Specifications

50 Implementing IBM System Networking 10Gb Ethernet Switches
BLADE Network Technologies (before being acquired by IBM) commissioned Tolly to
evaluate the functionality of its RackSwitch G8000, RackSwitch G8124, and IBM Virtual
Fabric 10G Switch Module for the IBM BladeCenter against a Cisco Nexus 5010 switch.
Functionality tests focused on auto-negotiation, 10 GbE LAN PHY support, IEEE 802.1p/Q,
Jumbo Frame support, Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)/EtherChannel support,
Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP/PVRST+), Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP)
support and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)/ Data Center Bridging (DCB) feature
support. Finally, the IBM switches were tested for interoperability with the Nexus 5010 using a
mixture of these features. The report can be found at:
򐂰 http://www.tolly.com/DocDetail.aspx?DocNumber=210140
򐂰 http://www.tolly.com/ts/2010/Blade/Tolly210140BLADESwitchesInteroperabilityWithCi
scoNexus5010.pdf
The document is titled BLADE Network Technologies RackSwitch G8000, RackSwitch
G8124 and Virtual Fabric 10G Switch module, Functionality Certification, and Cooperative
Interoperability Evaluation with Cisco Nexus 5010.
Even though updates to the switch operating system are ongoing, this level of interoperability
is maintained.