HP Virtual Connect for c-Class BladeSystem Version 3.00 User Guide for Integrity BL8x0c i2 Server Blades

Server management 92
Server management
Server profile overview
A Virtual Connect server profile is a logical grouping of attributes related to server connectivity that can
be assigned to a server blade. The server profile can include MAC address, PXE, and network connection
settings for each server NIC port and WWN, SAN fabric connection, and SAN boot parameter settings
for each Fibre Channel HBA port. After being defined, the server profile can be assigned to any server
blade within the Virtual Connect domain. A Virtual Connect domain can have a maximum of 64 Virtual
Connect server profiles.
Virtual Connect provides the ability to configure PXE settings when using either VC Assigned or factory
default MAC addresses. In addition, Use BIOS is an option for PXE, which maintains the current settings
as configured by RBSU.
Virtual Connect also provides the ability to override the Virtual Connect assigned MACs and/or WWNs
when creating a new profile. See "Define Server Profile Screen (on page 100)."
When a server profile is assigned to a server blade, the Virtual Connect Manager securely connects to the
server blade, configures the NIC ports with the appropriate MAC addresses and PXE settings, and
configures the FC HBA ports with the appropriate WWNs and SAN boot settings. In addition, the Virtual
Connect Manager automatically connects the server blade Ethernet and Fibre Channel ports to the
specified networks and SAN fabrics. This server profile can then be re-assigned to another server blade
as needed, while maintaining the server's network and SAN identity and connectivity.
The Virtual Connect Manager can be configured so that server blades use server factory default
MACs/WWNs or Virtual-Connect-administered MACs/WWNs. These administered values override the
default MAC addresses and WWNs when a server profile is assigned to a server, and appear to pre-
boot environments and host operating system software as the hardware addresses. To use administered
MAC addresses, select a range of HP pre-defined or user-specified MAC addresses. See "MAC address
settings (on page 63)."
IMPORTANT: Be sure to review the following list of guidelines before creating and deploying
server profiles.
• The server blade firmware and option card firmware must be at a revision that supports Virtual
Connect profile assignment. See the HP website (http://www.hp.com/go/bladesystemupdates
).
• Before creating the first server profile, select whether to use moveable, administered MAC addresses
and WWNs or whether to use the local server blade factory default MAC addresses and WWNs.
See "MAC address settings (on page 63)" and "WWN settings (on page 103)."
• After an enclosure is imported into a Virtual Connect domain, server blades remain isolated from the
networks and SAN fabrics until a server profile is created and assigned.
• Server blades must be powered off to receive (or relinquish) a server profile assignment when using
Virtual Connect-administered MAC addresses, WWNs, or changing Fibre Channel boot parameters.
• FC SAN Connections are shown in server profile screens when only there is an HP Virtual Connect
Fibre Channel Module in the enclosure managed by Virtual Connect. FC SAN Connections are
added in pairs and cannot be deleted. If an HP Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Module is added to a