Connect to a 10 GbE Client Access Network

Before You Begin

The IP addresses and host names for the client access network should be registered in the Domain Name System (DNS) prior to initial configuration. In addition, all public addresses, single client access name (SCAN) addresses, and VIP addresses should be registered in DNS prior to installation.

A 10 GbE client access network infrastructure is a required part of the installation process for the SPARC SuperCluster T4-4.

The following components have been included with the SPARC SuperCluster T4-4:

• Four dual-ported Sun Dual 10 GbE SFP+ PCIe NICs in each SPARC T4-4 server, preinstalled in PCIE slots 2, 6, 10, and 14 (see Card and Port Locations (SPARC T4-4 Servers) for more information)

• Transceivers preinstalled in the 10 GbE NICs

• Four 10-meter SFP-QSFP optical splitter cables for a half rack or eight cables for a full rack

If you wish to use the supplied SFP-QSFP cables for the connection to your client access network, you must provide the following 10 GbE client access network infrastructure components:

• A 10 GbE switch with QSFP connections, such as the Sun Network 10GbE Switch 72p

• Transceivers for connections to your 10 GbE switch (four transceivers for a half rack or eight transceivers for a full rack)

If you do not want to use the supplied SFP-QSFP cables for the connection to your client access network, you must provide the following 10 GbE client access network infrastructure components:

• A 10 GbE switch

• Suitable optical cables with SFP+ connections for the SPARC T4-4 server side

• Suitable transceivers to connect all cables to your 10 GbE switch

If you do not have a 10 GbE client access network infrastructure set up at your site, you must have a 10 GbE network switch available at the time of installation that the SPARC SuperCluster T4-4 can be connected to, even if the network speed drops from 10 Gb to 1 Gb on the other side of the 10 GbE network switch. The SPARC SuperCluster T4-4 cannot be installed at the customer site without the 10 GbE client access network infrastructure in place.

1. Locate the Sun Dual 10 GbE SFP+ PCIe NIC(s) that you will use to connect to the client access network.

   The NIC connections will vary, depending on the type and number of domains that you have set up for your SPARC SuperCluster T4-4. See 10 GbE Client Access Network Physical Connections (SPARC T4-4 Servers) and Understanding the SPARC SuperCluster T4-4 Configurations for more information.

2. Locate the SFP cable that you will use for the connection to the 10 GbE client access network.

   You can use the 10-meter SFP-QSFP optical splitter cables provided with the system or your own SFP cables.

3. Connect the SFP side of the cable to the port on the 10 GbE NIC.
4. Connect the other end of the cable to the 10 GbE switch that you provided.

   The following figure shows an example connection layout for the 10 GbE client access network, where:

   • The two QSFP ends of the two SFP-QSFP cables connect to the QSFP ports on the 10 GbE switch (in this example, the Sun Network 10GbE Switch 72p)

   • All sixteen SFP+ ends of the two SFP-QSFP cables connect to the SFP+ ports on the 10 GbE NICs installed in the SPARC T4-4 server (some configurations would have fewer connections to the SFP+ ports on the 10 GbE NICs, depending on the configuration)

   Figure 11  Example Connection to the 10 GbE Client Access Network

   

   Figure Legend

   1 10 GbE switch with QSFP connections (Sun Network 10GbE Switch 72p shown)

   2 QSFP connector ends of SFP-QSFP cables, connecting to QSFP ports on 10 GbE switch

   3 SFP+ connector ends of SFP-QSFP cables, connecting to SFP+ ports on 10 GbE NICs in SPARC T4-4 server