691368-B22 HPE BLc VC FlexFabric-20/40 F8 TAA Module

HPE 691368-B22 BLc VC FlexFabric-20/40 F8 TAA Module

The HPE 691368-B22 BLc VC FlexFabric-20/40 F8 TAA Module is engineered to simplify and accelerate networking for HPE BladeSystem c-Class environments by consolidating LAN and SAN traffic, reducing top-of-rack switch sprawl, and streamlining server-to-network provisioning. As part of the HPE Virtual Connect family, this FlexFabric module delivers flexible 10GbE server downlinks and high-bandwidth 20/40Gb uplinks, while offering Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliance for public sector and regulated buyers. It enables administrators to carve multiple logical connections from a single physical link, present clean Ethernet and storage interfaces to servers, and manage connectivity profiles at the enclosure level rather than at every external switch, significantly reducing complexity and ongoing operational costs.

Designed for converged infrastructure, the FlexFabric-20/40 F8 integrates Ethernet, iSCSI, and FCoE capabilities, making it easier to support diverse workloads—virtualization clusters, hybrid cloud platforms, VDI, container orchestration, and tiered storage. With Virtual Connect Manager and profile-based networking, you can assign MAC addresses, WWNs, VLANs, and SAN fabrics to server bays dynamically, enabling rapid repurposing of compute capacity without re-cabling or touching upstream networks. The result is a cleaner architecture that accelerates provisioning, maintains policy consistency, and supports high availability through link aggregation and multi-module redundancy.

Position in the HPE Networking and Blade Ecosystem

Within the HPE portfolio, the 691368-B22 module sits at the intersection of server, storage, and network infrastructure. It is embedded in the HPE BladeSystem c-Class enclosure and interacts with on-blade adapters (LOMs and mezzanines) to abstract connectivity. Instead of wiring each server directly to separate LAN and SAN switches, the FlexFabric module aggregates internal server connections and presents a unified, simplified set of uplinks to the broader data center network. This central abstraction layer supports:

• LAN convergence with VLAN tagging, LACP, and QoS enforcement.
• Storage convergence via iSCSI and FCoE options to existing SAN fabrics.
• Profile mobility so workloads can move without reconfiguring upstream switches.
• TAA compliance to meet procurement rules in government and public sector deployments.

When to Choose the FlexFabric-20/40 F8 TAA Module

Organizations standardizing on HPE BladeSystem that want to collapse multiple networks, reduce cables, and simplify change management gain immediate value. It is particularly compelling for buyers who need a verified TAA-compliant supply chain, who operate mixed Ethernet and storage traffic, or who want to minimize external switch counts in edge or core racks.

Core Capabilities and Advantages

The 691368-B22 module is designed to be feature-rich yet operationally simple. Core capabilities revolve around bandwidth flexibility, protocol convergence, and profile-driven automation.

Flexible 10GbE Downlinks with Multi-Function Personality

Downlinks from the FlexFabric-20/40 F8 to server blades are typically 10GbE connections that can be partitioned into FlexNICs and FlexHBAs. This approach lets administrators assign independent bandwidth caps and priorities per logical function—separating, for example, VM traffic, vMotion/live migration, backup, management, and storage flows—without requiring additional physical adapters or cabling.

Benefits of FlexNIC and FlexHBA Partitioning

• Granular control over bandwidth per traffic class to protect latency-sensitive workloads.
• Reduced adapters in each server while still meeting multi-network needs.
• Easier scale across large blade farms with consistent templates.

High-Bandwidth 20/40Gb Uplinks with Breakout Options

On the uplink side, the module supports 40Gb capabilities (commonly via QSFP+ form factor) and 10Gb options (often via SFP+). QSFP+ can be broken out into four lanes of 10Gb for flexible topologies. This lets operators choose whether to build a few fat uplinks to core aggregation or many smaller 10Gb links to ToR/End-of-Row switches, striking the right balance between throughput, redundancy, and cabling simplicity.

Uplink Aggregation and Resiliency

• LACP for link aggregation to upstream switches.
• Active/standby uplink groups for simplified failover behavior.
• Multi-module redundancy inside the enclosure for path resiliency.

