3.6.0 Matrix Server Installation Guide (5697-7079, February 2008)

Chapter 2: Configuration Information 6

Matrix SAN Configuration Guidelines

Following are guidelines for configuring the matrix SAN to be used with

Matrix Server:

• For all FC switches, it is best practice to place each HBA port and its

storage ports in a separate zone. No other initiator HBA port should

be present in this zone.

• When the matrix is configured for fabric fencing, arrays must operate

in fabric or switch-attached mode (not arbitrated-loop-only devices).

This requirement does not apply for non-fabric fencing

configurations.

• The FC switches managed by the matrix must be from the same

vendor. Switches that will not be managed by Matrix Server can be

from other vendors only if all of the vendors have approved the

configuration.

• With fabric fencing, if the servers are connected to switches in

multiple fabrics, the physical ports on each switch must be assigned to

unique domain IDs. A different domain ID must be used on each

fabric (any given domain ID can exist on only one fabric in the SAN).

For example, if a server is connected to two switches that are not in the

same fabric, switch1 could use domain ID 6 and switch2 could use

domain ID 7. Domain ID 6 must not exist on the fabric containing

switch2 and domain ID 7 must not exist on the fabric containing

switch1.

• Multiple FibreChannel switches are supported; however, they must be

configured in a manner that meets the following requirements:

– Each matrix server must have access to all of the disks to be used

by the matrix.

– Each server must have exactly one path to each of the disks. (This

requirement is not necessary if the disks are being managed by

third-party MPIO software that can handle multiple paths).

See Chapter 2 of the Matrix Server Administration Guide for more

information about supported matrix configurations. Also see