Release Notes

PS Series SAN design
41 Dell PS Series Configuration Guide
Connection speeds
Interconnection guidelines
1-5 arrays: 10Gb of bandwidth per active array
controller port (up to the aggregated maximum
bandwidth of the IST).
6+ arrays: Use 1-5 array rule, then add 10Gb of
additional bandwidth for each array added
8.2.3 Comparing inter-switch connection types
Table 36 provides details and recommendations for selecting interconnect options.
Stacking versus LAG
Interconnect
type
Primary purpose
Analysis
Stacking
Create a larger,
logical switch within
an isolated physical
location.
Advantages:
• Easier to manage multiple switches as single switch
• Possibly higher bandwidth than using link aggregation and
Ethernet
• Not limited by Ethernet standards
• Firmware upgrades will reset the entire stack
Concerns:
• Proprietary, cannot be used to interconnect switches from
different vendors
• Increases cost of switch
• Stack bandwidth overload risk
Recommendation:
• Simplest way to scale a storage network in a single location on a
single subnet
• May provide lower latency and higher bandwidth than a LAG
• Understand the stacking technology and limit stack size in
accordance with total throughput requirements and connection
counts.