FW 05.01.00 and SW 07.01.00 HP StorageWorks SAN High Availability Planning Guide (AA-RS2DC-TE, June 2003)

57SAN High Availability Planning Guide
3
Planning Considerations for
Fibre Channel Topologies
A storage area network (SAN) is typically defined as a network of shared storage
resources that can be allocated throughout a heterogeneous environment. This
chapter describes planning considerations for incorporating Hewlett-Packard (HP)
switching products into Fibre Channel SAN topologies.
This chapter specifically describes:
■ Fibre Channel topologies, including point-to-point, arbitrated loop, and
multi-switch fabric.
■ Planning for point-to-point connectivity.
■ Characteristics of arbitrated loop operation.
■ Private and fabric-attached arbitrated loop connectivity.
■ Planning for multi-switch fabric support. For planning purposes, a SAN is
typically one or more Fibre Channel fabrics. A fabric is one or more Fibre
Channel directors or switches.
■ Planning a Fibre Channel fabric topology and topology design considerations.