BladeCenter 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module

The BladeCenter 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module is a switch option that enables administrators to offer full Layer 2 and 3 switching and routing capability with combined 1 Gb and 10 Gb uplinks in a BladeCenter chassis. This consolidation simplifies the data center infrastructure and helps reduce the number of discrete devices, management consoles, and management systems. The hardware can support IPv6 Layer 3 frame forwarding protocols via a future firmware upgrade.

This Ethernet Switch Module delivers port flexibility, efficient traffic management, increased uplink bandwidth, and strong Ethernet switching price/performance.

Figure 1: A front view of the BladeCenter 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module.

Did you know?

The switch module features six 1 Gb RJ45 links for seamless deployment in existing Gigabit networks. Its three 10 Gb small form-factor pluggable plus (SFP+) ports provide an easy migration path to 10 Gb networks. All nine uplink ports can be active simultaneously, allowing for simple, downtime-free migration. All nine uplink ports offer line-rate performance with zero packet drop.

VMready allows the switch to dynamically configure itself to coexist with leading virtual machine providers such as VMware, Microsoft, Citrix XenServer, PowerVM, and Red Hat KVM.

Part Number Information

Part numbers for the module and supported optical transceivers are detailed in Table 1.

* Feature codes are presented in three parts, separated by a forward slash. The first code applies to BladeCenter E-, T-, H-, and HT-based configurations via the System x platform. The second code is for BladeCenter S-based configurations via the System x sales channel. The third code is for BladeCenter S- and BladeCenter H-based configurations via the IBM Power Systems sales channel.

The part number 44W4404 for the switch includes:

• One BladeCenter 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module
• 3-meter USB-to-DB9 serial console cable
• Printed documentation
• Documentation CD-ROM

To communicate outside the chassis, a CAT5 RJ-45 cable or an SFP+ transceiver or SFP+ direct-attach copper (DAC) cable is required. Supported options are listed in Table 1.

Benefits

The BladeCenter 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module offers:

• All 1 Gb and 10 Gb uplink ports can be active simultaneously.
• Low power consumption (40 Watts), ideal for environments with power limitations or for reducing operating costs and environmental impact.
• A large L2 forwarding table (16K) supporting larger flat networks with minimal aging activity.
• Advanced L3 functions, such as OSPF and BGP, for seamless integration into large routed network environments.
• L3 functions enable traffic segregation into segments to improve latency and security within each network segment.

Features and Specifications

The BladeCenter 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module includes the following standard features:

• Internal ports: 14 internal full-duplex Gigabit ports (one per blade server) and two internal full-duplex 10/100 Mbps ports (connected to the management module).
• External ports: Three slots for 10 Gb Ethernet SFP+ transceivers (supporting 10GBASE-SR or 10GBASE-LR) or SFP+ copper direct-attach cables (DAC); SFP+ modules are optional. Six 10/100/1000 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet ports with RJ-45 connectors. One RS-232 serial port for software installation and configuration.

Scalability and Performance

• Fixed-speed external 10 Gb Ethernet ports for maximum uplink bandwidth.
• Autosensing 10/100/1000 external Gigabit Ethernet ports for bandwidth optimization.
• Non-blocking architecture with wire-speed forwarding.
• Media Access Control (MAC) address learning with automatic updates, supporting up to 16K MAC addresses.
• Up to 128 IP interfaces per switch.
• Static and LACP (IEEE 802.3ad) link aggregation, supporting up to 36 Gb total bandwidth per switch, with up to 16 trunk groups and six ports per group.
• Support for jumbo frames (up to 9216 bytes).
• Broadcast/multicast storm control.
• IGMP snooping for limiting IP multicast traffic flooding.
• IGMP filtering to control multicast traffic for participating hosts.
• Configurable traffic distribution schemes over trunk links based on source/destination IP or MAC addresses.
• Fast port forwarding and fast uplink convergence for rapid STP convergence.
• Stacking of up to eight switches.

Availability and Redundancy

• Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) for Layer 3 router redundancy.
• IEEE 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) for L2 redundancy.
• IEEE 802.1s Multiple STP (MSTP) for topology optimization, supporting up to 128 STP instances per switch.
• IEEE 802.1w Rapid STP (RSTP) for rapid STP convergence, suitable for delay-sensitive traffic like voice or video.
• Layer 2 Trunk Failover for active/standby configurations of network adapter teaming on blades.
• Interchassis redundancy (L2 and L3).

