28 Cabling Your Blade Cluster Hardware
Cabling the Public Network
The public (client) network is used for client access and private network 
failover. Each cluster node connects to the public network through the first 
embedded NIC port on the server module system board. The first NIC port 
connects to the internal connections in the system chassis to the first 
Ethernet switch module or the associated port in the corresponding Gigabit 
pass-through module. The Ethernet switch or Gigabit pass-through module is 
connected to an external switch in the public network to provide client access 
to the server module. 
  NOTE: It is recommended that you configure the first NIC port on each server 
module for the public network. If additional NIC ports are available on your server 
module, you can use NIC teaming to aggregate multiple ports for the public 
network.
Gigabit Ethernet 
pass-through 
module
Two nodes in one or 
two PowerEdge server 
enclosure(s).
Connect a standard Ethernet cable to the 
corresponding cluster node ports on the 
Ethernet pass-through module.
OR
Connect a standard Ethernet cable from 
the corresponding cluster node ports on 
each Ethernet pass-through module to an 
external switch.
Three or more nodes 
in one or two 
PowerEdge server 
enclosure(s).
Connect a standard Ethernet cable from 
the corresponding cluster node ports on 
the Ethernet pass-through module to an 
external switch.
Table 2-2. Cabling the Private Network 
(continued)
Module Type Cluster Configuration Private Network Configuration
book.book  Page 28  Monday, December 31, 2007  3:41 PM