Converged Protocols: Ethernet, iSCSI, and FCoE

Built for convergence, the FlexFabric-20/40 F8 presents standard Ethernet to LAN domains and supports iSCSI and FCoE for storage. This allows organizations to leverage existing SAN investments while streamlining wiring. iSCSI provides IP-based storage flexibility, while FCoE bridges Fibre Channel semantics over Ethernet for integration with FC fabrics through appropriate upstream gateways or native support.

Implications for Storage Design

• Use iSCSI for scale-out storage and IP-native arrays.
• Adopt FCoE to unify SAN/Ethernet where FC remains standard.
• Mix and match per workload with profile-driven assignments.

TAA Compliance for Public Sector Procurement

TAA (Trade Agreements Act) compliance indicates that the product meets sourcing and manufacturing requirements for government procurement. The 691368-B22 TAA variant is intended for agencies and contractors obligated to procure compliant hardware, simplifying acquisition cycles and audit trails.

Architecture and Operational Model

The module functions as a Virtual Connect interconnect, abstracting the internal blade fabric from external switches. Administrators manage server-facing identities and network mapping within the Virtual Connect Manager (VCM) or centrally via HPE OneView, while keeping external network configurations relatively static.

Separation of Internal and External Domains

Virtual Connect decouples server identity from physical location. This separation enables workload mobility and consistent policy adherence without altering upstream networks. The module is effectively a boundary where internal server profiles meet external VLAN/SAN topology.

Key Elements of the Model

• Server profiles define MACs, WWNs, NIC/HBA mappings, VLANs, and bandwidth controls.
• Network sets bundle VLANs into reusable, standardized groups.
• Uplink sets map internal networks to physical uplink ports for resilience and scale.
• Role-based access allows secure delegation of admin tasks.

Advantages of the Boundary Abstraction

• Upstream network remains stable despite server churn.
• Fewer external switch ports and cables to manage.
• Rapid reprovisioning through profile assignment instead of rewiring.

Integration with HPE OneView and Automation

When used with HPE OneView, the FlexFabric-20/40 F8 becomes part of a software-defined lifecycle. Templates control enclosure, interconnect, and server profile configuration. Infrastructure-as-code practices emerge naturally, with repeatable patterns for VLAN sets, SAN fabrics, and QoS policies applied across multiple enclosures.

Template and Policy-Driven Consistency

• Define once, stamp many times across pods or sites.
• Automate safe changes via change windows and audit trails.
• Coordinate server, storage, and network teams via shared models.

Connectivity and Port Topologies

The 691368-B22 FlexFabric-20/40 F8 supports a mix of high-speed uplink options and dense server downlinks within the c-Class enclosure. The “F8” designation is associated with eight high-speed uplink-capable positions, designed to maximize enclosure-to-network throughput while limiting cabling.

Downlink Connectivity to Blade Servers

Each blade slot connects internally to the interconnect bay via the midplane. With appropriate LOM or mezzanine adapters, servers obtain 10GbE links that can be virtualized into multiple FlexNICs and FlexHBAs. These links are configured in profiles and can be adjusted without downtime in many cases, enabling bandwidth reallocation as workloads evolve.

Optimizing Downlink Allocation

• Assign dedicated FlexNICs for management, VM data, backup, and vMotion/live migration.
• Use FlexHBAs for iSCSI or FCoE paths to storage with multipathing.
• Apply minimum/maximum bandwidth reservations to protect critical traffic.

Uplink Options and Cabling Strategy

Common uplink strategies include deploying QSFP+ ports for 40Gb trunks toward aggregation layers or using SFP+ ports for 10Gb links to top-of-rack switches. QSFP+ breakouts can feed multiple 10Gb endpoints from a single 40Gb port for efficient fan-out, while LACP provides both increased throughput and link-level fault tolerance.

Design Patterns for Redundancy

• Dual-module pairs inside the enclosure for path redundancy to each server.
• Multi-uplink groups forming LAGs to upstream switches.
• Active/standby groups for simple failover where LACP is not preferred.

Network Services, VLANs, and QoS

The module provides a policy-centric approach to delivering network services to blades. VLAN tagging separates tenant or application networks, while QoS and bandwidth controls ensure fair resource distribution across shared physical links.

