BladeCluster Solution Manual

4 Connections to the Advanced Cluster Hubs
CAUTION:
All connections must be done under the guidance of the Add Node to ServerNet Cluster guided
procedure. Wait until the procedure prompts you to make the connections. If you are adding a
node to a BladeCluster/6700 Series Solution, you must make all connections to both types of
clusters before continuing with the procedure. For the 6700 series ServerNet Cluster connections,
see Chapter 5 (page 56).
This section describes the connections to the Advanced Cluster Hub (ACH) from the ServerNet
switches and processor switches (p-switches) in the nodes and covers these topics:
• “ServerNet Switch Connections” (page 43)
• “Processor Switch Connections” (page 48)
ServerNet Switch Connections
This section describes the ServerNet switch hardware, physical dimensions, and connections from
the switch to the ACH. For information about p-switch connections, including ServerNet switches
and p-switches sharing an ACH, see “Processor Switch Connections” (page 48).
ServerNet Switch Hardware Description
The ServerNet switches are installed in a c7000 enclosure in a NonStop BladeSystem and provide
the external routing in the nodes in a BladeCluster (as well as internal routing for the processors
in that enclosure). ServerNet switches for BladeClusters that use BladeSystem nodes have these
characteristics:
• All connections to the BladeSystem nodes are made from two ServerNet switches in the c7000
enclosure, one each for the X and Y ServerNet fabrics.
• To reduce the number of connections between the nodes, an Advanced Cluster Hub (ACH) is
installed for each fabric. ServerNet switch connections between the BladeSystem nodes are
made using Multifiber Termination Push-on MTP-MTP cables via the ACH. For more information
about the ACH, see “Advanced Cluster Hubs (ACHs)” (page 38).
• A ServerNet switch for connectivity to a BladeCluster must be fully populated with quad optical
transceivers. Each quad optical transceiver for BladeCluster connectivity via ACH occupies
ports 15, 16, 17, and 18 on the ServerNet switch.
• The ServerNet switches are supported by the Maintenance Entity (ME) firmware which is
responsible for the initialization, configuration, control, and monitoring of the BladeCluster.
ServerNet Switch Connections 43