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I/O modules
The BladeCenter T unit supports from up to four hot-swap I/O modules. Table 10 on
page 33 identifies the types of I/O modules that you can install in each I/O-module
bay. Go to the IBM Support Web site at www.ibm.com/pc/support/ to see the list of
supported I/O modules.
The BladeCenter T unit supports a minimum of one hot-swap Ethernet switch
module or pass-through module, in I/O-module bay 1 or 2. This I/O module provides
an internal connection to an integrated Ethernet controller in all the blade servers in
the BladeCenter T unit, up to 8 internal connections per I/O module. To provide an
internal connection for the second integrated Ethernet controller in each blade
server, install an Ethernet switch module or pass-through module in the available
I/O-module bay of the pair (I/O-module bay 1 or bay 2). The management modules
connect to the switch module through the backplane using a transformerless
100-Mbps connection and an I2C interface.
The BladeCenter T unit supports two additional I/O modules in I/O-module bays 3
and 4. Each of these I/O modules provides an internal connection to one of the two
network-interface controllers on each of the I/O expansion options that are installed
on blade servers in the BladeCenter T unit. The I/O module must be compatible
with the network interface on each of the I/O expansion options. For example, if you
install a Fibre Channel I/O expansion option on a blade server, the I/O modules that
you install in I/O-module bays 3 and 4 must be Fibre Channel switch modules or
pass-through modules.
Important: The switch modules in I/O module bays 3 and 4, and all blade server
interface options in the BladeCenter T unit, must use the same interface type. For
example, if you install an Ethernet interface option on a blade server, the switch
modules that you install in I/O module bays 3 and 4 must be Ethernet. All other
interface options in the BladeCenter T unit must also be Ethernet interface options.
Note: You can use a pass-through module in any I/O-module bay, provided the
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BladeCenter T Types 8720 and 8730: Planning and Installation Guide
associated controller in the blade servers or I/O expansion option is
compatible with it.
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