- Full Layer 2 switching and Layer 3 routing enable flexible in-chassis, traffic management and sophisticated security
- Adding full Layer 3 routing to the integrated switch module delivers more power, flexibility, and security capabilities to the BladeCenter system
- Security features help deliver added protection for switch configuration data
The Nortel 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module serves as a switching and routing fabric for all models of BladeCenter server chassis. In addition to the Layer 2 switching capabilities, this switch supports the expanded capabilities of Layer 3 routing. 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. The modules can be hot-plugged into the BladeCenter chassis without disrupting normal operations.
The switch connects to the server blades via the 14 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 switch through two internal 100 Mbps ports for communication to the BladeCenter management module using any of the internal or external data ports through an external serial port.