User Manual

1 Introduction
The HP StorageWorks 3Gb SAS BL Switch (3Gb SAS BL Switch) is a single-wide interconnect module
for HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosures that enables a server blade with a Smart Array P700m controller
to communicate with external SAS storage enclosures and tape devices. Its 3Gb SAS technology
delivers high performance, with high data bandwidth up to 300 MB/s per physical link, and is fully
compatible with 1.5G SATA technology. Both dual-port SAS and single-port SATA disk drive
interconnections are supported, offering deployment flexibility.
The 3Gb SAS BL Switch is a key component of HP Direct-Connect External SAS Storage for HP
BladeSystem Solutions. For more information on BladeSystem solutions, see the HP Direct-Connect
External SAS Storage for HP BladeSystem Solutions Deployment Guide, available on the BladeSystem
Interconnects page of the HP Manuals website http://www.hp.com/support/manuals.
Features
Simplified management:
• BladeSystem c-Class enclosures and their blade devices centralize control and reduce storage
management cost.
• The HP Virtual SAS Manager application, used for zoning, is embedded in the switch firmware.
Enterprise-class performance:
• The 3Gb SAS BL Switch is fully supported in the HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosure infrastructure
and is compatible with any combination of HP BladeSystem c-Class server blades.
• An existing switch can be installed or replaced without having to power down the BladeSystem
enclosure.
• Configuration and management is performed through the embedded Virtual SAS Manager (VSM)
utility. VSM offers both a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and a Command Line Interface (CLI).
High availability when using a pair of switches in the same interconnect row of the BladeSystem
c-Class enclosure:
• The inclusion of a redundant switch along with redundant controllers, I/O modules, and the use
of dual-ported disk drives ensures that the system can tolerate a component or path failure and
maintain access to the storage.
• Internal server networking connections to each switch in the pair provides redundant paths to tol-
erate a switch or port malfunction.
• Redundant power supplies and redundant cooling fans within the c-Class enclosure.
• Redundant firmware images and configuration settings on switch flash memory.
3Gb SAS BL Switch User Guide 7