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

Routing use cases
This section describes use cases for routing.
SAN island consolidation and scaling
B-series routing consolidates SAN islands (multiple independent fabrics) into a Meta SAN. This
modular SAN design offers:
• Simplified scalability that allows you to scale a SAN without having to merge fabrics.
• Selective sharing of devices in different fabrics so that only devices required for specific
functions are seen across fabrics.
• Limited sharing or specific times for data migrations and storage consolidation.
• Ability to access equipment without changing its physical location. Connecting multiple fabrics
to 8 Gb/s switches with integrated Fibre Channel routing, 1606 Extension SAN Switches or
DC Dir Switch MP Extension Blades, or MP Router or Blades enables sharing of devices located
anywhere in the Meta SAN.
• Ability to connect B-series fabrics using Secure Fabric OS.
Routing does not merge fabrics, so existing zoning definitions and assigned domain IDs can be
used without modification. Duplicate zoning definitions and domain IDs in fabrics are hidden by
the MP Router. Fabrics in a Meta SAN can be scaled without affecting other fabrics.
Multiple SANs can be centralized and consolidated into one Meta SAN, or partitioned into different
administrative domains or different logical fabrics using the Virtual Fabrics feature as required. HP
recommends the use of Fabric Manager to simplify management procedures when implementing
a Meta SAN.
Figure 33 (page 58) shows a typical configuration for SAN island consolidation.
Figure 33 1606 Extension SAN Switch or MP Router consolidating SAN islands
25113c
1606 Extension SAN Switch,
400 MPR, or MPR
(FC Routing)
LSAN 2
LSAN 1
Fabric 1
Fabric 2
Fabric 3
Integration of Fibre Channel routing and FCIP
You can use the 1606 Extension SAN Switch or MP Router's integrated FCIP capability to extend
disaster-tolerant applications such as HP Continuous Access for storage arrays.
In nonrouted FCIP configurations, local and remote fabrics merge when connected through an IP
network. The IP connection acts as an ISL in a single fabric. By using Fibre Channel routing and
FCIP, the local and remote fabrics connect without merging. You can create an LSAN that contains
local and remote storage arrays and servers.
Figure 34 (page 59), Figure 35 (page 59), Figure 36 (page 59), Figure 37 (page 60), and
Figure 38 (page 60) show typical HP Continuous Access NSPOF configurations in which the 1606
Extension SAN Switch or MP Router provides Fibre Channel routing and FCIP. Figure 36 (page
58 Fibre Channel routing