Last week I mentioned NPAR as a feature in most Broadcom like the ones found in the PowerEdge MX740c blade server. I realized although NPAR is nearly a decade old, it may not be well-known by readers, so I thought I’d take a few minutes to break it down for you. Continue reading
Category Archives: Networking
Want 400GbE in a Blade Server? Here’s How
A few years ago, the thought of needing multiple 25GbE ports on a blade server was not even a consideration. In fact, I did a survey 6 years ago and got an overwhelming response that only a couple of 10GbE ports was needed for VMware virtualization efforts. Today there is now an option to have 8 x 25GbE ports in a 2 CPU blade server – but there are some things you need to know. Continue reading
If You Use PowerEdge Blade Servers You Should Know About This
If you are using Dell blade servers, I may have a little known resource that could help you. Ever heard of the “PowerEdge MX I/O Guide?” If not, I’m not surprised. It was primarily used as an internal resource, but now it’s available to the public. Continue reading
Are Blade Servers Dead, or the Future of the DataCenter?
As I talk with customers, I often run into camps who either love blade servers or they absolutely hate them – and will never use them. I even hear some people think blade servers are dying off, but I think that is far from the case. In fact, I believe that blade servers could be the future of the datacenter and here’s why. Continue reading
Blade Server Networking Options
If you are new to blade servers, you may find there are quite a few options to consider in regards to managing your Ethernet traffic. Some vendors promote the traditional integrated switching, while others promote extending the fabric to a Top of Rack (ToR) device. Each method has its own benefits, so let me explain what those are. Before I get started, although I work for Dell, this blog post is designed to be an un-biased review of the network options available for many blade server vendors.