Multi-Switch Interconnect Module for IBM BladeCenter
8
Popular configurations
This section illustrates how the MSIM can be used in BladeCenter H configurations to add four extra ports
to each server in the chassis.
Eight Ethernet ports per server
With the MSIM, it is possible to supply eight Ethernet ports to every BladeCenter server installed in the
BladeCenter H chassis, as shown in Figure 4. In this configuration, each BladeCenter server has both a
2/4 Port Ethernet Expansion Card (CFFh) expansion card plus an Ethernet expansion card (CFFv or CIOv
form factor, depending on the model of the server). Eight Ethernet switch modules are installed in the
BladeCenter H chassis, four of them in MSIMs. All connections between the cards and the switch
modules are internal to the chassis. No extra cabling is needed.
Figure 4. Using two MSIMs and eight Ethernet Switch Modules to route eight Ethernet ports per server
