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Internetwork Operating System stands for IOS

Downlink ports are connected to blade network cards using the enclosure’s shared backplane. Uplink ports connect the switch module to external network switches.

The following network interconnect modules are available for the HP c-Class BladeSystem

· HP 1/10Gb Virtual Connect Ethernet Module for c-Class BladeSystem

· Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3020 for HP c-Class BladeSystem

· HP GbE2c Ethernet Blade Switch for c-Class BladeSystem

HP supports the following FC switch models

· HP 4Gb Virtual Connect Fiber Channel Module for c-Class BladeSystem

· Cisco MDS 9124e Fabric Switch for HP c-Class BladeSystem

· Brocade 4Gb SAN Switch for HP c-Class BladeSystem

This web-based management suite (HP Insight control) includes:

· HP SIM

· iLO 2

· Onboard Administrator

· HP ProLiant Essentials Rapid Deployment Pack; Server Migration Packs for P2P, P2V, V2V (Virtual to Virtual), and V2P; and many other management packs

The 10U HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosure can support up to 16 HP server blades versus the 9U IBM Blade Center H enclosure, which supports up to 14 IBM server blades. In server systems, a U is a standard unit of measure, equal to 1.75 inches, for vertical usable space or height of racks and cabinets. A 20U rack, for example, has 20 rack spaces in 35 inches of vertical space.

To find the BL equivalent of a ProLiant DL series server, just add "100" to the model number. For example, a ProLiant BL460 blade server is the equivalent of a ProLiant DL360 rack-mounted server.

For example, 16 x 1U servers with redundant power require 24 power supplies and 24 power cables. An HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosure with 16 server blades requires only six power supplies and six power cables. Blade systems use fewer fans. For example, 16 x 1U servers with redundant fans require approximately 144 fans. An HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosure with 16 server blades requires only 10 fans. Fewer fans equates to less power consumed.

If you have an existing network or FC infrastructure, you may want to have an unmanaged direct connection between each server blade and an external network or FC switch. Ethernet and FC pass-thru modules provide the unmanaged direct connections. Pass-thru modules don’t provide any cable consolidation between the enclosure and the external switch or SAN and are not as popular as network and FC interconnect modules. Consider using pass-thru modules only if you already have a significant, underutilized investment in network or FC switches.