Dell PowerEdge Use Manual page 13

Gigabit Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet provides the following network connections, depending on
your configuration:
• Public connection from the server modules to the public network
• Private node-to-node connection between the server modules for the
private network
• iSCSI connection between the server modules and storage system(s). For
more information, see "Supported Cluster Configurations" on page 16.
The server modules include two integrated Gigabit Ethernet network
interface cards (NICs). You must configure at least two networks for each
PowerEdge cluster solution. One cluster network is configured for heartbeat
communications (private network) and is only accessible to the server
modules in the cluster. The other cluster network is configured for the client
network (public network) and is accessible to client systems. It is
recommended that you configure the same network interface on each node
for the same role in the cluster. For example, you can use the two integrated
NICs to provide the private and public cluster networks. Such a configuration
allows an expansion card in the server module to provide the I/O interface for
the shared storage system(s) in the cluster. Use a Gigabit Ethernet expansion
card for iSCSI shared storage systems and use a Fibre Channel expansion card
for Fibre Channel shared storage systems. For more information about iSCSI
and Fibre Channel clusters, see "Supported Cluster Configurations" on
page 16.
Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module
The Gigabit Ethernet switch module provides a switched connection to the
integrated NICs on each server module. Using the internal connections in the
system chassis, the Gigabit Ethernet switch module can be used to provide
the following configurations:
• A switched connection to the client network (public network).
• Network connection to one or more server modules in the Cluster
configuration (private network).
• iSCSI connection between the server modules and storage system(s). For
more information, see "Supported Cluster Configurations" on page 16.
Introduction
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