IBM System Networking RackSwitch G8124E
9
LLDP
16 K MAC table
9 K jumbo frames
802.3X flow control
Upgrades
Upgrade firmware via serial or TFTP
Dual software images
Popular configurations
The following sections describe popular configurations.
Virtual Fabric configuration
IBM Virtual Fabric for IBM System x is built using industry standards and is an ideal solution for
customers that require more than two NICs per server. Over the past couple of years many clients
have seen their I/O requirements per server increase anywhere from four to six to eight, or even more,
NICs per server, especially with the adoption of virtualization. IBM Virtual Fabric allows clients the
ability to use a virtual NIC approach using10G Ethernet technology to help reduce cost and
complexity, and achieve better performance and more flexibility. For example:
Reduce costs: (acquisition and operating) by using fewer adapters, cables, and upstream switch
ports.
Reduce complexity: Fewer items to manage, based on industry standards making thing easier to
manage with the addition of high availability and better security.
Better performance: Significantly more I/O bandwidth per server and lower latency than traditional
1G Ethernet.
Flexibility: The ability to carve up a dual-port 10G adapter into 4 - 8 virtual NICs and create virtual
pipes between the adapter and switch for higher availability and security. Not only can customers
dynamically allocate I/O bandwidth to each virtual NIC, Virtual Fabric also provides the ability to
change those allocations as needed. For example, a customer may have one configuration for
workload during the day and another during the evenings. Virtual Fabric has the ability to make
those changes on the fly without downtime.
