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

Planning the installation 8
Planning the installation
Virtual Connect overview
HP Virtual Connect is a set of interconnect modules and embedded software for HP BladeSystem c-Class
enclosures. VC simplifies the setup and administration of server connections and includes the following
components:
• VC-Enet modules
o HP VC Flex-10 10Gb Ethernet Module for BladeSystem c-Class
o HP VC FlexFabric 10Gb/24-port Module for BladeSystem c-Class, which provides the capability to
configure Ethernet and FC/FCoE or iSCSI connections
o HP VC FlexFabric-20/40 F8 Module for BladeSystem c-Class, which provides the capability to
configure Ethernet and FC/FCoE or iSCSI connections
o HP VC Flex-10/10D Module for BladeSystem c-Class
NOTE: Using a Flex-10 capable NIC with an HP VC Flex-10 or FlexFabric module provides the
ability to divide a 10Gb NIC into four FlexNICs with configurable bandwidth.
• VC-FC modules
o HP VC 4Gb Fibre Channel Module for BladeSystem c-Class (enhanced NPIV)
o HP VC 8Gb 24-Port Fibre Channel Module for BladeSystem c-Class
o HP VC 8Gb 20-Port Fibre Channel Module for BladeSystem c-Class
Please note this document may have references to yet to be announced products. For details, please contact
your HP representative.
• HP VCM
NOTE: Beginning with VC 4.10, the HP 4GB Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Module is no longer
supported.
VC implements server edge virtualization between the server and the data center infrastructure so networks
can communicate with individual servers or pools of HP BladeSystem server blades. Upgrade, replace, or
move server blades within the enclosures without visible changes to the external LAN and SAN environments.
The external networks connect to a shared resource server pool rather than to individual servers. VC cleanly
separates server enclosure administration from LAN and SAN administration.
VCM is embedded on VC-Enet modules. Access VCM through a web-based GUI or CLI. The Onboard
Administrator provides a web link to the VC GUI. The CLI can be accessed remotely through any SSH session
or through the Onboard Administrator CLI.
The VC modules support the HP BladeSystem c7000 Enclosure, the HP BladeSystem c3000 Enclosure, and
all server blades and networks contained within the enclosure. FlexFabric 10 Gb modules are supported only
in BladeSystem c7000 enclosures with G6 or newer server blades or Integrity i2 and i4 server blades with
VC firmware v3.15 and later. FlexFabric-20/40 F8 modules are supported only with v4.20 and later on the
following HP BladeSystem c-Class c7000 enclosure SKUs: 507014-B21, 507015-B21, 507016-B21,