General |
| Q1. |
What Is HP Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager? |
| A1. |
HP Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager (VCEM) is a software application that centralizes connectivity and workload mobiity for HP BladeSystem server blades that use Virtual Connect to access LANs and SANs, helping organizations to increase productivity, respond faster to infrastructure and workload changes, and reduce operating costs.
Built on the Virtual Connect architecture integrated into every BladeSystem c-Class enclosure, VCEM provides a central console to programmatically administer LAN and SAN address assignments, perform group-based configuration management, and initiate the rapid deployment, movement and failover of server-to-network connections and their workloads for up to 200 Virtual Connect domains (800 BladeSystem enclosures and
12.800 servers when used with Virtual Connect Ethernet enclosure stacking).
Together, Virtual Connect and Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager create a change-ready infrastructure that enables system administrators to add, replace and recover servers across the datacenter in minutes without impacting production LAN and SAN availability. |
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| Q2. |
How Is VCEM different from Virtual Connect Manager? |
| A2. |
Virtual Connect Manager (VCM) is a web-based console embedded into the firmware of Virtual Connect Ethernet modules, that provides local infrastructure configuration and profile administration for individual Virtual Connect domains and up to 64 servers. Using VCM in environments with multiple Virtual Connect domains requires that each domain be managed independently from the next using its own VCM and address pool for MAC and World Wide Name assignments.
In comparison, VCEM delivers centralized management and control for up to 200 Virtual Connect Domains (up to 800 enclosures and 12.800 servers) from a single console and uses a central address repository to administer a total of 256K MAC addresses and World Wide Names. VCEM also enables group-based configuration management and profile movement across across the datacenter.
VCEM enables organizations with multiple Virtual Connect domains to improve productivity, respond faster to change, increase infrastructure consistency and reduce costs. |
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| Q3. |
What key benefits does VCEM deliver? |
| A3. |
For organizations that use BladeSystem c-Class configured with Virtual Connect, VCEM provides the following key benefits:
- Centralized management of server connectivity to LANs and SANs
- VCEM repository enables more efficient MAC and WWN address administration and eliminates the risk of conflicts
- Group based management of Virtual Connect domains increases infrastructure consistency and enables rapid deployment of new bare-metal BladeSystem enclosures
- Add, change, and recover blade servers and their network connections across the datacenter in minutes when your business needs to, without impacting production LAN and SAN availability
- Increase productivity and reduce the time and costs to deploy and manage server connectivity to LANs and SANs
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| Q4. |
What's the latest version of VCEM? |
| A4. |
VCEM v1.40 was announced in September 2009 and is the latest release of the software. VCEM v1.40 is an update to VCEM v1.20 and v1.30 that adds support for the latest Virtual Connect hardware and functionality delivered with Virtual Connect firmware v2.30, which includes:
- Support for the HP Virtual Connect 8Gb 20-Port Fibre Channel module for BladeSystem c-Class
- Updated SNMP event definitions for Virtual Connect
- Introduces new VCEM 128K address ranges for MAC and World Wide Name assignments, for a total of 256K network addresses per VCEM console
- Removes support for Virtual Connect firmware v1.2x and 1.3x. Minimum supported Virtual Connect firmware is v2.00
- VCEM v1.40 updates an existing installation of VCEM v1.20 and v1.30 and is available only as a web-download
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| Q5. |
Where can I learn more about Virtual Connect and Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager? |
| A5. |
Visit the following web pages to learn more about HP Virtual Connect technology and Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager software
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Functionality |
| Q1. |
What key functionality does Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager deliver? |
| A1. |
VCEM provides the following key features and functionality:
- Single intuitive console to manage multiple HP BladeSystem enclosures that use Virtual Connect to control LAN and SAN connectivity
- Central VCEM repository administers a total of 256K LAN (MAC) and SAN (WWN) addresses - simplifies address management and eliminates the risk of conflicts
- Group-based management of multiple Virtual Connect domains using common configuration profiles - increases infrastructure consistency, simplifies deployment, and enables configuration changes to be made once and pushed to multiple Virtual Connect Domains
- Manual and scripted movement of server connection profiles between BladeSystem enclosures - includes automated failover of profiles and workloads to customer-defined spare servers
- Licensed per BladeSystem c-Class enclosure for the life of the enclosure - simplifies deployment and lifecycle management
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| Q2. |
Why would I want to move server profiles using VCEM? |
| A2. |
The domain grouping and profle movement capabilities provided by VCEM can be used to complete core datacenter tasks quickly, reliably and with minimal disruption to production LAN and SAN environments.
