Networks and network types

HPE Virtual Connect (VC) is a set of interconnect modules and embedded software for HPE server hardware enclosures. VC implements server-edge virtualization between the server and the data center infrastructure that allows networks to communicate with individual servers or pools of server blades. A user can upgrade, replace, or move server blades within the enclosures without visible changes to the external LAN and SAN environments. The external networks connect to a shared resource server pool rather than to individual servers. VC cleanly separates server enclosure administration from LAN and SAN administration. VC simplifies the setup and administration of the networks through which the server communicates with the data center infrastructure.
NOTE:

For more information about VC hardware, installation, and administration, see the HPE Virtual Connect for c-Class BladeSystem Setup and Installation Guide.

The enclosure supports the following types of data center networks:

  • Fibre Channel (FC) for storage networks, including both fabric-attached and direct-attached FC connections.
  • Ethernet for data networks, including tagged, untagged, or tunnel networks.
  • Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) for storage networks where storage traffic is carried over a dedicated Ethernet VLAN.
  • RoCE networks for RDMA use cases.
IMPORTANT:
The networking features described apply to enclosures and servers only. The appliance does not monitor or manage the network features and hardware for rack mount servers or networking equipment outside the enclosures.
NOTE:

You can associate a network to either an IPv4 or IPv6 subnet.

The details of your networks and any alerts associated with them appear on the Networks screen. If no resources are listed, you must add a resource.

Creating networks

Before creating networks, be aware of the networking maximums. See the HPE OneView Support Matrix for more information.

You can create networks before you add an enclosure, which is known as pre-provisioning.

Provisioning networks

An Ethernet network or RoCE network is provisioned to an interconnect when the network is associated with an uplink set or internal networks in a logical interconnect.

An FC or FCoE network is provisioned to an interconnect when the network is associated with an uplink set in a logical interconnect.

An Ethernet network or RoCE network must be provisioned to a logical interconnect and be consistent with the logical interconnect group to be deployed in a server profile as an Ethernet connection.

An FCoE network must be provisioned to a logical interconnect and be consistent with the logical interconnect group to be deployed in a server profile as an FCoE connection.

Deleting networks

You can select and delete multiple networks of the same type on the Networks screen. Alerts are raised if you try to delete networks that are in use.