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Serial over LAN (SOL)
The integrated SOL function routes the console data stream over standard dual 1 Gb
Ethernet ports to the Advance Management Module. The PS703 and PS704 do not have
on-board video chips and do not support KVM connections. Console access is only by SOL
connection. Each blade can have a single SOL session; however, there can be multiple telnet
or ssh sessions to the BladeCenter AMM, each acting as a SOL connection to a different
blade.
For more information, see 2.8.1, "Server console access by SOL" on page 65.
1.7 Supported BladeCenter I/O modules
With IBM BladeCenter, the switches and other I/O modules are installed in the chassis rather
than as discrete devices installed in the rack.
The BladeCenter chassis supports a wide variety and range of I/O switch modules. These
switch modules are matched to the type, slot location, and form factor of the expansion cards
installed in a blade server. For more information, see 1.6.7, "I/O features" on page 21 and 2.7,
"Internal I/O subsystem" on page 55.
The I/O switch modules described in the following sections are matched with the on-board
Broadcom 2-port BCM5709S network controller ports along with the supported expansion
card ports in the PS703 and PS704 blades.
For the latest and most current information about blade, expansion card, switch module, and
chassis compatibility and interoperability see the IBM BladeCenter Interoperability Guide at
the following web page:
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=psg1MIGR-5073016
1.7.1 Ethernet switch and intelligent pass-through modules
Various types of Ethernet switch and pass-through modules from several manufacturers are
available for BladeCenter, and they support different network layers and services. These I/O
modules provide external and chassis blade-to-blade connectivity.
The Broadcom 2-port BCM5709S network controller, along with the supported expansion
cards in the PS703 and PS704 blades, provides Ethernet connectivity. For more information,
see 2.7.5, "Embedded Ethernet Controller" on page 63. There are two physical ports on the
PS703 and four physical ports on the PS704. The data traffic from these on-blade 1 Gb
Ethernet adapter ports is directed to I/O switch bays 1 and 2 respectively on all BladeCenter
chassis except BladeCenter S. On the BladeCenter S the connections for all blade Ethernet
ports are wired to I/O switch bay 1.
To provide external network connectivity and a SOL system console through the BladeCenter
Advanced Management Module, at least one Ethernet I/O module is required in switch bay 1.
For more information, see 2.8.1, "Server console access by SOL" on page 65.
In addition to the onboard Ethernet ports, the QLogic Ethernet and 4 Gb Fibre Channel
Expansion Card (CFFh) adapter can provide two additional 1 Gb Ethernet ports per card.
A list of available Ethernet I/O modules that support the on-blade Ethernet ports and
expansion card are shown in Table 1-10 on page 29. Not all switches are supported in every
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IBM BladeCenter PS703 and PS704 Technical Overview and Introduction
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