FCoE Cookbook for HP Virtual Connect Version 4.20 Firmware Enhancements May 2014

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Scenario 7: Dual-Hop FCoE using a single FCoE network and
multiple ports with HP 5900 Series switch in FCF mode
directly connected to an FCoE-Based storage target
In this scenario, two Converged Shared Uplink Sets using a single or multiple uplink ports and carrying a single FCoE
network and multiple standard Ethernet networks are created between the Virtual Connect modules and the HP 5900AF
or HP FlexFabric 5900CP switches. Each HP 5900 switch is directly connected to an FCoE-based storage target.
Figure 28: Physical view
VC Domain
Blade Servers
FCoE NIC
CNA
Port 1
CNA
Port 2
FCoE NIC
CNA
Port 1
CNA
Port 2
FCoE NIC
FCoE NIC
FCoE VLAN 200 FCoE VLAN 201 FCoE VLAN 200 FCoE VLAN 201
HP Virtual Connect FlexFabric
or Flex-10/10D modules
FCoE Storage
Array
HP 5900AF/CP
FCF Mode
LAN
Converged Ethernet/FCoE
VF-PortsVF-Ports
FCoEFCoE
LACP
LACP
Converged Ethernet/FCoE
FCoE
LAN
Converged Ethernet/FCoE
Benefits
This configuration offers the simplicity of managing only one redundant DCB network with a single FCoE uplink or with
multiple FCoE uplinks to offer increased performance and better availability.
The use of a single VC uplink port from each VC module connected to the HP 5900 reduces the total number of FCoE
switch ports needed in the datacenter and saves money. With multiple FCoE uplink ports, the server-to-uplink ratio is
adjustable and the distribution of the FCoE traffic across the ports is dynamic using a round robin format.
FCoE-based Storage devices are directly connected to the HP 5900 Series switches, this reduces complexity and cost by
eliminating the need for multitier storage area networks.