HP blades - Virtual Connect ?

Lanz · 1 Jul 2010 at 23:06

Just wondering if worth getting for the backs of our c7000 enclosures?

Our salesman says it might be worth getting rid of our passthroughs now we are running quite a few blades. But I'm not that convinced, as we have cisco skills in the team so getting blades connected quickly isn't an issue.

Cheers

BoomAM · 2 Jul 2010 at 08:52

IIRC the Virtual Connect are basically 10gig links physically that can be virtual carved up into whatever speeds you want.

Depends really. Theres advantages to it, but the disadvantages are just as many imo.

Are you heavily saturating your existing links? Or some of them?

Lanz · 2 Jul 2010 at 09:13

At the moment we just use 1gbit passthrus going back to the core, so thats lots of cables, none are really saturated, but it'll be good to simplify the config.

But then its a lot of money to outfit 4 c7000 enclosures, just to make life a bit easier.

BoomAM · 2 Jul 2010 at 09:24

Lanz said:
At the moment we just use 1gbit passthrus going back to the core, so thats lots of cables, none are really saturated, but it'll be good to simplify the config.

But then its a lot of money to outfit 4 c7000 enclosures, just to make life a bit easier.

+ unless i missed something at the HP Brief, you are are going to need to factor in the cost/effort for the physical links, the switches on the otherside too, etc;

Lanz · 2 Jul 2010 at 10:26

So we'll need 10gbe on the core too? (which we aint got at the moment)

katana6434 · 2 Jul 2010 at 13:08

You don't need 10gbe on the core as you can set the VC to what speed you want. You can also trunk them to increase thoughput if neccessary.

BoomAM · 5 Jul 2010 at 09:59

katana6434 said:
You don't need 10gbe on the core as you can set the VC to what speed you want. You can also trunk them to increase thoughput if neccessary.

Yes you do.
Otherwise whats the point in going to a 10gig link to lessen cables, but then running it at the same speed as one of the old cables!

katana6434 · 6 Jul 2010 at 19:10

I'm just saying you don't need to have the core at 10gbe for VC to run. I agree it makes more sense if you do have a 10gbe core as you will then get the benefits.

BoomAM · 7 Jul 2010 at 16:03

katana6434 said:
I'm just saying you don't need to have the core at 10gbe for VC to run. I agree it makes more sense if you do have a 10gbe core as you will then get the benefits.

So the idea would be to have upto 16 blades on 1gig links each to all on a single segmented 1gig link...technically possible=yes, something you'd do?=only if your mad.

.

Lanz · 12 Jul 2010 at 08:51

The plan is to use a 6GB (6 x 1GB) etherchannel to link each enclosure to the core, and a 10Gbe link between the 2 enclosures.

Im beginning to like the idea, even if its overkill for what we need. Hell, it's not my money afterall and learning new stuff is good for the CV huh.