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

SAN components
A SAN consists of the following hardware and software components:
• Switches
A Fibre Channel switch creates the fabric of the SAN. By interconnecting switches, you can
create scalable SANs with thousands of port connections.
• Routers, bridges, and gateways
Router functionality provides high levels of scalability, dynamic device sharing, and Fibre
Channel network fault isolation. Routers, bridges, and gateways extend the SAN over long
distances and enable integration of multi-protocol technologies.
• Storage devices
A SAN can integrate multiple storage system types, such as disk arrays and tape libraries, to
allocate storage efficiently.
• Servers and HBAs
HBAs connect the server to the SAN. HBA drivers provide an intelligent interface to the switches
and minimize CPU overhead.
• Cabling and cable connectors
Fiber optic cables provide the physical connections between SAN components.
• SAN management applications
HP applications manage and monitor components and ensure optimal SAN operation.
Fibre Channel technology
Fibre Channel is a comprehensive set of standards for communication among servers, storage
systems, and peripheral devices. A Fibre Channel network provides connectivity among
heterogeneous devices and supports multiple interconnect topologies.
The network can be connected to a variety of storage systems:
• RAID arrays
• Tape devices and backup libraries
Fibre Channel technology supports simultaneous use of these transport protocols:
• IP
• SCSI
• iSCSI
For the latest information on Fibre Channel and related technologies, see the following website:
http://www.incits.org
Storage area networks
General-purpose networks, such as LANs, enable communication between servers. A SAN uses
multiple paths to connect servers and storage systems. To take full advantage of its capabilities,
the SAN is maintained separately from parallel general-purpose networks.
The network topology is the physical arrangement of interconnected hardware components. In a
basic topology, a Fibre Channel switch interconnects multiple servers and a storage system. To
protect against hardware failure, high-availability topologies connect redundant systems. You can
connect a complex and extensible network across long distances by choosing the required topology
and appropriate components, and then connecting devices with fiber optic cable.
18 SAN design overview