Appendix C: Acronyms and abbreviations 224
Appendix C: Acronyms and abbreviations
Term
Definition
Auto Port Speed**
Let VC automatically determine best Flex NIC speed
CLP String
Flex-10 NIC settings written to the server hardware by VC/OA when the server is power oof.
Read by the server hardware upon power in.
Custom Port Speed**
Manually set Flex NIC speed (up to Maximum value defined)
DCC**
Dynamic Control Channel. Future method for VC to change Flex-10 NIC port settings on the fly
(without power no/off)
EtherChannel*
A Cisco proprietary technology that combines multiple NIC or switch ports for greater
bandwidth, load balancing, and redundancy. The technology allows for bi-directional
aggregated network traffic flow.
Flex NIC**
One of four virtual NIC partitions available per Flex-10 Nic port. Each capable of being tuned
from 100Mb to 10Gb
Flex-10 Nic Port**
A physical 10Gb port that is capable of being partitioned into 4 Flex NICs
IEEE802.1Q
An industry standard protocol that enables multiple virtual networks to run on a single link/port in
a secure fashion through the use of VLAN tagging.
IEEE802.3ad
An industry standard protocol that allows multiple links/ports to run in parallel, providing a
virtual single link/port. The protocol provides greater bandwidth, load balancing, and
redundancy.
LACP
Link Aggregation Control Protocol (see IEEE802.3ad)
LOM
LAN-on-Motherboard. Embedded network adapter on the system board
Maximum Link Connection
Speed**
Maximum Flex NIC speed value assigned to vNet by the network administrator. Can NOT be
manually overridden on the server profile.
Multiple Networks Link Speed
Settings**
Global Preferred and Maximum Flex NIC speed values that override defined vNet values when
multiple vNets are assigned to the same Flex NIC
MZ1 or MEZZ1; LOM
Mezzanine Slot 1; LAM on Motherbard/systemboard NIC
Network Teaming Software
A software that runs on a host, allowing multiple network interface ports to be combined to act as
a single virtual port. The software provides greater bandwidth, load balancing, and redundancy.
pNIC**
Physical NIC port. A Flex NIC is seen by VMware as a pNIC
Port Aggregation
Combining ports to provide one or more of the following benefits: greater bandwidth, load
balancing, and redundancy.
Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP)*
A Cisco proprietary protocol aids in the automatic creation of Fast EtherChannel links. PAgP
packets are sent between Fast EtherChannel-capable ports to negotiate the forming of a channel.
Port Bonding
A term typically used in the Unix/Linux world that is synonymous to NIC teaming in the Windows
world.
Preferred Link Connection Speed**
Preferred Flex NIC speed value assigned to a vNet by the network administrator.
Share Uplink Set (SUS)
A set of Ethernet uplinks that are used together to provide improved throughput and availability
to a group of associated Virtual Connect networks. Each associated Virtual Connect network is
mapped to a specific VLAN on the external connection and appropriate VLAN tags are removed
or added as Ethernet packets enter or leave the Virtual Connect domain.
