HP ProLiant BL p-Class GbE2 Interconnect Switch Compatibility with Cisco-based Networks - White Paper

Abstract

This white paper describes the interoperability of the ProLiant BL p-Class GbE2 Interconnect Switch

with Cisco-based Ethernet networks consisting of Catalyst switches. This document is not intended to

be a guide for deploying a GbE2 Interconnect Switch within a Cisco-based network. For this

information, see the Deploying the ProLiant BL p-Class GbE2 Interconnect Switch into a Cisco-based

Network white paper

The intended audience for this paper includes engineers and system administrators familiar with the

HP ProLiant BL p-Class system. For readers not familiar with the HP ProLiant BL p-Class system, more

information is available at http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/platforms/index-bl.html

For general information about the p-Class GbE2 Interconnect Switch options, see ProLiant BL p-Class

GbE2 Interconnect Switch Overview white paper

Introduction

The ProLiant BL p-Class system consists of ProLiant BL server blades, the 6U (10.5 inch) BL p-Class

server blade enclosure, network and power infrastructure components, and software that enables

adaptive computing optimized for rapid deployment.

The p-Class server blade enclosure holds the server blades and two interconnects. Each server

contains multiple network interface controllers (NICs). The enclosure has a signal backplane that

routes the server blade NIC signals to the interconnects in a redundant, highly available architecture.

HP offers a family of interconnect options for a choice of how the Ethernet, as well as Fibre Channel,

signals exit the server blade enclosure. Available interconnects include two patch panel pass-through

kits and two integrated Ethernet switch kits (interconnect switch kits). The two patch panel options

allow all Ethernet network signals to pass through to third-party LAN devices, thus giving customers

flexibility in choosing their own switches. The interconnect switch kits provide up to 32-to-1 Ethernet

cable consolidation reducing the time to deploy and manage ProLiant BL p-Class systems.

The ProLiant BL GbE2 Interconnect Switch is the newest interconnect option available for p-Class

systems. The ProLiant BL GbE2 Interconnect Switch is an industry-standard, 24-port all Gigabit

Ethernet switch intended for:

• Applications that require up to 1000 megabits per second (Mb/s) NIC consolidation

• Connectivity to copper-based 10/100/1000T or fiber-based 1000SX Ethernet networks

• Fibre Channel storage signal pass-through for the ProLiant BL20p and BL30p series servers

• Advanced network feature support (including planned future options for layer 3 through 7)

• Future planned upgradeability for 10 Gigabit Ethernet bandwidth connectivity to the network

For more information about the GbE2 Interconnect Switch, see the ProLiant BL p-Class GbE2

Interconnect Switch Overview white paper.

In a typical application, the GbE2 Interconnect Switches acts as a redundant access switch layer that

is in turn connected to the core network often consisting of Catalyst switches from Cisco Systems

(Cisco). This white paper identifies the ProLiant BL p-Class GbE2 Interconnect Switch interoperability

within a Cisco-based Catalyst switch Ethernet network. Topics discussed include VLANs, spanning

tree, multi-link trunking, security, management, and more.

Available at http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/proliant-bl/p-class/bl-p-interconnect-switch2.html.