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Popular configurations
The following sections describe popular configurations.
Virtual Fabric configuration
Note that the support for x3550/x3650 M3 with Emulex adapters is planned for July 23, 2010 and for X5
models is targeted for 4Q 2010.
IBM Virtual Fabric for IBM System x is built using industry standards and is the ideal solution for
customers that require more than two NICs per server. Over the past couple of years many clients have
seen their I/O requirements per server increase anywhere from 4 to 6 to 8, or even more, NICs per server,
especially with the adoption of virtualization. IBM Virtual Fabric allows clients the ability to leverage a
virtual NIC approach leveraging 10G Ethernet technology to help reduce cost and complexity while also
achieving better performance and more flexibility. For example:
1.
Reduce costs: (acquisition and operating) by using fewer adapters, cables, and upstream switch
ports.
2.
Reduce complexity: fewer items to manage, based on industry standards making thing easier to
manage with the addition of high availability and better security.
3.
Better performance: significantly more I/O bandwidth per server and lower latency than traditional 1G
Ethernet.
4.
Flexibility: the ability to carve up a dual-port 10G adapter into 4 - 8 virtual NICs and create virtual
pipes between the adapter and switch for higher availability and security. Not only can customers
dynamically allocate I/O bandwidth to each virtual NIC, Virtual Fabric also provides the ability to
change those allocations as needed. For example, a customer may have one configuration for
workload during the day and another during the evenings. Virtual Fabric has the ability to make those
changes on the fly without downtime.
IBM Virtual Fabric (Figure 2) is designed in partnership with BLADE Network Technologies and Emulex.
The components needed for this solution are:
Emulex 10Gb Virtual Fabric Adapter for IBM System x:
http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/Redbooks.nsf/RedbookAbstracts/tips0762.html?Open
BNT Virtual Fabric 10G G8124 RackSwitch for IBM System x
Figure 2. IBM Virtual Fabric Adapter topology
IBM BNT RackSwitch G8124
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