HP Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Networking Scenarios Cookbook

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Figure 43: Physical view
HP 4Gb VC-FC Module
UID
1 2 3 4
HP 4Gb VC-FC Module
UID
1 2 3 4
DP1-A DP1-B1 2 DP1-A DP1-B1 2
Cntrl 2
Mgmt
UID
Cntrl 1
PS 2PS 1
UID UID
Mfg Mfg
NIC
1
NIC
2
UID
HP ProLiant
BL460c
12Vdc 12Vdc
HP StorageWorks
4/32B SAN Switch
0 1 2 3 8 9 10 11 16 17 18 19 24 25 26 27 3130292823222120151413127654
12Vdc 12Vdc
HP StorageWorks
4/32B SAN Switch
0 1 2 3 8 9 10 11 16 17 18 19 24 25 26 27 3130292823222120151413127654
HBA 1 HBA 2
Blade Server
Fabric-1 Fabric-2
Storage Array
Benefits
Using multiple ports in each VC Fabric-Attach SAN fabric allows dynamically distribution of server logins across the
ports using a round robin format. Dynamic Login Distribution performs auto-failover for the server logins if the
corresponding uplink port becomes unavailable. Servers that were logged in to the failed port are reconnected to
one of the remaining ports in the VC SAN fabric.
This configuration offers increased performance and better availability. The server-to-uplink ratio is adjustable, up
to 2:1 with the VC-FC 8Gb 24-port module (as few as two servers share one physical Fabric uplink) and up to 4:1 with
the VC-FC 20-port and FlexFabric modules.
Considerations
A multipathing I/O driver must be running on the server Operating System to prevent server I/O disruption when a
failure occurs somewhere between VC and the external fabric. This automatic failover allows smooth transition
without much disruption to the traffic. However, the hosts must perform re-login before resuming their I/O
operations. Only a redundant SAN fabric with a properly configured multipathing I/O driver running on the server
Operating System can provide a completely transparent transition.
The SAN switch ports connecting to the VC-FC modules must be configured to accept NPIV logins. Due to the use of
NPIV, special features that are available in standard FC switches such as ISL Trunking, QoS or extended distances are
not supported with VC-FC and VC FlexFabric.
Requirements
This configuration requires:
 Two VC Fabric-Attach SAN fabrics with two SAN switches that support NPIV
 At least two VC-FC modules
 A minimum of four VC fabric uplink ports connected to the redundant SAN fabric.
For more information about configuring FC switches for NPIV, see "Appendix C: Brocade SAN switch NPIV
configuration" or "Appendix D: Cisco MDS SAN switch NPIV configuration" or "Appendix E: Cisco NEXUS SAN switch
NPIV configuration" depending on your switch model.