VLAN Support

• Up to 1024 VLANs supported per switch, with VLAN numbers ranging from 1 to 4095 (4095 reserved for management module connection).
• 802.1Q VLAN tagging support on all ports.
• Private VLANs.

Security

• VLAN-based, MAC-based, and IP-based Access Control Lists (ACLs).
• 802.1X port-based authentication.
• Multiple user IDs and passwords.
• User access control.
• Radius/TACACS+.

Quality of Service (QoS)

• Support for IEEE 802.1p, IP ToS/DSCP, and ACL-based (MAC/IP source/destination addresses, VLANs) traffic classification and processing.
• Traffic shaping and re-marking based on defined policies.
• Eight Weighted Round Robin (WRR) priority queues per port for processing qualified traffic.

Layer 3 Functions

• IP forwarding.
• IP filtering with ACLs (up to 896 ACLs supported).
• VRRP for router redundancy.
• Support for up to 128 static routes.
• Routing protocol support (RIP v1, RIP v2, OSPF v2, BGP-4), with up to 2048 entries in a routing table.
• Support for DHCP Relay.
• IPv6 host management support.

Manageability

• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP V1 and V3).
• HTTP browser GUI.
• Telnet interface for CLI.
• SSH.
• Serial interface for CLI.
• Scriptable CLI.
• Firmware image update (TFTP and FTP).
• Network Time Protocol (NTP) for switch clock synchronization.

Monitoring

• Switch LEDs for external port status and switch module status indication.
• Port mirroring for analyzing network traffic.
• Change tracking and remote logging with syslog.
• POST diagnostics.

Special Functions

• Support for Serial over LAN (SOL).

Standards Supported

The switch module supports the following IEEE standards:

• IEEE 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
• IEEE 802.1s Multiple STP (MSTP)
• IEEE 802.1w Rapid STP (RSTP)
• IEEE 802.1p Tagged Packets
• IEEE 802.1Q Tagged VLAN (frame tagging on all ports when VLANs are enabled)
• IEEE 802.1x port-based authentication
• IEEE 802.2 Logical Link Control
• IEEE 802.3 10BASE-T Ethernet
• IEEE 802.3u 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet
• IEEE 802.3ab 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet
• IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-X Gigabit Ethernet
• IEEE 802.3ad Link Aggregation Control Protocol
• IEEE 802.3x Full-duplex Flow Control
• IEEE 802.3ae 10GBASE-SR

Supported BladeCenter Chassis and Expansion Cards

The BladeCenter 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module is supported in the BladeCenter chassis listed in Table 2.

The module supports the expansion cards listed in Table 3.

* Replaces 44X1940. Note: Other 10 GbE Ethernet expansion cards not listed in Table 3 are not supported.

The five BladeCenter chassis have the following bays:

• BladeCenter S, E, and T: Four standard I/O bays (1, 2, 3, and 4).
• BladeCenter H: Six standard I/O bays (1, 2, 3, 4), two bridge bays (5 and 6), and four high-speed bays (7, 8, 9, and 10).
• BladeCenter HT: Four standard I/O bays (1, 2, 3, 4) and four high-speed bays (7, 8, 9, and 10).

The BladeCenter 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module fits in a standard I/O bay (bays 1-4). With the addition of the Multi-Switch Interconnect Module (MSIM) in BladeCenter H and MSIM-HT in BladeCenter HT, it can also fit in a high-speed I/O bay (bays 7-10). Supported bays are listed in Table 4.

* Supports I/O bay 2 connections only when installed into a blade server within a BladeCenter S chassis.

Popular Configurations

This section illustrates how the BladeCenter 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module can be used in various configurations.

Basic Two-Port Configuration

This configuration shows the basic use of the switch modules to route the two-port Ethernet controller integrated onto the blade server. Two switch modules are installed in bays 1 and 2 of the BladeCenter chassis. Connections between the controller and switch modules are internal to the chassis, requiring no external cabling.

Figure 2: Illustrates using BladeCenter Ethernet Switch Modules to route integrated Ethernet ports. Components used are listed in Table 5.

Four-Port Configuration

This configuration routes four Ethernet ports from each server: the two integrated ports plus two from a compatible CFFv or CIOv expansion card. Four switch modules are installed in bays 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the BladeCenter chassis. All connections are internal.

Figure 3: Depicts using BladeCenter 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module to route four Ethernet ports from the integrated controller and an expansion card. Components are listed in Table 6.

