Through the virtualization of physical network addresses within PRIMERGY Blade Servers, ServerView Virtual-I/O Manager (ServerView VIOM) removes an entire layer of complexity from current Blade Server switching architectures. As a result, it is radically simpler to perform previously complex and time-consuming operations, such as managing new installations, performing fast, cost-effective system recovery, running planned system maintenance and undertaking mass system migration, for example moving test systems into production.

Because physical network addresses (MAC and WWN addresses) are virtualized by ServerView VIOM, headaches such as overlapping administration domains between SAN, LAN and server are eliminated. In addition, ServerView VIOM avoids the danger of mistaken identity when server blades are replaced, and boosts interoperability at switch protocol level with external branded switches.

Full virtualization of I/O (input/output) addresses with ServerView VIOM clears the way for enterprises to implement full I/O virtualization in PRIMERGY Blade Server environments, solving the performance limitations that occur when I/O systems are physically shackled to fixed network addresses.

Removing this roadblock means that entire SAN and LAN pools can be pre-configured, saving enterprises deployment time and cost, since I/O addresses can be pre-assigned, ready for "plug and go" with blades. In addition, the provision of a pool of reserved I/O addresses simplifies SAN and LAN management and means that I/O systems are completely independent from operating systems and fully transparent to application, network and storage systems.