UCS C series 10GB Adapter

[de1denta]

Hi,

We are planning to purchase a C210 server with 2 x 10GB NICs, these NICs will connect to a Nexus 5K switch, no other NICs will be used. The servers will run VMware ESX 5.0

What is the best 10GB adapter to use that will allow vNICs to be created for the different ESX vswitches - storage, vmotion, data etc? Will the P81E be suitable or the QLOGIC 8152?

thanks,

[Daniel Laden]

For each vswitch you create within ESXi, you will need at least one  upstream nic.  The QLogic is fixed with 2 ports .  The P81E also has 2  ports but can host multiple virtual NICs on these two ports.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/ps10265/ps10493/data_sheet_c78-558230_ps10279_Products_Data_Sheet.html

You  mention 2x 10Gb NICs.  The C210 will only support a single 2-port 10Gb  NIC.  I suspect this is what you meant but want to clarify the  restriction.

Cisco UCS C210 M2 General-Purpose Rack-Mount Server Spec Sheet

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/ps10265/ps10493/spec_sheet_c17-644230.pdf

Only a single VIC card may be installed and it must be installed  in either slot 1 or slot 2 (see Figure 3 on page 5 for slot numbering).

HTH,

Dan Laden

[de1denta]

Hi Dan,

Thanks for the response.

Yes, it will be a single 2-port 10GB NIC that will be installed in the C210.

Is there any advantage with using the QLogic with its 2 fixed ports and a single ESXi vswitch and multiple port groups vs the P81E with multiple vswitches and vNICs? Is there a way to apply QoS to the vNICs on the P81E?

Thanks

[de1denta]

Hi,

Has anyone used the P81E in a UCS C series server as described above? Can the the P81E be configured to prioritize network traffic from specific vNICs?

Thanks