HP Virtual Connect Manager Version 1.31 Release Notes and Compatibility Matrix

Important notes and recommendations 10
Important notes and recommendations
When a c-Class enclosure is used with Virtual Connect v1.31 and higher, the following configuration
restrictions and guidelines apply:
• HP recommends using HP BladeSystem c-Class Virtual Connect Support Utility v1.3.0 or higher to
install the HP VC-Enet v1.31 and HP 4Gb VC-FC v1.20 firmware. For the procedures, be sure to
read the instructions on the HP website
(http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?swItem=MTX-
793857044078415aa4ba4d9252&lang=en&cc=us&idx=1&mode=4&) and in the HP
BladeSystem c-Class Virtual Connect Support Utility v1.3.0 or higher release notes.
• For v1.21 and higher, the VC Manager behavior for powered-up servers when restarting after a
recovery of OA credentials has changed. In previous versions, the servers would enter a "Profile
Pending" state and required a power cycle to recover. For v1.21 and higher, a new state, "profile
recovered", is applied to servers that are powered on when VC Manager restarts after an OA
credential recovery. When VC Manager detects a restart after a credential recovery, it rewrites the
profile parameters for any server that is powered on, connects the server to the appropriate Ethernet
networks and FC fabrics, and then puts the server and profile in the new "profile recovered" state.
The server and profile remain in the "profile recovered" state until the server is powered down or
removed from the enclosure. This feature eliminates the power cycle requirement for a server to
recover.
• Plan your interconnect module usage carefully before running the Virtual Connect Domain Setup
Wizard. After an interconnect bay is configured for use with a Virtual Connect Ethernet module or
VC-FC module, it remains configured for that module type until the overall VC domain is deleted.
Virtual Connect reports failures for any VC-Enet or VC-FC module that is removed from the domain.
• Ensure that all Virtual Connect Ethernet and VC-FC modules in a VC domain are at the same
firmware revision. To check the firmware revision level, select the Firmware Update tab on the
Domain Settings page. The firmware revision level for each module in the domain is shown.
• To help ensure proper operation after firmware updates, clear the browser cache and reload the
browser.
• Only connect HP 4Gb VC-FC Module uplinks to Fibre Channel switch ports that are NPIV-enabled. If
using a Brocade FC switch, verify that NPIV is properly enabled by using the portshow command.
If NPIV is not properly enabled, you might need to downgrade the Brocade switch firmware, and
then upgrade the firmware again for the enable to work properly.
• Always install a Virtual Connect Ethernet module in interconnect bay 1.
• For redundancy, HP recommends installing a second Virtual Connect Ethernet module in interconnect
bay 2.
• For c7000 enclosure interconnect bays 3-8, install a Virtual Connect Ethernet module or HP 4Gb VC-
FC Module in the bay corresponding to the mezzanine signals.
• Verify that all system component firmware is up-to-date. A server blade is displayed as incompatible
by Virtual Connect if the server ROM is not at the minimum level required by Virtual Connect. Virtual