User guide

HP Virtual Connect for Cisco Network Administrators (version 4.x)
Document Number: C01386629 Date: January 2014
page 13
You can configure bandwidth on each FlexNIC from 100 Mb up to 10Gb, and dynamically
adjust the bandwidth in 100 Mb increments without requiring a server reboot. You can provide
just the right amount of bandwidth based on application needs. You no longer need to over-
provision or under-provision bandwidth. By virtue of Bandwidth optimization by setting Min
and Max values for individual FlexNICs, Virtual Connect allocates unused bandwidth from
FlexNICs to those FlexNICs whose bandwidth demands exceeds minimum. Min assures
guaranteed bandwidth all the time and Max is best effort depending upon available bandwidth
in other FlexNICs
Virtual Connect tells the network adapter how to configure each of the four physical functions.
Then the adapter defines each of those physical functions, provisions them into the OS as
individual NICs, and allocates the appropriate bandwidth. We work with each NIC vendor to
ensure that they meet our Virtual Connect requirements for splitting the PCIe function and
allocating bandwidth to each physical function.
Figure 6: Flex-10 adapters allow administrators to partition bandwidth based on application
requirements.
Figure 7: Flex-10/10D and Flex Fabric adapters allow administrators to partition bandwidth based on
application requirements – including the ability to support FCOE SAN traffic.