* Installing an expansion card in BladeCenter S (8886) may prevent connection to BladeCenter S Disk Storage Modules (DSMs). This configuration is suitable for clients needing external iSCSI storage or more than four Ethernet ports per blade. For simpler needs, consider the 2/4 Port Ethernet Expansion Card (CFFh), part number 44W4479.

Maximum Configuration: Eight Ethernet Ports per Server

BladeCenter servers supporting a CFFh expansion card plus either a CFFv or CIOv card can accommodate up to eight BladeCenter 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Modules in a BladeCenter H or BladeCenter HT chassis. This configuration routes eight Ethernet ports per server, with all connections internal to the chassis.

Figure 4: Illustrates using BladeCenter 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Modules to route eight Ethernet ports per server. Components are listed in Table 7.

Connectors and LEDs

Figure 5: Shows the front panel of the BladeCenter 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module, detailing its components.

The front panel includes:

• LEDs: Indicate switch module and network status. 'OK' signifies a successful power-on self-test (POST) and operational status. 'Switch module error' indicates a POST failure or operational fault.
• USB RS-232 Console Port: Provides an additional method for software installation and configuration, connecting via a special serial cable supplied with the module.
• Six external 1000BASE-T Ethernet ports: For 10/100/1000 Mbps connections to external Ethernet devices.
• Three external SFP+ port connectors: For attaching SFP+ modules for 1000 Mbps connections to external Ethernet devices.
• Ethernet Link OK LED and Ethernet Tx/Rx LED: For each external port on the switch module.

Network Cabling Requirements

Table 8 outlines the network cables compatible with the switch.

Related Publications

For more information, consult the following resources:

• BladeCenter 1/10 Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module documentation: ibm.com/support/...
• BladeCenter 1/10 Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module Application Guide
• BladeCenter 1/10 Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module Command Reference
• IBM System Networking OS Release Notes
• Browser-based Interface Quick Guide
• IBM Networking OS ISCLI Reference
• BladeCenter 1/10 Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module Installation Guide: bit.ly/1k5gxgk
• Functionality Certification and Cooperative Interoperability Evaluation by The Tolly Group: bit.ly/1g8bOFQ
• VMready: Virtualization machine-aware networking - White paper: bit.ly/1erPJSh
• IBM US Announcement Letter: ibm.com/common/ssi/...
• BladeCenter Interoperability Guide: lenovopress.com/bcig
• BladeCenter Products and Technology, SG24-7523: lenovopress.com/sg247523

Related Product Families

Product families related to this document include:

• 10 Gb Embedded Connectivity
• Blade Networking Modules

Notices

Lenovo may not offer all products, services, or features discussed in this document in all countries. Consult your local Lenovo representative for availability. Lenovo is not responsible for the use of any functionally equivalent product, program, or service that infringes Lenovo's intellectual property rights. Users must evaluate and verify the operation of any alternative product, program, or service.

Lenovo may have patents or pending patent applications covering the subject matter herein. This document does not grant any license to these patents. License inquiries can be sent in writing to Lenovo (United States), Inc., 8001 Development Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560, U.S.A., Attention: Lenovo Director of Licensing.

This publication is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind, express or implied. Lenovo disclaims all implied warranties, including but not limited to, those of non-infringement, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose. Some jurisdictions do not allow disclaimer of express or implied warranties.

Information herein may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are made periodically and will be incorporated in new editions. Lenovo may make improvements or changes to the product(s) or program(s) described at any time without notice.

The products described are not intended for use in implantation or other life support applications where malfunction could result in injury or death. This document does not affect or change Lenovo product specifications or warranties.

References to non-Lenovo websites are for convenience only and do not constitute an endorsement. Use of those websites is at your own risk. Performance data was determined in a controlled environment; actual results may vary.

Copyright Lenovo 2022. All rights reserved. This document, TIPS0705, was created or updated on April 9, 2014.

Comments can be submitted via the online form at lenovopress.lenovo.com/TIPS0705 or by email to comments@lenovopress.com.

This document is available online at lenovopress.lenovo.com/TIPS0705.

Trademarks

Lenovo and the Lenovo logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Lenovo in the United States and/or other countries. A current list of Lenovo trademarks is available at www.lenovo.com/us/en/legal/copytrade/.

Lenovo trademarks include: Lenovo®, BladeCenter Interoperability Guide, BladeCenter®, System x®, VMready®.

Microsoft® is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other company, product, or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.