Deployment Guide

• Number of hosts required
• Level of data consistency required
Consistent And Non-Consistent Configurations
Non-consistent configurations are configurations that provide only a single data path from a host to the storage array. This type of
configuration is only recommended for non-critical data storage. Path failure from a failed or removed cable, a failed HBA, or a failed or
removed RAID controller module results in loss of host access to storage on the storage array.
Consistency is established by installing separate data paths between the host and the storage array, each path is to one of the two RAID
controller modules installed in the storage array. Consistency protects the host from losing access to data in the event of path failure,
because both RAID controller modules can access all the disks in the storage array.
Dual RAID Controller Configurations
The following figures show two and four hosts, each connected to two RAID controller modules. Because each host has consistent paths,
loss of a single path would still allow access to the storage array through the alternate path.
Figure 1. Two Hosts Connected to Two RAID Controllers
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Hardware Installation