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© Copyright IBM Corp. 2005. All rights reserved. 1
Chapter 1. Executive summary
IBM and Nortel Networks are committed to collaborating on the design and development of
server and networking technology to address customer requirements by establishing a joint
development center. The Nortel Networks Layer 2/3 Copper and Fiber GbE Switch Modules
for IBM Eserver BladeCenter (Nortel Networks L2/3 GbESM and Nortel GbESM) represents
a new height in this alliance.
The BladeCenter switch module offers BladeCenter customers Nortel’s latest fiber and
copper Gigabit Ethernet switching technology which is integrated into the BladeCenter
chassis. It further enhances the BladeCenter value proposition by seamlessly interfacing to a
customer’s existing data network using six external multimode fiber or copper GbE interfaces.
When installed in the BladeCenter chassis, Nortel Networks L2/3 GbESM provides both full
L2 switching and L3 routing capabilities and significant added value not found in commodity
switching solutions. This value includes:
VLAN tagging - 802.1Q
Link Aggregation and LACP - 802.3ad and 802.3-2002
Spanning Tree - 802.1D, 802.1w, 802.1s
Routing Information Protocol - RFC1058 and RFC2453
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) - RFC1257, RFC2328, and others
Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) - RFC 3768
Each Nortel Networks L2/3 GbESM provides one Gigabit per second Ethernet (GbE)
connectivity to each of the 14 blade slots and six GbE uplink interfaces external to the
IBM Eserver BladeCenter. The customer can install as few as one Nortel Networks L2/3
GbESM or as many as four Nortel Networks L2/3 GbESMs in one BladeCenter chassis. With
four Nortel Networks L2/3 GbESMs installed, you can obtain 24 GbE uplink interfaces as well
as 56 GbE internal switching capability. The flexibility of the Nortel Networks L2/3 GbESM
allows you to address a variety of performance and redundancy needs.
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