VLAN Tagging and Network Sets

Administrators define networks with specific VLAN IDs and combine them into network sets for easy reuse. Server profiles then attach to these sets, automatically inheriting VLAN availability. This scales well in multi-tenant environments and large virtualization clusters where dozens or hundreds of VLANs are common.

Operational Advantages

• Reduced manual mapping mistakes.
• Streamlined onboarding for new servers and tenants.
• Consistent policy enforcement across racks and sites.

QoS, Bandwidth Caps, and Traffic Prioritization

QoS tools help prioritize latency-sensitive traffic (e.g., storage or vMotion) and cap non-critical flows (e.g., backup during business hours). Minimum/maximum bandwidth reservations and relative weighting keep shared links predictable even during congestion bursts.

Example QoS Profiles

• Gold: Storage and management with higher priority and minimum guarantees.
• Silver: VM data traffic with balanced priorities and moderate caps.
• Bronze: Backup and batch replication with lower priority and tighter limits.

Storage over Ethernet: iSCSI and FCoE Considerations

Storage convergence is a hallmark of FlexFabric. Whether you use iSCSI or FCoE, ensure designs maintain multipathing, redundancy, and consistent zoning or LUN masking at the arrays.

iSCSI Best Practices

• Use dedicated VLANs for storage traffic to isolate flows and simplify troubleshooting.
• Enable flow control and ensure adequate buffer settings on upstream switches.
• Implement MPIO at the OS/hypervisor layer to sustain availability during path failures.

FCoE Design Notes

• Integrate with upstream FCoE-capable switches or converged FC gateways as needed.
• Maintain dual-fabric designs mirroring traditional FC A/B fabrics for resiliency.
• Coordinate WWN assignments through server profiles to simplify SAN administration.

Server Profiles, Identity, and Lifecycle Management

Server profiles are the nexus of speed and governance. By binding network/storage identities to profiles rather than to specific hardware, administrators enable rapid replacement and workload mobility while maintaining auditability.

Identity Abstraction

Profiles can include MAC addresses, WWNs, boot settings, firmware baselines, and network mappings. When a blade fails or is upgraded, simply assign the profile to a replacement bay; the network perceives the same identity, minimizing change scope.

Impact on Change Management

• Less coordination needed across teams for routine replacements.
• Lower risk of misconfigurations during urgent maintenance windows.
• Predictable outcomes verified by template conformance checks.

Security, Segmentation, and Compliance

Security in converged networking is a layered exercise. The FlexFabric-20/40 F8 supports network segmentation, role-based administration, and consistent identity assignment for predictable enforcement at policy boundaries.

Segmentation Strategies

• Assign VLANs per tenant/app and restrict server profiles to only the necessary networks.
• Use distinct iSCSI or FCoE network definitions and SAN fabrics for tiered storage.
• Apply QoS and bandwidth caps to protect mission-critical streams from bursty neighbors.

Administrative Controls

• Role-based access control for network, server, and storage operators.
• Audit logs to trace configuration changes and policy application.
• Standardized templates to enforce configuration hygiene.

Performance and Scalability Planning

Performance is determined by uplink design, redundancy, and bandwidth governance. The FlexFabric-20/40 F8 lets architects scale enclosure bandwidth using 40Gb trunks or fan-out 10Gb breakouts depending on topology constraints.

Throughput Maximization

• Use LACP across multiple uplinks to distribute flows.
• Balance East–West and North–South traffic expectations when sizing uplink sets.
• Leverage breakout cables to allocate 10Gb lanes where granular distribution is preferred.

Latency and Jitter Considerations

• Prioritize storage and live-migration traffic via QoS to avoid latency spikes.
• Ensure buffer and queue settings on upstream switches match expected workloads.
• Monitor per-queue counters to identify microbursts and adjust reservations.

Compatibility within HPE BladeSystem c-Class

The FlexFabric-20/40 F8 TAA module is designed for the HPE BladeSystem c-Class enclosure portfolio, integrating with compatible server LOMs and mezzanine adapters. Before deployment, confirm adapter support matrices for your server generation and desired protocols (Ethernet, iSCSI, FCoE) to ensure optimal performance and feature availability.

