HP Virtual Connect for c-Class BladeSystem Setup and Install Guide

Planning the installation 11
• Determine the Ethernet stacking cable layout, and ensure that the proper cable and transceiver options
are ordered. Stacking cables enable any Ethernet NIC from any server to be connected to any of the
Ethernet networks defined for the enclosure.
o For information on cable layout, see "Recommended stacking connections (on page 23)."
o For information on supported cable and transceiver options, see the Virtual Connect module
QuickSpecs on the HP website (http://www.hp.com/go/vc/manuals).
• Determine which Ethernet networks will be connected to or contained within the enclosure.
Most installations will have multiple Ethernet networks, each typically mapped to a specific IP subnet.
Virtual Connect Ethernet networks can be contained completely within the enclosure for server-to-server
communication, or connected to external networks through rear panel ports (uplinks). For each network,
the administrator must use the VCM to identify the network by name and to define any external port
connections.
• Determine which Fibre Channel fabrics will be connected to the enclosure.
Each uplink has a capability of aggregating up to 16 server HBA N-port links into an N-port uplink
through the use of NPIV.
• Coordinate with data center personnel to ensure Ethernet network cable connections and Fibre Channel
cable connections to the enclosure are installed or scheduled to be installed.
• Determine the Ethernet MAC address range to be used for the servers within the enclosure.
Server and networking administrators should fully understand the selection and use of MAC address
ranges before configuring the enclosure. For more information, see "MAC address settings (on page
70)."
• Determine the FC World Wide Name (WWN) range to be used for servers within the enclosure.
Server and storage administrators should fully understand the selection and use of WWN ranges before
configuring the enclosure. For more information, see "WWN settings (on page 85)."
• Identify the administrators for the Virtual Connect environment, and identify what roles and
administrative privileges they will require. The VCM classifies each operation as requiring server,
network, domain, or storage privileges. A single user may have any combination of these privileges.
For more information, see the information on local users in the HP Virtual Connect for c-Class
BladeSystem User Guide on the HP website (http://www.hp.com/go/vc/manuals).
IMPORTANT: If you plan on using VC-assigned MAC addresses and WWNs and are also
working with server software that will be licensed by MAC addresses or WWNs, assign server
profiles before deploying an image through RDP or attaching a license.
Hardware setup overview
The following steps provide an overview of setting up the interconnect modules:
1. Install and set up the enclosure. See the appropriate HP BladeSystem enclosure quick install instructions
on the HP website
(http://h17007.www1.hp.com/us/en/enterprise/servers/solutions/info-library/index.aspx?cat=bla
desystem).
2. Install the interconnect modules ("Installation" on page 15).
Plan your installation carefully. After the VC domain has been created, the position and type of the
primary and backup VC modules cannot be changed without deleting and recreating the domain.