HP Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Networking Scenarios Cookbook

115
Scenario 10: Fabric-Attach SAN fabrics connectivity with
HP Virtual Connect FlexFabric-20/40 F8 module
Overview
HP Virtual Connect FlexFabric-20/40 F8 Modules are the simplest, most flexible way to connect virtualized server
blades to data or storage networks. VC FlexFabric-20/40 F8 modules eliminate up to 95% of network sprawl at the
server edge with one device that converges traffic inside enclosures and directly connects to external LANs and
SANs. Using Flex-10 and Flex-20 technology with Fibre Channel over Ethernet and accelerated iSCSI, these modules
converge traffic over high speed 10Gb/20Gb connections to servers with HP FlexFabric Adapters. Each redundant
pair of Virtual Connect FlexFabric modules provide 8 adjustable downlink connections ( six Ethernet and two Fibre
Channel, or six Ethernet and 2 iSCSI or eight Ethernet) to dual port10Gb/20Gb FlexFabric Adapters on servers. Up to
twelve uplinks with eight Flexport and four QSFP+ interfaces, without splitter cables, are available for connection to
upstream Ethernet and Fibre Channel switches. Including splitter cables up to 24 uplinks are available for connection
to upstream Ethernet and Fibre Channel. VC FlexFabric-20/40 F8 modules avoid the confusion of traditional and
other converged network solutions by eliminating the need for multiple Ethernet and Fibre Channel switches,
extension modules, cables and software licenses. Also, Virtual Connect wire-once connection management is built-
in enabling server adds, moves and replacement in minutes instead of days or weeks.
Figure 60: Multiple VC Fabric-Attach SAN Fabrics with different priority tiers connected to the same fabrics
Server 1
1
HBA
Server 2 Server 3 Server 4 Server 15 Server 16
Fabric-1-Tier1
Fabric-2-Tier2
Fabric-1-Tier2
…
…
5:1
server-to-uplink ratio
on a fully populated enclosure with 16 servers
1:1
server-to-uplink ratio
on a fully populated enclosure with 16 servers
Fabric 1
VC FlexFabric-20/40 F8
Modules
Ethernet
only ports!
Fabric 2
CNA
2
1
HBA
CNA
2
1
HBA
CNA
2
1
HBA
CNA
2
1
HBA
CNA
2
HBA
CNA
1
2
Fabric-2-Tier1
VC Domain
This scenario is similar to scenario 5, which has multiple VC Fabric-Attach SAN fabrics with Dynamic Login Balancing
connected to the same redundant SAN fabric with different priority tiers but instead of using the legacy Virtual
Connect FlexFabric modules, this scenario uses the Virtual Connect FlexFabric-20/40 F8 Modules with the HP
FlexFabric 20Gb Adapters using the Flex-20 technology with Fibre Channel over Ethernet, providing adjustable
FlexHBAs up to 20Gb speed.
Benefits
Using FlexFabric technology with Fibre Channel over Ethernet, these modules converge traffic over high speed 10Gb
and 20Gb connections to servers with HP FlexFabric 10/20Gb Adapters. Each module provides 4 adjustable
connections (three data and one storage or all data) to each 10Gb/20Gb server port. You avoid the confusion of
traditional and other converged network solutions by eliminating the need for multiple Ethernet and Fibre Channel
switches, extension modules, cables and software licenses. Also, Virtual Connect wire-once connection management
is built-in, enabling server adds, moves, and replacement in minutes instead of days.