.Part 1 Architecture HP SAN Design Reference Guide 785351-001

expenses for backup hardware are reduced. Increased system availability can help prevent
costly downtime and lost data.
• Centralized management
You can manage consolidated storage by using web-based tools from any location, thus
reducing labor costs.
• Security
SANs support network security measures, such as authentication, authorization, access control,
and zoning.
• Online scalability
You can add storage capacity or expand the fabric as needs change. You can add and
remove servers, and increase, change, or reassign storage while the SAN is online.
• Modularity
Modular design simplifies SAN scalability and increases ROI by consolidating and sharing
systems.
Your SAN can incorporate all of these features, or you can start with a small SAN and add features
as your business needs change.
HP SAN implementations
You can configure a custom SAN by choosing components and following the HP design rules. HP
SAN designs employ a configuration philosophy that supports comprehensive SAN implementations.
• Flexible design and deployment
HP provides standard topologies and design rules to meet the widest range of requirements
for small office environments, mid-range business systems, and enterprise-class installations.
The design rules and methods described in this guide enable change and expansion as needs
arise.
• Incremental scaling
HP SANs maximize value by optimizing features and functionality of the SAN components.
You can expand your SAN over time by adding capacity and features as required.
• Interoperability
HP SAN designs support multiple operating system, server, storage system, and SAN
infrastructure component types.
• Geographically dispersed installations
HP provides components to meet local and long-distance connectivity requirements.
For information about:
• SAN infrastructure solutions, see the HP Storage Networking website:
http://h18006.www1.hp.com/storage/saninfrastructure.html
• SAN deployment in small-to-medium-sized businesses, see the HP Servers & Storage expertise
center website:
http://www.hp.com/sbso/serverstorage
HP SAN implementations 17