skip to main content

QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module for BladeCenter

Product Guide (withdrawn product)

Home
Top
Author
Updated
9 Sep 2011
Form Number
TIPS0717
PDF size
12 pages, 297 KB

Abstract

The QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module is another example of how Lenovo has been at the forefront of offering new technology to clients. Lenovo was among the first to deliver Fibre Channel over Ethernet across System x and BladeCenter and this new module takes this a step further by offering clients I/O convergence inside the chassis. Clients using the Virtual Fabric 10 Gb Switch Module for their LAN traffic can now combine it with this module and a Converged Network Adapter such as the QLogic 2-port 10 Gb CNA to converge their LAN and SAN on a single network. The QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module offers six ports of 8 Gb Fibre Channel connectivity, without the need for separate Fibre Channel expansion cards in the BladeCenter servers.

Introduction

The QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module is another example of how Lenovo has been at the forefront of offering new technology to clients. Lenovo was among the first to deliver Fibre Channel over Ethernet across System x and BladeCenter and this new module takes this a step further by offering clients I/O convergence inside the chassis.

Clients using the Virtual Fabric 10 Gb Switch Module for their LAN traffic can now combine it with this module and a Converged Network Adapter such as the QLogic 2-port 10 Gb CNA to converge their LAN and SAN on a single network. The QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module offers six ports of 8 Gb Fibre Channel connectivity, without the need for separate Fibre Channel expansion cards in the BladeCenter servers.
QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module for BladeCenter
Figure 1. QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module for BladeCenter

Did you know?

This solution not only offers a simplified fabric but also offers significant savings over separate 10 Gb/8 Gb infrastructure. In addition to the cost and management savings, this solution provides the flexibility to upgrade existing chassis to implement I/O convergence without replacing existing 10 Gb switches. Additionally, this module can operate either in full-fabric mode or transparent (NPIV) mode depending on your FC storage infrastructure requirements.

Part number information

Table 1 shows the part number to order this module.

Table 1. Part number and feature code for ordering

Description Part number Feature code
QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module 46M6172 4799

The part number includes the following items:

  • One QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module for BladeCenter
  • Support CD
  • The IBM Important Notices document
  • Warranty information

The QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module comes without SFP+ modules, and they must be ordered additionally. Table 2 lists the part number that is supported.

Table 2. Supported SFP+ for the QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module

Description Part number Feature code
IBM 8 Gb SFP+ SW Optical Transceiver 44X1964 5075

Features

The QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module for BladeCenter has the following features:

  • Standard I/O module form factor
  • Six external autosensing Fibre Channel ports that operate at 8 Gbps, 4 Gbps, or 2 Gbps
  • External ports can be configured as full fabric (GL, G, F, FL, E) Fibre Channel ports, or transparent fabric (TF) Fibre Channel ports
  • Up to 40 Gbps of internal bandwidth to the switch module
  • Two internal full-duplex 100 Mbps Ethernet interfaces for management
  • Power-on self-test diagnostics and status reporting
  • Support for Non-Disruptive Code Load Activation (NDCLA)
  • Registered State Change Notification (RSCN)
  • Support for standards-based FC-SW2 interoperability
  • Support for transparent mode (NPIV)
  • Error detection
    • Cyclic redundancy check (CRC)
    • 8-byte and 10-byte conversion
    • Parity
    • Long frame and short frame
    • D_ID mismatch
    • S_ID mismatch
  • Frame bundling
    • No frame bundling (frames are intermixed from different source ports)
    • Soft lockdown (The I/O module waits for the sequence to be completed or a gap in the frame traffic to occur before it services requests from a different port.)
  • Configurable Fabric Address Notification (FAN)
  • Support for up to 239 Fabric Extension Modules depending on the configuration
  • 8 Gb switch fabric aggregate bandwidth: 224 Gbps at full duplex
  • Maximum frame size: 2148 bytes (2112 byte payload)
  • Nonblocking architecture to prevent latency
  • Support for the Call Home function
  • Support for Domain Name Service (DNS)
  • Support for Internet Protocol (IP) Version 6
  • Support for Internet Protocol security (IPsec)
  • Support for separate trap community strings for each trap address
  • Support for Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Version 3
  • Support for vital product data (VPD)
  • Support for optional SFP+ modules

The following software feature comes with the switch module:

  • QuickTools Web interface

The switch supports the following fabric management (all management connections go through the management module):

  • Web interface through QuickTools
  • Command-line interface (CLI) through the Telnet program
  • Switch SNMP agent, which enables a network management workstation to receive configuration values, traffic information, and FC failure data through SNMP and the Ethernet interface

Supported BladeCenter chassis, switch modules, and expansion cards

The QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module is supported in the BladeCenter chassis listed in Table 3.

