Specifications

Chapter 1. Introduction to IBM System Networking 10Gb Ethernet products 41
Blade server default ports: Ethernet
Figure 1-21 shows a blade server in an IBM BladeCenter H chassis. The example blade
shows two onboard NICs (NIC0 and NIC1). NIC0 is connected through the IBM BladeCenter
H midplane to switch bay one. NIC1 is connected to switch bay two. These connections are
hardwired in the chassis mid-plane and cannot be changed. Switch bays one and two in the
IBM BladeCenter H are dedicated Ethernet switch bays; only Ethernet capable devices can
be installed in these two switch bays.
Figure 1-21 BladeCenter H Ethernet Switch Module and blade server NIC connections
Some blade servers, such as the 4 Socket Double-Wide HX5 (MT7873), are 60 mm wide and
occupy two server slots in the chassis. The 4 Socket Double-Wide HX5 (and other
double-wide blades) have an additional pair of Ethernet interfaces on the second module of
the blade. These additional NICs (depicted as NIC2 and NIC4) are also hardwired to switch
bays one and two.
Blade server additional ports: 1 Gb Ethernet / Fibre Channel
Switch bays three and four are optional switch bays. These switch bays can be used for
Ethernet connectivity by installing an optional Combination I/O Vertical (CIO-v) Ethernet
daughter card on the blade server. Interface 0 of the daughter card (INTF0) is connected to
switch bay three and interface 1 (INTF1) is connected to switch bay four. Again, these
connections cannot be changed. The appropriate Ethernet switch modules must also be
installed in switch bays three and four to support Ethernet connectivity to the CIO-v
Ethernet card.