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

Figure 45 Configuration Summary created when the first management group is configured
Configuration guidance
As the Configuration Summary reports the numbers of the storage items, it provides warnings about
the safe limits for each category, based on performance and scalability. These warnings first alert
you that the category is nearing the limits by turning the category orange. When an individual
category turns orange, the Configuration Summary category in the navigation window turns orange
as well. When an individual category reaches the maximum recommended configuration it turns
red. When the number in that category is reduced, the color changes immediately to reflect the
new state. For example, if you have a large number of volumes that have numerous schedules that
are creating and deleting snapshots, the snapshots may increase to a number that changes the
summary bar from green to orange. As soon as enough snapshots from the schedules are deleted,
reducing the overall total, the summary bar returns to green.
Best practices
The optimal and recommended number of storage items in a management group depend largely
on the network environment, the configuration of the SAN, the applications accessing the volumes,
and what you are using snapshots for. However, we can provide some broad guidelines that help
you manage your SAN to obtain the best and safest performance and scalability for your
circumstances. These guidelines are in line with our tested limits for common SAN configurations
and uses. Exceeding these guidelines does not necessarily cause any problems. However, your
performance may not be optimal, or in some failover and recovery situations may cause issues
with volume availability.
Volumes and snapshots
The optimum number of combined volumes and snapshots ranges up to 1,000. If the management
group contains 1,001 to 1,500 volumes and snapshots, the Configuration Summary appears
orange for that line of the management group. Exceeding 1,500 volumes and snapshots triggers
a warning by turning that line red. As soon as the total number reduces below the boundary, the
summary bar returns to the previous indicator, either orange or green.
iSCSI sessions
The optimum number of iSCSI sessions connected to volumes in a management group ranges up
to 4,000. If the management group contains 4,001 to 5,000 iSCSI sessions, the Configuration
Summary appears orange for that line of the management group. Exceeding 5,001 iSCSI sessions
triggers a warning by turning that line red. As soon as the total number of iSCSI sessions reduces
below the boundary, the summary bar returns to the previous indicator, either orange or green.
Storage systems in the management group
The optimum number of storage systems in a management group ranges up to 20. If the management
group contains 21 to 30 storage systems, the Configuration Summary appears orange for that line
110 Working with management groups