Adapter and Mezzanine Considerations

• Choose NIC/HBA combos that support FlexNIC/FlexHBA partitioning.
• Validate firmware baselines across servers and interconnects for stability.
• Plan for dual-path connectivity to redundant interconnect modules.

Firmware and Interoperability

Maintaining a consistent firmware baseline is key for large deployments. Align server adapter drivers with interconnect firmware to ensure features like QoS, FCoE, and link aggregation perform as intended. Coordinated updates reduce the risk of unexpected behavior after change windows.

Deployment Patterns and Best Practices

Successful rollouts combine sound cabling practices, clear naming conventions, strong templates, and proactive monitoring. Below are field-proven recommendations to keep environments stable and auditable.

Cabling and Physical Layout

• Label QSFP+/SFP+ uplinks with enclosure, bay, and upstream switch identifiers.
• Use color-coded cables for fabric A/B or for separating storage and general data networks.
• Bundle breakout strands cleanly and document mapping to upstream ports.

Naming and Documentation

• Adopt consistent naming for networks, network sets, uplink sets, and profiles.
• Embed VLAN IDs and fabric letters in names for quick operator recognition.
• Maintain an authoritative source (CMDB or OneView) for mapping and change history.

Template-First Provisioning

• Build gold templates for hypervisors, databases, and VDI workloads.
• Include QoS, bandwidth caps, and VLAN memberships in templates by default.
• Review templates quarterly to prune stale networks and align with security policies.

Monitoring, Telemetry, and Capacity Planning

• Track per-uplink utilization, error counts, and LACP member health.
• Collect downlink statistics per FlexNIC to right-size bandwidth reservations.
• Forecast growth using historical peaks; add uplinks or rebalance VLANs as needed.

Migrating from Legacy Interconnects

Many organizations adopt the FlexFabric-20/40 F8 while modernizing from legacy 1GbE or non-converged designs. A staged approach minimizes risk and downtime.

Phased Migration Strategy

1. Assess: Inventory VLANs, SAN fabrics, and adapter capabilities.
2. Design: Map target profiles, QoS, and uplink topology with redundancy.
3. Pilot: Migrate low-risk workloads to validate performance and workflows.
4. Scale: Move critical apps during maintenance windows with rollback plans.
5. Optimize: Tune QoS and bandwidth caps based on real-world traffic.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Mismatched MTU across paths causing silent fragmentation.
• Insufficient uplink capacity during consolidation waves.
• Unlabeled breakouts creating confusion during incident response.

High Availability and Resilience Design

Achieving high availability starts with redundancy at every layer—server adapters, interconnect modules, uplinks, and fabrics. The FlexFabric-20/40 F8 supports resilient topologies that withstand link, port, and device failures with minimal impact.

Inside the Enclosure

• Deploy interconnect pairs in complementary bays to serve each server NIC/HBA path.
• Ensure server profiles map ports to both modules for multipathing and failover.
• Use consistent firmware versions across module pairs to avoid asymmetric behavior.

Upstream Network Resilience

• Distribute LACP members across separate upstream switches or chassis.
• Keep fabric A/B symmetry for storage networks to maintain dual-fabric integrity.
• Document and test failover—pull a link during a maintenance window to verify behavior.

Licensing, Procurement, and Lifecycle Considerations

As a TAA-designated product, the 691368-B22 BLc VC FlexFabric-20/40 F8 TAA Module can fit into procurement frameworks that require compliant sourcing. When budgeting, include optics, breakout cables, and any required transceivers. Plan lifecycle schedules that align enclosure refresh, interconnect firmware updates, and server generation transitions to reduce overlapping change risks.

Spares and Optics Planning

• Maintain spare QSFP+/SFP+ optics and breakout cables for rapid field replacement.
• Standardize on transceiver models across enclosures to simplify inventory.
• Track optic power levels periodically to preemptive-replace aging hardware.

Sustainability and Density

Consolidation through Virtual Connect reduces top-of-rack device counts and can lower power and cooling requirements. High-density uplinks minimize cables, improving airflow and serviceability, while profile-based management reduces truck rolls and hands-on time.