Marathon Computer IBM BladeCenter manual Network Adapter Configurations, NIC Configuration

Planning and Preparation

Network Adapter Configurations

Depending upon your specific switchbay and blade on-board device config- uration, it is possible that fewer than 4 adapters will be available for use. When planning a BladeCenter network configuration your primary concern should be to maximize the availability of the redirected network links and minimize utilization of external networks by the CoServer links.

To maximize the availability of the redirected links, different switches should be used to connect the CoServers to the external network. To mini- mize utilization of the external network by the CoServer links, both CoServ- ers should use the same internal switch for a CSLink connection. Routing a CSLink connection through the same switch will confine all associated traf- fic to that switch. Several recommended network configurations using 4, 3, and 2 network adapters are shown in the following tables.

TABLE 1. 4 NIC Configuration

Function	CoServer 1	CoServer 2	Comment
CSLink 1	Switchbay 1	Switchbay 1	Internal Bandwidth
CSLink 2	Switchbay 2	Switchbay 2	Internal Bandwidth
Redirected	Switchbay 3	Switchbay 4	Redundant External Connection
Manage	Switchbay 4	Switchbay 3	Redundant External Connection

TABLE 2. 3 NIC Configuration

Function	CoServer 1	CoServer 2	Comment
CSLink 1	Switchbay 1	Switchbay 1	Internal Bandwidth
Redirected	Switchbay 2	Switchbay 3	Redundant External Connection
CSLink 2	Switchbay 3	Switchbay 2	Exposed network utilization
			Requires network routed IP
			addresss

TABLE 3. 3 NIC Alternate Configuration

Function	CoServer 1	CoServer 2	Comment
CSLink 1	Switchbay 1	Switchbay 1	Internal Bandwidth
Redirected	Switchbay 2	Switchbay 3	Redundant External Connection
Manage	Switchbay 3	Switchbay 2	Redundant External Connection

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