Preface

This IBM® Redpaper positions the Nortel Networks Layer 2/3 Fiber and Copper GbE Switch Modules for IBM Eserver BladeCenter and describes how its integrated switch options

enable the consolidation of full Layer 2-3 LAN switching and routing capabilities. The Nortel Networks switch modules also provide an upgrade path to full Layer 4-7 services by including 4-7 switch intelligence.

This Redpaper serves as a Best Practices guide for implementing, configuring, and managing Nortel Networks Layer 2/3 Fiber and Copper GbE Switch Modules for several network topologies. Our topology examples include Nortel Networks, Cisco Systems, and Extreme Networks network environments.

This Redpaper can help you to understand the Nortel Networks Layer 2/3 Fiber and Copper GbE Switch Modules architecture. It demonstrates how to use specific tools to manage and administer switch module tasks. It also discusses the differences between Nortel Networks and Cisco Systems terminology.

The audience for this Redpaper is experienced systems and network administrators who want to integrate the Nortel Networks Layer 2/3 Fiber and Copper GbE Switch Modules successfully into new and existing networks.

The team that wrote this Redpaper

This Redpaper was produced by a team of specialists from around the world working at the International Technical Support Organization (ITSO), Raleigh Center.

Rufus Credle is a Certified Consulting I/T Specialist and certified Professional Server Specialist at the ITSO, Raleigh Center. He conducts residencies and develops IBM Redbooks™ and Redpapers that discuss network operating systems, ERP solutions, voice

technology, high availability and clustering solutions, Web application servers, pervasive computing, and IBM and OEM e-business applications, all running on IBM Eserver

xSeries® and IBM Eserver BladeCenter® technology. Rufus’s various positions during his IBM career have included assignments in administration and asset management, systems engineering, sales and marketing, and IT services. He holds a BS degree in business management from Saint Augustine’s College. Rufus has been employed at IBM for 25 years.

Stephan Fleck is an IBM Accredited Senior IT Specialist at the EMEA ITS/TSS Networking Support Center. He has 12 years of experience in the networking area. Today, he provides EMEA-wide pre- and post-sales support. In addition to his technical skill, Stephan's expertise include project- and critsit-management. During his career, he has been active in product management, deploying new services for the field support group. Stephan is a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE #8301), and he holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University Darmstadt, Germany. He has been employed at IBM for 11 years.

Scott Lorditch is a Sales Network Architect for the Blade Switching Server business unit of

Nortel Networks. He develops designs and proposals for customers and potential customers of the Nortel Networks GbESM products for the IBM Eserver BladeCenter, including overall

network architecture assessments. He also has developed several training and lab sessions for IBM technical and sales personnel and has provided field feedback to the product team. His background before working for Nortel includes almost 20 years working on networking, including electronic securities transfer projects for a major bank based in New York City, as

© Copyright IBM Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.

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IBM L2/3 manual Preface, Team that wrote this Redpaper