Cisco Blade Switches

Cisco Blade Switches for Dell:

Simplify Data Center Operations

As a successful strategy to deal with server sprawl, blade servers are playing a more prominent role in businesses' overall server strategy. It is important that blade servers have access to enterprise-class networking, including availability, performance, and end-to-end network services.

Built on market-leading hardware and software, the 10Gb Ethernet based Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3100 Series for Dell is specifically designed to meet the rigors of blade server application infrastructure. Specifically, it supports Dell blade servers in their new role by delivering scalable, high-performance, highly resilient connectivity while reducing server infrastructure complexity and total cost of ownership (TCO). For design flexibility, the Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3000 series offers cost-effective gigabit Ethernet connectivity with consistent Cisco features, functionality, support, and management.

Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3130 for Dell M1000E:

Increased Performance and Availability:

The Cisco Catalyst Blade Server 3130 represents the next-generation networking solution for Dell M1000E blade server environments.

The Cisco Catalyst Blade Server 3130 is built around the innovative virtual blade switch (VBS) technology, which helps the Cisco CBS 3130 deliver key features:

• Network simplification: Can be managed as a single node, which greatly reduces network complexity and in turn supports network resilience and stability
• Performance and scalability: Delivers 160 Gbps of aggregate bandwidth upstream; because the links are built on Cisco EtherChannel technology, they can be deployed in a granular manner and are inherently resilient
• Continuous operations: Includes mechanisms that increase hardware, link, VBS, and Layer 2 and Layer 3 resiliency
• Operational manageability: Delivers a highly manageable solution that reduces the administrative and operational burden on IT staff
• Total cost of ownership reduction: Reduces TCO through virtualization, interface flexibility, and reduced operating costs.

Cisco Blade Switches for FSC:

isco extends value and reduces total ownership costs by providing secure, resilient, and manageable blade switch solutions. Blade Server Enclosures and Blade Switches show their value in data centers by:

• Reducing cable complexity
• Using space more efficiently
• Improving security and management at the server edge
• Providing higher availability and resilience

Cisco brings the value of advanced Cisco IOS Software features, security, enhanced management, and end-to-end network resiliency to data center environments.

The Cisco Blade Switches for FSC:

• Extends Cisco infrastructure services to the server edge
• Uses existing network investments to help reduce operating expenses
• Ensures consistency across the network for advanced services such as security and resilience
• Uses the end-to-end Cisco management framework to simplify ongoing operations.

Extend Services; Reduce Costs

Extend Cisco Infrastructure Services to the server edge, and use existing network investments to help reduce operational expenses. The Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3040 for the Fujitsu Siemens Primergy Advanced Blade Ecosystem is an integrated switch that:

• Ensures consistency across the network for advanced services such as security and resiliency
• Allows you to use the end-to-end Cisco management framework to simplify ongoing operations
• Dramatically decreases cable complexity in the interconnect
• Reduces space requirements by optimizing rack space use
• Improves management at the server edge by using the Cisco management framework
• Secures business assets with Cisco IOS Software security features
• Enhances operational efficiency with consistent services deployment.

Cisco Blade Switches for HP:

As a successful strategy to deal with server sprawl, blade servers are playing a more prominent role in businesses' overall server strategy. It is important that blade servers have access to enterprise-class networking, including availability, performance, and end-to-end network services.

Built on market-leading hardware and software, both the Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3100 Series and the Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3000 Series are specifically designed to meet the rigors of blade server application infrastructure. Specifically, they support the HP BladeSystem c-Class by delivering scalable, high-performance, highly resilient connectivity while reducing server infrastructure complexity and total cost of ownership (TCO). The Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3000 Series provides cost-effective gigabit Ethernet connectivity, while the Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3100 series provides high performance 10Gb Ethernet connectivity and innovative Virtual Blade Switch (VBS) technology.

The Cisco Catalyst Blade Server 3120 is built around the innovative virtual blade switch (VBS) technology, which helps the Cisco CBS 3120 deliver key features:

• Network simplification: Can be managed as a single node, which greatly reduces network complexity and in turn supports network resilience and stability
• Performance and scalability: Delivers 160 Gbps of aggregate bandwidth upstream; because the links are built on Cisco EtherChannel technology, they can be deployed in a granular manner and are inherently resilient
• Continuous operations: Includes mechanisms that increase hardware, link, VBS, and Layer 2 and Layer 3 resiliency
• Operational manageability: Delivers a highly manageable solution that reduces the administrative and operational burden on IT staff
• Total cost of ownership reduction: Reduces TCO through virtualization, interface flexibility, and reduced operating costs.

Cisco Nexus 4000 Series Switches:

The Cisco Nexus 4001I Switch Module is a purpose-built blade switch for IBM's BladeCenter H and HT chassis. Nexus 4000 is a line- rate, low- latency, non-blocking 10 Gigabit Ethernet and Data Center Bridging (DCB) switch module.

Nexus 4001I allows IT organizations to take advantage of the benefits of a Unified Fabric.


Unified Fabric reduces costs through infrastructure unification and simplification.

• By cutting the number of switches per chassis, Nexus 4000 can reduce the power required for network I/O as much as 75 percent.
• Purpose-built design uses Unified Switch ASIC technology.

• Line-rate, extremely low-latency, 10 Gigabit Ethernet blade switch is designed for the scalable blade server access.
• Works seamlessly with the upstream Cisco Nexus 4000 Switch, providing operational consistency and transparency in VM environments.

• Fibre Channel over Ethernet allows simplified cabling and uniform LAN and SAN interfaces enhanced VM mobility.
• NX-OS is now extended to blade server access with Nexus 4000 Series for a single operating system across the data center.

• Supports management through both Cisco DCNM and NX-OS seamless integration, consistency, and scalable management.

Cisco Switch Modules for IBM:

The Cisco Catalyst Switch Module 3110 is built around the innovative virtual blade switch (VBS) technology, which helps the Cisco Catalyst Switch Module 3110 deliver key features:

• Network simplification: Can be managed as a single node, which greatly reduces network complexity and in turn supports network resilience and stability
• Performance and scalability: Delivers 160 Gbps of aggregate bandwidth upstream; because the links are built on Cisco EtherChannel technology, they can be deployed in a granular manner and are inherently resilient
• Continuous operations: Includes mechanisms that increase hardware, link, VBS, and Layer 2 and Layer 3 resiliency
• Operational manageability: Delivers a highly manageable solution that reduces the administrative and operational burden on IT staffTotal cost of ownership reduction: Reduces TCO through virtualization, interface flexibility, and reduced operating costs.