958-000276-007, March 2005)

Supported configurations

Operation of multiple switches in a fabric topology is subject to the following topology

limits. Consider the impact of these limits when planning the fabric.

NOTE:

For more information about planni ng the fabric, refer to

HP StorageWorks SAN High

Availability Pl

anning Guide

• Fabric Elements—Each fabric element is defined by a unique domain ID that

ranges betwee

n 1 and 31; therefore, the theoretical limit of interconnected

directors in a

single fabric is 31. The supported limit of interconnected switches

in a single fa

bric is 24. Because th is number is subject to chang e, contact your

HP authoriz

edservicerepresentativeforthecurrentnumberofinterconnected

switches supported in a single fabric.

• Inhomogeneous fabric—To determine if interoperability is supported for a

product, or if restrictions apply, refer to the product publications, or contact your

HP authorized service representative.

• Num ber of Interswitch Links (ISLs)—The maximum supported number of

ISLs is 75

% of installed p orts for the Director 2/64, and 50% of installed ports

for the Director 2/140. For redundancy, at least two ISLs should connect any

two director-class fabric elements. Because this number is subject to change,

contact your HP authorized service representative for the current number of

ISLs su

pported per director.

• Hop Cou

nt—The Fibre Channel theoretical limit of ISL connections traversed

(hop count) in a single path through a fabric is seven. The maximum supported

hop count in a single path through a fabric is three. Because this number is

subject to change, contact your HP authorized service representative for the

current hop count supported by a single fabric path.

The hop count is equal to the number of ISL connections traversed in a single

path, not the total number of ISL connections between devices.

HP StorageWorks Director release notes