The HP DL380 G5 server requires two, but has capacity for three, NICs (Network Interface Controllers).<\/p>\n
There are two standard NIC ports, as you would expect from a heavy-duty internet server.<\/p>\n
The third\u00a0is\u00a0an iLO2 port.<\/p>\n
The reason servers have two NICs is to give the server high availability and\u00a0redundancy capability, and for load balancing.<\/p>\n
But the iLO2 port is a non-public, management-only route on to the server.<\/p>\n
So while NIC port 1 and NIC port 2 are filtering and processing inbound\/outbound packets, the iLO2 port just sits there, in a semi-dormant state.<\/p>\n
iLO2 stands for ‘Integrated Lights-Out’ (v2).<\/p>\n
The iLO2 function enables root admins to remotely access a failed\/stalled server and perform all manner of remote management functions via a dedicated\u00a0out-of-band channel, regardless of whether the machine is powered on or not, and regardless of whether\u00a0an operating system is installed or functional or not.<\/p>\n
Neat, huh?<\/p>\n
The downside is that one has to provide the HP DL380 with three network connections.<\/p>\n
So that’s six network connections for two servers.<\/p>\n
Nine network connections for three servers.<\/p>\n
Etc.<\/p>\n
Good job switches and patch panels exist, eh?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The HP DL380 G5 server requires two, but has capacity for three, NICs (Network Interface Controllers). There are two standard NIC ports, as you would expect from a heavy-duty internet server. The third\u00a0is\u00a0an iLO2 port. The reason servers have two NICs is to give the server high availability and\u00a0redundancy capability, \u2026 Continue reading