Overview - IBM Server Connectivity Module for IBM BladeCenter

Content

Overview

IBM Server Connectivity Module for IBM BladeCenter is an Ethernet Server Connectivity Module (SCM) designed to meet the requirements of small/medium business (SMB) customers who have simple network infrastructure requirements or have limited on-site networking skills or of those customers who mandate a physical separation who desire to limit the networking functions within their server hardware platforms. While some of these requirements can be met with the IBM pass-through module from IBM, some current (such as SoL) and future chassis management requirements require a different solution. The configuration and management of the IBM Server Connectivity Module for IBM BladeCenter is easy and intuitive for a server administrator who has limited networking skills and knowledge. Also, the networking features of SCM have been designed so that an improperly configured device cannot disrupt the network infrastructure.

For the enterprise chassis, the IBM Server Connectivity Module for IBM BladeCenter is connected to server blades via 14 internal interfaces supporting a 1 Gbps connection over the BladeCenter mid-plane. For the Telco chassis, IBM Server Connectivity Module delivers eight internal interfaces supporting a 1 Gbps (1) connection to server blades. It also provides 6 1 Gbps Ethernet 802.3 complaint external ports to interface with the customer network.

The primary function of the Server Connectivity Module is to provide Ethernet interconnectivity between the processor blades, management modules and the external network environment. The SCM can be used to create up to 6 groups of servers with dedicated uplink ports. As mentioned earlier, the server administrator who is the main user of the SCM has limited networking skills. Therefore, the complex configuration of higher function switches has been simplified or eliminated and made intuitive so that skilled networking personnel are not required to install, configure, or manage IBM Server Connectivity Module for IBM BladeCenter. As a result some complex functions such as spanning tree or dynamic routing protocols are not required or will not be supported.

Key prerequisites

IBM BladeCenter Server.

At a Glance

IBM Server Connectivity Module for IBM BladeCenter is an easily installed switch providing a new low-end range of switching functions
within BladeCenter. The Server Connectivity Module delivers:

• Six (6) external copper Gb Ethernet ports
• 14 internal Gb ports for enterprise models of BladeCenter
• 8 internal Gb ports for the Telco models of BladeCenter
• Simplified Layer 2 functionality
• Non-networking interface for server administration and control with simple GUI and CLI
• Management Module support to hide IP Address

Marketing and replacement part number (FRU) information

• IBM Server Connectivity Module for IBM BladeCenter, marketing part number 39Y9324
• IBM Server Connectivity Module for IBM BladeCenter, replacement part number (FRU) 39Y9327