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

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Although these four FlexNICs share a single 10Gb physical interface, Virtual Connect is able to keep
traffic for the FlexNICs isolated, and each FlexNIC is assigned to a different Virtual Connect network.
Each FlexNIC can be assigned a different bandwidth (from 100Mb to 10Gb), which is enforced by
hardware mechanisms.
A Flex-10 capable NIC (embedded Ethernet or mezzanine card) only enumerates as four FlexNICs per
10Gb port if that NIC is directly connected to an HP Virtual Connect Flex-10 Module or an empty
interconnect bay. Eight FlexNICs are enumerated when connected to an empty interconnect bay because
it is assumed that an HP Virtual Connect Flex-10 Module will be plugged into that bay. If a Flex-10
capable NIC is connected to a Virtual Connect interconnect module that does not support Flex-10 or a
non-Virtual Connect interconnect module, that NIC enumerates as only one Ethernet device per physical
port.
The following table shows an example of how a BL495c Flex-10 embedded Ethernet device would be
enumerated when connected to different interconnects. For more information about mapping between
servers and interconnect bays, see the HP c-Class enclosure documentation.
Connected to
Number of NICs enumerated to
the host
HP Virtual Connect Flex-10 Module 8
HP 1/10GB-F VC-Enet Module 2
HP GbE2c Ethernet Blade Switch 2
Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3120 2
Empty interconnect bay 8