server Bladess within the Virtual
Connect domain.
• Cables can be connected to one or more data center Ethernet switches.
• When multiple external uplink ports are used for the same network, the for HP Integrity BL8x0c i2
Series Server Bladess provide automatic loop prevention by allowing for a single active link or link
set at any one time.
• The Virtual Connect system automatically chooses the uplink (ports) that optimize throughput and
availability. Where possible, links within the uplink port set automatically form a link aggregation
group using LACP. This action requires multiple uplink ports on a single for HP Integrity BL8x0c i2
Series Server Blades to be connected to an external switch that is capable and configured to form
link aggregation groups using LACP.
In the following example, a single network is mapped to four external uplink ports.
Network Uplink port set
Production_Network { Enclosure1:Bay1:Port1
Enclosure1:Bay1:Port2
Enclosure1:Bay2:Port1
Enclosure1:Bay2:Port2 }
In this example, the ports from Bay 1 could be connected to one external switch, and the ports on Bay 2
could be connected to a second switch. If the external switches support link aggregation, then this
configuration would provide an active 2-Gb link to one switch and a standby 2-Gb link to the other.
To make Virtual Connect Manager aware of individual network connections, see the information on
defining an Ethernet network in the HP Virtual Connect for c-Class BladeSystem User Guide.
Mapping multiple networks to a single, shared external uplink port