IBM BladeCenter Virtual Fabric for a Future-Proof Data Center  

Next generation servers like the IBM HS22 BladeCenter server deliver outstanding performance in virtualized environments, but I/O becomes more complex and often becomes a bottleneck.

Three key I/O issues are:

1. Need more than two ports per server, with 6-8 recommended for virtualization
2. Need more than 1Gb bandwidth, but don't need full 10Gb today
3. Need to prepare for network convergence in the future

The Virtual Fabric Solution for IBM BladeCenter addresses these concerns and provides value to non-virtualized environments as well.

The Virtual Fabric Solution includes the Emulex CFFh Virtual Fabric Adapter (VFA) and BNT Convergence Ready 10G Ethernet Switch, enabling new levels of consolidation, efficiency, flexibility and scalability with lower costs. Bandwidth can be allocated and adjusted based on actual requirements with investment protection for future migrations to 10Gb and/or converged Ethernet infrastructures.

Data centers can leverage 20Gb of dual-port Ethernet bandwidth and 16Gb of dual-channel storage bandwidth when they combine the Emulex 10Gb VFA with the Emulex LightPulse® 8Gb/s Fibre Channel CIOv Expansion Card, making an ideal IBM BladeCenter solution for VMware virtualized server environments.

Later this year,  an upgrade option will enable Emulex VFAs to support both Ethernet and FC traffic.  This solution will streamline complexity for virtualized environments and reduce switch costs by up to 75% and cable and adapter costs by up to 50% while achieving better energy efficiency.