- Installing new BladeSystem servers and enclosures
- Performing fast and cost-effective server recovery
- Scheduling planned system maintenance with minimal
downtime
- Rapidly migrating and repurposing server resources across the datacenter to meet changing workloads and application priorities
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| Q3. |
What is a Virtual Connect domain group? |
| A3. |
A Virtual Connect Domain Group is a software container in VCEM logically groups Virtual Connect domains (BladeSystem enclosures configured with Virtual Connect) that connect to common LAN and SAN environments. Each Domain Group uses a master configuration profile that is applied to all group members.
Organizations can use Virtual Connect Domain Groups to help improve configuration consistency, streamline change management and simplify the deployment of new bare-metal enclosure configurations. Using the VCEM maintenance tools, Virtual Connect firmware updates and network configuration changes can be made once and then pushed to all other members if a Virtual Connect Domain Group as a single task. If a bare metal enclosure is added to an existing Domain Group it will automatically be configured using the master profile to match the other group members.
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| Q4. |
Can I move servers profiles between Virtual Connect Domain groups? |
| A4. |
No. Server connection profiles managed by VCEM can only be moved between BladeSystem enclosures (Virtual Connect domains) that are part of the same Virtual Connect Domain Group.
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| Q5. |
Can VCEM manage server profiles in both local boot and boot from SAN environments? |
| A5. |
Yes, VCEM can be used to assign and move server connection profiles in both local boot and boot-from-SAN environments.
VCEM is designed to centrally manage LAN and SAN associations with blade server profiles and enclosure bays, and to maintain connectivity when server profiles are modified or moved.
In the event that a server profile association is moved to another enclosure bay, such as during server recovery operations or planned maintenance, VCEM will complete the operations in the fastest time if the server connection profile is configured to boot-from-SAN.
If a local boot configuration is used, the same profile movement will require additional administration and manual intervention to ensure the target boot drive is operational before the server profile is moved. In this scenario the HP Rapid Deploy Pack would be an ideal solution to provision a local boot image to a target server.
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Availability |
| Q1. |
How is Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager software delivered? |
| A1. |
Major VCEM software releases are included on the HP Insight Software media kit v 2.30 and higher delivered with each BladeSystem c-Class enclosure. The DVD media can also be downloaded as ISO images from
http://www.hp.com/go/bladesystem/management.
Selected VCEM software updates, such as the recently released v1.40, are delivered as downloads from
www.hp.com/go/VCEM
The Insight Software media kit can also be purchased by ordering part number 436222-B21
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| Q2. |
How is HP Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager licensed? |
| A2. |
Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager is licensed per BladeSystem c-Class enclosure.
Each c-Class enclosure to be managed with VCEM must be authorized with a valid license, which enables VCEM operations for all bays in the enclosure for the life of the enclosure. Once an enclosure is licensed you can add, move and upgrade servers and Virtual Connect interconnect modules without having to repurchasing the VCEM license.
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| Q3. |
What license options are available? |
| A3. |
Purchasable VCEM license options are available for single and multiple c3000 and c7000 BladeSystem enclosures. All purchased license options include 1year of 24x7 technical support and updates
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Service & Support |
| Q1. |
What support and services are available for Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager? |
| A1. |
Each purchased license for HP Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager includes one year of 24 x 7 HP Software Technical Support and Update Service, ensuring rapid access to HP support staff and proactive delivery of software updates. For more information about this service, please visit: http://www.hp.com/services/insight.
The following installation and startup service is also available for VCEM:
- HP Installation and Startup for HP Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager ( Part # HA124A1-5N8 or UF816E)
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| Q2. |
Where can I learn more about Virtual Connect and Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager? |
| A2. |
Visit the following web pages to learn more about HP Virtual Connect technology and Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager software
HP Virtual Connect Technology
HP Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager
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Printable version
Winner of Virtualization Journal Readers' Choice Award 2008.
