HP 455880-B21 — Virtual Connect Flex-10 10Gb Ethernet Module for BladeSystem c-Class
Technical Identity
The HP 455880-B21 is the Virtual Connect Flex-10 10Gb Ethernet interconnect module for HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosures (c7000 and c3000). Per the HP QuickSpecs it provides 16x 10Gb midplane downlinks to server NICs, 8x SFP+ uplinks (SR, LR, or LRM fiber and SFP+ copper), 1x 10Gb CX4 copper uplink, and 2x internal 10Gb cross-connects, with a line-rate full-duplex bridging fabric (240 Gbps per the QuickSpecs technical specifications) and 105 W power draw. Each 10Gb downlink can present up to 4 FlexNICs to the server. This is an enclosure interconnect module, NOT a standalone switch. Condition: Refurbished.
Specifications
Brand: HP
Model / MPN: 455880-B21
Product type: Blade enclosure interconnect module (Virtual Connect Ethernet)
Product family: HP Virtual Connect Flex-10
Platform: HP BladeSystem c-Class — c7000 and c3000 enclosures only
Downlinks: 16x 10Gb midplane connections to server NICs
Uplinks: 8x SFP+ (SR/LR/LRM fiber, SFP+ copper) + 1x 10Gb CX4
Cross-connects: 2x internal 10Gb for redundancy and stacking
Bridging fabric: line-rate full duplex, 240 Gbps (per QuickSpecs technical specifications)
FlexNIC: up to 4 FlexNICs per 10Gb downlink, speeds adjustable 100Mb-10Gb (adapter-dependent per QuickSpecs)
Power: 105 W (12V @ 8.75A per QuickSpecs)
Management: Virtual Connect Manager via Onboard Administrator; HTTPS GUI and scriptable CLI
Condition: Refurbished
Engineering Context
Virtual Connect Flex-10 sits between blade server NICs and the data center LAN: it appears as a pass-through device to the upstream network while letting administrators carve each 10Gb server downlink into up to four FlexNIC PCIe functions with adjustable bandwidth. Multiple Virtual Connect modules stack across up to 4 enclosures so any server Ethernet port can reach any uplink. Because the module lives in the enclosure interconnect bay and is managed by Virtual Connect Manager, it removes the traditional switch-management boundary between server and LAN teams.
Use Cases
Uplink connectivity for ProLiant BL-series blades in c7000/c3000 enclosures
FlexNIC partitioning: up to 4 NIC functions per 10Gb server port with tailored bandwidth
Reducing cabling by aggregating 16 blade servers into 8 SFP+ uplinks
Spares for installed Virtual Connect Flex-10 domains (VC firmware compatibility per HP matrix)
What This Is NOT
NOT a standalone switch. The 455880-B21 installs only in HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosure interconnect bays and cannot be rack-mounted or used outside an enclosure.
NOT compatible with non-c-Class systems. It does not fit p-Class BladeSystem, HPE Synergy, or any non-HP chassis.
NOT a Fibre Channel module. Fibre Channel requires separate Virtual Connect FC modules; the Flex-10 module is Ethernet (with iSCSI FlexHBA support on qualifying adapters per QuickSpecs).
NOT the FlexFabric 10Gb/24-port module (a different, converged VC module).
NOT supplied with SFP+ transceivers or CX4 cables. All uplink ports ship empty unless explicitly stated.
NO VCEM license included. The Enterprise Edition bundle (591973-B21) carried the VCEM license; the 455880-B21 module alone does not.
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
Enclosures: HP BladeSystem c7000 and c3000 with Onboard Administrator; supported bay configurations per the HP QuickSpecs.
Adapters: FlexNIC operation requires Flex-10 capable NICs (e.g., NC532m, NC553i/m class and FlexFabric adapters per the HP compatibility list); standard 1Gb NICs are supported at 1Gb.
Uplink media: HP-qualified SFP+ SR/LR/LRM optics, SFP+ copper DAC (0.5-7 m per QuickSpecs), and 10GBASE-CX4 cables.
Firmware: Virtual Connect firmware version must match across modules in a domain; check the HP VC Release Notes and compatibility matrix.
Lifecycle: BladeSystem c-Class is a legacy platform; no HP/HPE support entitlement is included or claimed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the HP 455880-B21?
The 455880-B21 is the HP Virtual Connect Flex-10 10Gb Ethernet module for BladeSystem c-Class enclosures, with 16x 10Gb server downlinks, 8x SFP+ uplinks, 1x 10Gb CX4 uplink, and 2x internal cross-connects, drawing 105 W.
Q. Is the 455880-B21 a standalone Ethernet switch?
No. It is an enclosure interconnect module that installs only in c7000/c3000 interconnect bays and is managed through Virtual Connect Manager via the Onboard Administrator. It appears to the LAN as a pass-through device.
Q. Which enclosures accept the 455880-B21?
HP BladeSystem c-Class c7000 and c3000 enclosures with Onboard Administrator. It does not fit p-Class, Synergy, or third-party chassis.
Q. What is FlexNIC on the Flex-10 module?
Each of the 16x 10Gb downlinks can present up to 4 FlexNIC PCIe functions to the blade server, with per-FlexNIC speeds adjustable from 100Mb to 10Gb depending on the installed adapter, per the HP QuickSpecs.
Q. Does the 455880-B21 include transceivers or a VCEM license?
No. SFP+ optics, DAC, and CX4 cables are not included, and the module does not include a Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager license (that was part of the 591973-B21 bundle).
Q. What condition is the 455880-B21 supplied in by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS?
Refurbished. Each module is tested where test topology is available, inspected, and professionally packed. EU stock with global B2B shipping. Four units available.
Why T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Every 455880-B21 module ships with: (1) functional testing where test topology is available, (2) inspection and configuration reset, (3) full cosmetic check, (4) professional anti-static packaging, (5) global B2B shipping from EU stock, (6) technical consultation for BladeSystem connectivity at no extra cost.
Condition: Refurbished. Bench-tested where test topology is available, inspected, and professionally packed by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS. EU stock, global B2B shipping.