Table 3. BladeCenter chassis that support the QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module

    BladeCenter S BladeCenter E BladeCenter H BladeCenter T BladeCenter HT MSIM MSIM-HT
QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module 46M6172 N N Y N N N N

The BladeCenter H chassis has the following bays:

  • Four standard I/O bays (1, 2, 3, 4); bays 3 and 4 can also be used as bridge bays
  • Two dedicated bridge bays (5 and 6)
  • Four high-speed bays (7, 8, 9, and 10)

The QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module is installed in bays 3 and 5. Installing two bridges, one in each bay, provides redundancy and performance benefits although it is supported to install one QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module in bay 5 only. The QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module requires one or two Virtual Fabric 10 Gb Switch Modules, 46C7191.

Depending on the configuration used (as described in the next section), two or four of the 10 external ports of the switch module are rerouted internally to the extension module.

Table 4. I/O modules supported with the QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module

    Bay 1 (Standard) Bay 2 (Standard) Bay 3 (Standard) Bay 4 (Standard) Bay 5 (Bridge) Bay 6 (Bridge) Bay 7 (High-speed) Bay 8 (High-speed) Bay 9 (High-speed) Bay 10 (High-speed)
10 Gb Ethernet Pass-Thru Module 46M6181 N N N N N N N N N N
Virtual Fabric 10 Gb Switch Module 46C7191 N N N N N N Y* N Y* N
Cisco Nexus 4001I Switch Module 46M6071 N N N N N N N N N N

* The Virtual Fabric 10 Gb Switch Module is required for proper operation of the QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module

Figure 2 shows the I/O topology internal to the BladeCenter H chassis. Bridge bays 3 and 5 both have internal connections to the high speed I/O bays 7 and 9.

2.16AC.jpg
Figure 2. BladeCenter H internal connections with the QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module installed

The supported expansion cards that connect to the Virtual Fabric 10 Gb Switch Module are listed in Table 5.

Table 5. Expansion cards supported with the QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module

Expansion card Part number Supported
QLogic Ethernet and 4 Gb Fibre Channel Card (CFFh) 39Y9306 No
2/4 Port Ethernet Expansion Card (CFFh) 44W4479 No
QLogic Ethernet and 8 Gb Fibre Channel Card (CFFh) 44X1940 No
Broadcom 10Gb 2-port Ethernet Expansion Card 44W4466 No
Broadcom 10Gb 4-port Ethernet Expansion Card 44W4465 No
Broadcom 10 Gb Gen 2 2-port Ethernet Expansion Card 46M6168 No
Broadcom 10 Gb Gen 2 4-port Ethernet Expansionping Card 46M6164 No
Broadcom 2-port 10Gb Virtual Fabric Adapter 81Y3133 No
Emulex 10GbE Virtual Fabric Adapter 49Y4235 No
Emulex 10GbE Virtual Fabric Adapter Advanced 49Y4275 No
Emulex 10GbE Virtual Fabric Adapter II 90Y3550 No
Emulex 10GbE Virtual Fabric Adapter II Advanced 90Y3566 Yes
Intel 2-port 10Gb Ethernet Expansion Card 42C1810 No
Mellanox 2-port 10Gb Ethernet Expansion Card 90Y3570 No
NetXen 10Gb Ethernet Expansion Card 39Y9271 No
QLogic 2-port 10Gb Converged Network Adapter 42C1830 Yes

Supported configurations

As described in the previous section, the three components in this configuration are:

  • A supported expansion card (see Table 5)
  • Virtual Fabric 10 Gb Switch Module
  • QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module

These components are supported together in the BladeCenter chassis in three possible configurations:

Configuration 1: Maximum redundancy and bandwidth

  • Two switch modules in bays 7 and 9 of the chassis
  • Two extension modules in bays 3 and 5
  • One supported expansion card in each server

As shown in Figure 2, the switch in bay 7 is connected to the extension module in bay 3, and the switch in bay 9 is connected to the extension module in bay 5. This configuration results in 40 Gbps links between the switch and connected extension module. Four external ports of each switch module (8 total) are disabled (ports 1-4 in bay 7 and ports 7-10 in bay 9) and those circuits are rerouted to the extension modules. This configuration is best for redundancy and bandwidth. Total available external ports: 12 Ethernet, 12 Fibre Channel.

