IBM Intelligent Copper Pass-thru Module for IBM BladeCenter

IBM Intelligent Copper Pass-thru Module for IBM BladeCenter ... use their existing switching infrastructure with IBM BladeCenter. It does not require any configuration and so is very easy to use.

Pass-thru modules are I/O options that can be used for direct connections of blade ports to the external infrastructure devices such as network switches. The Pass-thru module is almost like a traditional network patch-panel - it routes internal blade ports to outside the BladeCenter. Current modules (used in non-high-speed bays) use a design that links several internal blade ports to a single external port on pass-thru module, so specific "hydra" or "octopus" pass-thru cables have to be used with pass-thru modules to provide standard external connections (one connector per each blade port).

ICPM provides an unconfigured network connection that enables the blade servers in the BladeCenter unit to connect to an existing network infrastructure. No configuration of the copper pass-thru module is required. The ICPM provides a single connection from each blade to one RJ-45 connector, which can go directly to an external switch or patch panel from each of the 14 blades in the chassis to an RJ-45 plus for connection.

If you install the ICPM in bay 1 of the chassis, it will route all Ethernet signals from controller 1 in each blade. Similarly, if you put an ICPM in bay 2, it will route all Ethernet controller 2 signals from each blade server.

The ICPM has additional benefits such as support for SoL (Serial-over-LAN), concurrent KVM (cKVM), and security and statistics functionality - all through the existing BladeCenter advanced management module GUI.