HP Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Networking Scenarios Cookbook
10
Supported VC SAN Fabric configuration
Beginning with Virtual Connect 3.70, there are two supported VC SAN fabric types, Fabric-Attach fabrics and Direct-
Attach fabrics. A Fabric-Attach fabric uses the traditional method of connecting VC-FC and VC FlexFabric modules,
which requires an upstream NPIV-enabled SAN switch. A Direct-Attach fabric reduces storage networking costs and
removes the complexity of FC switch management by enabling you to directly connect a VC FlexFabric module to a
supported HP 3PAR Storage System.
A VC SAN fabric can only contain uplink ports of one type, either attached to an external SAN switch or directly
connected to a supported storage device. VC isolates ports that do not match the specified fabric type. The isolated
port causes the VC SAN fabric status to become Degraded, as well as all associated server profiles and the overall VC
domain status.
Fabric-Attach support
Fabric-Attach Fibre Channel (FC) prerequisites
The Fabric-Attach Fabric is supported with the HP VC FlexFabric Module / HP VC 8Gb 24-Port Module / HP VC 8Gb
20-Port Module / HP VC 4Gb 20-Port Module.
The Fabric-Attach Fabric is only supported if directly connected to Fibre Channel SAN switches.
NPIV support is required in the FC switches that connect to the HP VC-FC and HP FlexFabric Modules.
Note: Visit the SPOCK website to get the latest Fabric-Attach support information, see “Virtual Connect Fibre
Channel support” section.
Fabric-Attach Fibre Channel (FC) details
The Fabric-Attach option is the default Fabric type.
Select Fabric-Attach if the FlexFabric module (or VC-FC module) is connected to a Fibre Channel SAN switch.
N_Port with NPIV is used to connect to the SAN Fabric.
Once a fabric is defined, its type cannot be changed until fabric is deleted and recreated.
Virtual Connect Fabric-Attach SAN Fabric support
When using the Virtual Connect Fabric-Attach mode, participating uplinks must be connected to the same SAN fabric
in order to correctly form a Virtual Connect SAN fabric.
Figure 1: Participating uplinks must connect to the same SAN fabric
VC Domain
Fabric 1A
Fabric 2A
VC-FC Module
VC SAN A-1
VC SAN Fabrics defined
in the VC Domain
External Datacenter
SAN Fabrics
VC Domain
Fabric 1B
VC-FC Module
VC SAN B-1
Bay 3
Bay 4
VC SAN A-2
VC SAN B-2
Fabric 2B