9.5.01 HP P4000 SAN Solution User Guide (AX696-96168, February 2012)

4 Managing the network
A physical storage system has two TCP/IP network interfaces (NICs). For each physical storage
system you can:
• Configure the individual TCP/IP interfaces, including settings for speed and duplex, frame
size, and NIC flow control.
• Bond NICs to ensure continuous network access or to improve bandwidth.
• Set up and manage DNS servers, and a network routing table.
• Manage the SAN/iQ communication interface, and update the list of managers running in
the management group to which a storage system belongs.
NOTE: The VSA has only one network interface and does not support changing the following
items:
• NIC bonding
• NIC flow control
• Frame size
• TCP interface speed or duplex
Network best practices
• Isolate the SAN, including CMC traffic, on a separate network. If the SAN must run on a
public network, use a VPN to secure data and CMC traffic.
• Configure all the network characteristics on a storage system before creating a management
group, or before adding the storage system to a management group and cluster.
• Use static IP addresses, or reserved addresses if using DHCP.
• Configure storage system settings for speed and duplex, frame size, and flow control BEFORE
bonding NICs and before putting the storage system into a management group and cluster.
• If adding a second IP address to a storage system, the second IP address must be on a separate
subnet. If the two IP addresses are on the same subnet, they must be bonded.
Split network configurations
Implement a split network configuration to use the CMC on a management network separate from
the storage or iSCSI network. HP recommends that you only configure a management network
when the storage systems are equipped with a sufficient number of network adapters so that the
storage systems can support both bonded NICs for optimal redundancy and performance on the
storage network, along with a separate management interface. Keep in mind the following
requirements when considering the creation of a management network.
• Configure a management network only if your storage systems have two or more NICs. Two
NICs are the minimum number required to create a bonded interface for the storage network
to provide maximum redundancy and performance.
• Use only available P4000 upgrade kits to alter the hardware configuration of a P4000 storage
system. Alterations using any other hardware are not supported.
• Be aware that the CMC can manage storage systems via a routed network or by installation
of a second NIC on the storage network on the CMC host. This is the most common method
for CMC management.
48 Managing the network