NEW - Nortel 1/10G Uplink - Bladecenter

IBM BladeCenter systems expand networking capabilities with Nortel 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module and 10GbE Fiber SFP+ transceiver

Overview The Nortel 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module for IBM BladeCenter is a new switch option that enables administrators to offer full Layer 2 and 3 switching and routing capability with combined 1 Gb and 10 Gb uplinks in a BladeCenter chassis. Such consolidation simplifies the data centre infrastructure and helps reduce the number of discrete devices, management consoles and management systems. In addition, the next-generation switch module hardware is capable of supporting IPv6 Layer 3 frame forwarding protocols via a future firmware upgrade. The 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module uses switching technology in an integrated switch module design. The 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module was developed specifically for the BladeCenter platform as a follow-on to the Layer 2/3 10 Gb Uplink switch module that began shipping in 2006. A maximum of four Nortel 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch modules can reside in the I/O module bays of the BladeCenter E and BladeCenter T chassis. A maximum of six switch modules can reside in the I/O module bays for the BladeCenter H and BladeCenter HT chassis when the optional Multiswitch Interconnect Module is installed. Up to three switch modules are supported in the BladeCenter S chassis. The modules can be hot-plugged into the BladeCenter chassis without disrupting normal operations. The switch connects to the server blades via the internal GbE interfaces (server ports) over the BladeCenter mid-plane. It supplies nine external Ethernet interfaces for outside communication. This includes three 10GbE SFP+ ports and six 1 Gb RJ45 ports. Each 10GbE SFP+ port requires an optional pluggable SFP+ transceiver. You can manage the 1/10Gb uplink Ethernet switch through two internal 100 Mbps ports for communication to the BladeCenter management module, using any of the internal or external data ports or through an external serial port. 10GbE 850 nm (SR) fibre SFP+ transceiver The 10GbE 850 nm fibre SFP+ transceiver for BladeCenter is a new high-speed transceiver designed for short range transmission. It is specially qualified and tested to work with the Nortel 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module which is the next-generation IBM BladeCenter Ethernet switch. Up to three of the new 10GbE transceivers can be plugged into the Nortel 1/10Gb switch.

Planned availability date: July 8, 2008

Nortel 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module 44W4404 for IBM BladeCenter
10GbE 850 nm Fiber SFP+ Transceiver (SR) 44W4408 for IBM BladeCenter