Note: This configuration precludes the use of the bay 3 and bay 4 for I/O modules for use with a CIOv card. You should not install a CIOv card in any blades installed in this chassis.

We show this configuration in detail in the Popular configurations section below.

Configuration 2: Maximum flexibility

  • Two switch modules in bays 7 and 9 of the chassis
  • One extension module in bay 5
  • One supported expansion card in each server

In this configuration, both the switch in bay 7 and the switch in bay 9 are connected to the extension module in bay 5. See Figure 2 for the connections. This configuration results in 20 Gbps links between each switch and the extension module. Two external ports of each switch module (4 total) are disabled (ports 1 and 2 in bay 7, and ports 9 and 10 in bay 9) and those circuits are rerouted to the extension module. Although the extension module is no longer redundant, it still offers the advantages of two paths from the adapter to the switch and extension module. Unlike configuration 1, this configuration allows the use of the CIOv slot in the blade servers (for example, for SAS connectivity) to connect to I/O modules installed in bays 3 and 4 of the chassis. Total available external ports: 16 Ethernet, 6 Fibre Channel.

We show this configuration in detail in the Popular configurations section below.

Configuration 3: Entry level

  • One switch module in bay 7 (or bay 9) of the chassis
  • One extension module in bay 5 (or bay 3)
  • One supported expansion card in each server

In this configuration, only one port of the Converged Network Adapter is active and one path is established from the adapter to the switch and on to the extension module. This configuration results in a 40 Gbps link between the switch and extension module. Four external ports of the switch module are disabled (ports 1-4 if bay 7 is used or ports 7-10 if bay 9 is used) and those circuits are rerouted to the extension module. This configuration does not offer any redundancy, but does maximize bandwidth to the extension module. If the extension module is installed in bay 5, then configuration allows the use of the CIOv slot in the blade servers to connect to I/O modules installed in bays 3 and 4 of the chassis. Total available external ports: 6 Ethernet, 6 Fibre Channel

Table 6 compares the number of available external ports in these configurations.

Table 6. Comparing the supported configurations

Configuration Total Ethernet ports Total Fibre Channel ports
1 12 12
2 16 6
3 6 6

Connectors and LEDs

Figure 5 shows the front panel of the QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module. The six external Fibre Channel ports support the SFP+ optical transceiver modules listed in Table 2.

14.D14.jpg
Figure 5. Front panel of the QLogic Virtual Fabric Extension Module

Table 9 lists the LEDs on the front panel and their meanings.

Table 9. LEDs on the front panel


LED name
LED description

OK
This green LED is at the top left of the I/O module on the front panel and indicates that the module is working properly.

! (I/O module fault)
This amber LED is at the top right of the I/O module on the front panel. This LED indicates that the I/O module has a fault. If the I/O module fails the POST, this fault LED is lit.

External port logged-in (LOG)
There are six green external port logged-in (LOG) LEDs. When one of these LEDs is lit, it indicates that there is a connection (or link) to a device on that port.

External port activity (TX/RX)
There are six green external port activity LEDs. When one of these LEDs flashes, it indicates that data is being received or transmitted (that is, activity is occurring) on that port. The flash frequency is proportional to the amount of traffic on that port.

External port fault (!)
There are six amber external port fault (!) LEDs. When an external port fault LED is lit, it indicates that the external port has failed the internal, external, or online port diagnostics tests.

Operating environment

The environment must meet the following temperature and altitude requirements:

  • Operating:
    • 10 - 52 °C (50 - 125 °F) at an altitude of 0 to 914 m (0 to 3,000 ft)
    • 10 - 49 °C (50 - 20 °F) at an altitude of 0 to 3,000 m (0 to 10,000 ft)
  • Non-operating:
    • 40 - 65 °C (-40 - 149 °F) at an altitude of 0 to 12,000 m (0 to 39,370 ft)

The environment has the following humidity level requirements:

  • Operating: 8% to 80%, noncondensing
  • Non-operating: 5% to 80%, noncondensing

Related product families

Product families related to this document are the following:

Trademarks

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

The following terms are trademarks of Lenovo in the United States, other countries, or both:
Lenovo®
BladeCenter®
System x®

The following terms are trademarks of other companies:

Intel® is a trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries.

Other company, product, or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.