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I/O modules
For blade server communication with the network, your BladeCenter unit supports
from one to four hot-swap I/O modules. Table 2 identifies the type of I/O module
you can install in each I/O-module bay. Go to the IBM Support Web site at
http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/ to see the list of supported I/O modules.
Your BladeCenter unit supports a minimum of one hot-swap Ethernet switch module
or pass-thru module, in I/O-module bay 1 or 2. This I/O module provides an internal
connection to an integrated Ethernet controller in all the blade servers in the
BladeCenter unit, up to 14 internal connections per I/O module. To provide an
internal connection for the second integrated Ethernet controller in each blade
server, install an Ethernet switch module or pass-thru module in the available
I/O-module bay of the pair (I/O-module bay 1 or bay 2).
Similarly, the BladeCenter unit supports two additional I/O modules in I/O-module
bays 3 and 4. Each of these I/O modules provides an internal connection to one of
the two network-interface controllers on all the I/O expansion options installed on
blade servers in the BladeCenter unit. The I/O module must be compatible with the
network interface on all the I/O expansion options. For example, if you install a
Fibre Channel I/O expansion option on a blade server, the I/O modules you install
in I/O-module bays 3 and 4 must be Fibre Channel switch modules or pass-thru
modules.
Notes:
1. Because of electromagnetic interference (EMI), no more than two four-port 1-Gb
Ethernet switch modules can be installed in the BladeCenter unit. You can mix
four-port 1-Gb Ethernet switch modules with other supported Ethernet switch
modules to achieve the total number of Ethernet switch modules you need in
the BladeCenter unit.
2. You can use a pass-thru module in any I/O-module bay, provided the associated
controller in the blade servers or I/O expansion options is compatible with it.
The following table summarizes the types of modules that can be used in each
I/O-module bay. See “Rear view” on page 33 for the location of the I/O-module bays
on the BladeCenter unit.
Table 2. Hot-swap I/O module types by location
Bays I/O-module function Permissible I/O module
1 and 2 Network connections 1 and 2
(Ethernet) for all blade servers in the
BladeCenter unit
One of the following combinations:
v Two Ethernet switch modules
v Two pass-thru modules
v One Ethernet switch module and
one pass-thru module
3 and 4 Network connections 3 and 4 (for all
I/O expansion options on blade
servers in the BladeCenter unit)
One of the following combinations.
v Two Ethernet switch modules
v Two Fibre Channel switch modules
v Two pass-thru modules
Important:
v The modules used must support the
network interface used on the I/O
expansion options.
v The I/O modules in bays 3 and 4
must be the same type.
16 BladeCenter Type 8677: Installation and User’s Guide