What ports does the IBM Nortel Layer 2-7 GbE Switch Module have?

It includes 4 external 1000BASE-T ports (10/100/1000 Mbps), 14 internal full-duplex Gigabit ports to blade servers, and 2 internal full-duplex 10/100 Mbps ports to the management module. This setup supports BladeCenter midplane connectivity for high-density networking.

What Layer 2-7 features are supported?

Provides full L2-L7 intelligence: 802.1Q VLANs (128 max), STP, content-based load balancing (HTTP/RTSP/DNS), 64 real/virtual servers, 300,000 sessions, and DoS protection. Routing includes RIPv1, BGPv4, OSPFv2 with 2048 dynamic routes.

Is it compatible with IBM BladeCenter?

Yes, designed as a switch module for IBM BladeCenter chassis (e.g., Type 8677), hot-pluggable into I/O bays 3/4. Connects via 14 internal GbE ports to blade Ethernet controllers and supports midplane integration.

What management options are available?

Browser-based GUI, SNMP MIB-II (RFC 1213), 802.1P/Q MIB, Interface MIB (RFC 2233), plus TFTP/BOOTP/DHCP. Internal 10/100 ports link to management module for console diagnostics.

What performance specs does it offer?

Store-and-forward at full wire-speed: 1,488,100 pps per 1000 Mbps port, 148,800 pps per 100 Mbps. 128 MB RAM buffer, 300,000 L2-L7 sessions, 4096 ARP entries, supports 4 Gbps/s processing.

What standards does it comply with?

IEEE 802.3u (100BASE-TX), 802.3z (1000BASE-SX), 802.3x flow control, plus link negotiation. Uses UTP Cat5e/6 or STP cabling up to 100m.

73P9044 - IBM 73P9044 Nortel L2-7 GbE Switch 14 Internal Ports

Name: IBM 73P9044 Nortel L2-7 GbE Switch 14 Internal Ports
Brand: IBM
SKU: 73P9044

73P9044 - IBM 73P9044 Nortel L2-7 GbE Switch 14 Internal Ports | US IT Hardware

Product overview

The IBM Nortel Networks Layer 2-7 GbE Switch Module (SKU 73P9044) is a high-performance Gigabit Ethernet switch designed for IBM BladeCenter chassis. It features 4 external 1000BASE-T ports supporting 10/100/1000 Mbps connections to backbones or servers, 14 internal full-duplex Gigabit ports connecting to blade servers via the midplane, and 2 internal 10/100 Mbps ports for management module integration. This Layer 2-7 switch supports store-and-forward transmission, routing protocols including RIPv1, BGPv4, and OSPFv2, and management via STP, SNMP MIB-II, and browser-based interface with TFTP/BOOTP/DHCP. Compliant with IEEE 802.3 standards, it enables VLAN support for 128 groups, content-based load balancing for HTTP/RTSP/DNS, and up to 300,000 L2-L7 sessions. Ideal for datacenter environments requiring advanced switching, load balancing, and security in consolidated blade server deployments. As a hot-pluggable CRU, it ensures minimal downtime.

4 external 1000BASE-T + 14 internal GbE ports for BladeCenter
Layer 2-7 support with 300K sessions, content load balancing
RIPv1/BGPv4/OSPFv2 routing, 128 VLANs, STP management
Store-and-forward at full wire-speed 1.48M pps per GbE port
Browser/SNMP management, TFTP/BOOTP/DHCP support
IEEE 802.3 compliant, hot-pluggable BladeCenter CRU

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Refunds within 14 days and replacements within 30 days of delivery with an RMA (25% restocking fee on customer-initiated returns), and every part carries our Standard 30-Day Warranty - see our return policy or contact US IT Hardware.

Featuring

Manufacturer part #	73P9044
Brand	IBM
Condition	New
Product Line	Nortel Networks Layer 2-7 GbE Switch Module for IBM BladeCenter
Product Type	Gigabit Ethernet Layer 2-7 Switch Module
VLAN Support	128 VLANs
IP Interfaces	128
Virtual Servers	64
Processing Speed	4 Gbps/s or 14.8 million frames/s at 64 bytes
Routing Protocols	RIPv1; BGPv4; OSPFv2
Transmission Method	Store-and-forward

Compatible systems

Compatible with IBM BladeCenter Type 8720, 8730, and Eserver BladeCenter chassis.

IBM BladeCenter
Model: Type 8720
Form factor: Blade Chassis
Listed as FRU in Hardware Maintenance Manual
IBM BladeCenter
Model: Type 8730
Form factor: Blade Chassis
Listed as FRU in Hardware Maintenance Manual
IBM Eserver BladeCenter
Form factor: Blade Chassis
Nortel GbE Switch Module compatibility

Best for

BladeCenter Fabric
Provides switching fabric with 14 internal full-duplex Gigabit ports to blade servers and 4 external 1000BASE-T ports for backbone connectivity in IBM BladeCenter chassis.
Application Load Balancing
Supports content-based load balancing for HTTP, RTSP, DNS with 64 real/virtual servers, enabling efficient traffic distribution across blades.
Advanced Routing
Handles RIPv1, BGPv4, OSPFv2 protocols plus 128 VLANs and STP, ideal for complex datacenter networks requiring Layer 2-7 intelligence.

Details

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RAM Buffer	128 MB
ARP Entries	4096 ARP entries
Flash Memory	16 MB
Forwarding Database Entries	2048 FDB entries
Management Processor Memory	128 MB

Real Servers	64
Ethernet Speed	10/100/1000 Mbps external; Gigabit Ethernet internal

IBM 73P9044 Nortel L2-7 GbE Switch 14 Internal Ports

Product overview

Featuring

Compatible systems

Best for

Details

Shipping, warranty & returns

Customer reviews

Storage

Network & Communication

Physical Characteristics

Interface/Ports

Frequently asked questions