HP Virtual Connect: Common Myths, Misperceptions, and Objections, Second Edition

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Abstract
This whitepaper discusses some of the common myths, misperceptions, and objections to the
deployment and use of HP’s Virtual Connect technology in data center networks. Technical answers
are provided for these common assertions, whether correct or incorrect, to help the reader sort the
facts. In addition, this paper includes an in-depth discussion and comparison of the Virtual Connect
feature set and capabilities when compared to the deployment of traditional LAN and SAN switches.
Target Audience
The target audiences of this whitepaper are current Virtual Connect users who would like to learn
more about the capabilities of Virtual Connect and potential users who are evaluating and testing
Virtual Connect for possible adoption. This paper is also targeted for any audience who may have
received incorrect information regarding the features, functions, and capabilities of the Virtual
Connect technology suite.
Prerequisites and Versioning
It is assumed that the reader is already familiar with Ethernet networking terminology, features and
device operation and that the reader is familiar with the basics of HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosures,
HP BladeSystem c-Class server blades, and HP BladeSystem Virtual Connect. For additional
information on these HP BladeSystem c-Class components, please visit:
http://www.hp.com/go/bladesystem and http://www.hp.com/go/bladesystem/interconnects.
Recommended Prerequisite Reading:
•
Non-technical Summary of Virtual Connect Technology
•
HP Flex-10 technology, Technology Brief (PDF)
•
White Paper: How to implement Virtual Connect
•
Virtual Connect for the Cisco Network Administrator
•
Latest Virtual Connect Documentation (see User Guide)
This whitepaper was written based on the features provided in Virtual Connect Ethernet firmware
version 2.3x and Virtual Connect Fibre Channel firmware version 1.3x. Newer releases of firmware
may introduce new features or may introduce changes to the way existing features work. For any
discrepancies between the information in this paper and actual device operation, HP recommends the
Administrator refer to the Virtual Connect User Guide and Release Notes matching the firmware
version in use. Virtual Connect firmware documentation can be found under the “Install Your
Solution” tab at
www.hp.com/go/bladesystem/documentation.
Introduction
Virtual Connect is an innovative server identity virtualization and I/O management product for HP
BladeSystem c-Class customers, introduced February 2007. Virtual Connect has been deployed
successfully in thousands of customer environments, many with large and growing installations. It is
one of the key reasons HP BladeSystem represents a majority leader in the blades market today.
Virtual Connect was developed as a direct result of customer requests for a better way to manage
server blade network and storage connectivity and virtualization. As a result, Virtual Connect
addresses several key challenges by providing the following capabilities and features: