Chapter 4. Switch Management And Operating Concepts; Ethernet Switch Subsystem Overview; Bladecenter Chassis Configuration And Operation - IBM BladeCenter Installation And User Manual

Chapter 4. Switch management and operating concepts

This chapter discusses many of the concepts and features used to manage the
switch and the concepts necessary to understand how the switch functions. In
addition, this chapter explains many important points regarding these features.
Configuring the switch to implement these concepts and use its many features is
discussed in detail in the following chapters.

Ethernet switch subsystem overview

This section provides information that you should be familiar with when managing
and configuring the internal switch modules. If you are familiar with Layer 2
Ethernet switches, you will recognize the industry-standard parameters and
terminology that are used in this document. However, it is important that you also
understand the BladeCenter operating environment with regard to the internal
switches.
The Ethernet switch modules are hot-swappable subsystems that provide Ethernet
switching capabilities within a BladeCenter chassis. The primary purpose of the
switch module is to provide Ethernet interconnectivity among the processor blades,
management modules, and the external network infrastructure.
Two independent switch modules provide redundancy in the base system
configuration. Each of the 14 server blades within a BladeCenter chassis has a
dedicated, 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) full-duplex link to each of the two switch modules.
Ports 1 through 14 on the switch module correspond to server blades 1 through 14,
respectively (numbered left to right when viewed from the front of the chassis).
Each switch module has four external 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet ports for
connection to the external network infrastructure. These ports are identified as Ext1,
Ext2, Ext3, and Ext4 in the switch configuration menus and are labeled 1 through 4
(from top to bottom) on the switch module (see Chapter 3, "Information panel LEDs
and external ports" on page 15 for an illustration).
Depending on the application, the external Ethernet interfaces can be configured to
meet a variety of requirements for bandwidth or function.
The BladeCenter Ethernet switch modules have been preconfigured with default
parameter settings that can be used with most typical installations. All switch
modules will need a few basic parameter settings initially, such as an Internet
protocol (IP) address for management and control, security access and control
parameters, and basic setup of the external ports for link aggregation.

BladeCenter chassis configuration and operation

The BladeCenter Ethernet switch module is an integral subsystem within the overall
BladeCenter system. For additional BladeCenter system level information, see the
applicable BladeCenter Installation and User's Guide publications on the IBM
BladeCenter Documentation CD. The BladeCenter chassis includes a management
module (MM) as the central element for overall chassis management and control.
The switch module includes a 100-Mbps internal Ethernet port that can only be
accessed by the management module. To prevent inadvertent changes, this
management port is "hidden" and does not appear in the port configuration and
status screens. The factory default settings will only permit management and control
access to the switch module through the 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port on the
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2002
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