IBM manual Nortel GbESM architecture overview, Nortel Networks L2/3 GbESM architecture overview

4.1 Nortel GbESM architecture overview

The Nortel Networks Layer 2/3 GbE Switch Module is a fully functional Layer 2 and 3 switch that includes Layer 4 awareness and capability. Figure 4-1shows the architecture overview of the Nortel Networks Layer 2/3 GbE Switch Module.

The Nortel GbESM has 14 internal 1 Gbps links to connect to blade servers and six external Gigabit ports to connect to upstream switches. The switch module has two 100 Mbps connections to the Management Modules. You can manage the Nortel GbESM through the connection between the Nortel GbESM and the Management Module. You can also manage the Nortel GbESM like other switches with the RS232 console port that looks similar to a USB port. The console port is a service port to which you can connect a terminal or PC in order to configure the software through the command-line interface (CLI) or to troubleshoot problems with the switch.

	14 ports		Blade1			INT1		EXT1	1		6 ports
	1000 Mbps		Blade2			INT2		EXT2	2
											10/100/1000 Mbps
	Internal		Blade3			INT3		EXT3	3
											RJ45 links for external
	links		Blade4			INT4		EXT4	4
						INT5
			Blade5					EXT5	5		network connections
	to
			Blade6			INT6		EXT6	6
	Blade		Blade7			INT7
	Servers		Blade8			INT8		Serial		1 port
			Blade9			INT9				RS232 Serial console
							Nortel
			Blade0			INT10				connection port on
						INT11	Networks
			Blade1							faceplate
			Blade2			INT12	L2/3
			Blade3			INT13	GbESM
			Blade4			INT14	Module
		2 ports -100 Mbps		MM1		MGT1
		Internal links to the
				MM2		MGT2
		Management Modules
							Nortel
IBM eServer BladeCenter							Networks
					L2/3 GbESM Connections

Figure 4-1 Nortel Networks L2/3 GbESM architecture overview

Figure 4-2 on page 23 shows the architecture for Ethernet connectivity. The two Nortel GbESMs can be housed within the BladeCenter chassis. Each Nortel GbESM provides six uplink ports, which can be grouped to support 802.3ad Link Aggregation. The blade server has two NICs, with NIC 1 connecting to Nortel GbESM 1 and NIC 2 connecting to Nortel GbESM 2. The links connecting the blade servers to the Nortel GbESMs are on the backplane of the BladeCenter chassis. The Nortel GbESM has two links to the Management Modules. Each link connects to a different Management Module.

22Nortel Networks L2/3 Ethernet Switch Module for IBM Eserver BladeCenter