Getting Started Guide

1-2
Hardware Overview and Quick Start Installation and Initial Setup
HP ProCurve Datacenter Connection Manager Controller
HP ProCurve Datacenter Connection
Manager Controller
The HP ProCurve Datacenter Connection Manager (DCM) Controller is a 1U
appliance that is designed to help network administrators provision the
network for server interfaces.
Using the DCM Controller, network administrators can prepare in advance for
a new server installation by configuring a virtual connection, which deter-
mines the network attributes for that server interface. For example, network
administrators can:
■ Control how MAC and IP addresses are assigned to the server interface—
Network administrators can specify that the DCM Controller assign the
IP address and/or MAC address. Or, they can allow the addresses to be
assigned manually when the connection is created or subscribed.
■ Specify which MAC address and IP address are assigned to the server
interface—Network administrators can determine exactly which MAC
address and IP address are assigned to each server interface.
In addition, network administrators can enforce MAC-Auth or 802.1X authen-
tication for the server interface and define its virtual LAN (VLAN) and Quality
of Service (QoS) settings.
After the virtual connection is defined, server administrators can subscribe,
or associate, the virtual connection with a new server interface. The DCM
Controller supports all types of server interfaces, from legacy server inter-
faces that run on dedicated hardware to virtualized servers that run on blade
server systems.
With these few simple steps, the DCM Controller is prepared to automatically
handle the installation of a new server interface. When the server interface is
connected to the network, the DCM Controller detects the server interface,
authenticates it (using either MAC-Auth or 802.1X), and forwards its defined
network attributes to the switch, which enforces them. (For more information
about this process, see the HP ProCurve Datacenter Connection Manager
Controller Management and Configuration Guide.)
Figure 1-1 shows how this process works.