Specifications

46 Implementing IBM System Networking 10Gb Ethernet Switches
Blade server default ports: Ethernet
Figure 1-25 shows a blade server in an IBM BladeCenter HT chassis. The example blade
shows two onboard NICs (NIC0 and NIC1). NIC0 is connected through the IBM BladeCenter
HT 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 HT are dedicated Ethernet switch bays, meaning, only Ethernet capable
devices can be installed in these two switch bays.
Figure 1-25 IBM BladeCenter HT Ethernet Switch Module and blade server NIC connections
Some blade servers, like 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 hard wired 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 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. Appropriate Ethernet switch modules must also be installed in switch bays three
and four to support Ethernet connectivity to the CIO-v Ethernet card.