HP Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Networking Scenarios Cookbook

116
With the HP Virtual Connect FlexFabric-20/40 F8 Module, you can fine-tune the bandwidth speed of the storage
connection between the FlexFabric adapter and VC FlexFabric module just as you can for Ethernet Flex-10 NIC
connections. You can adjust the FlexHBA port in 100Mb increments up to a full 20Gb connection with 20Gb
FlexFabric adapters. On external uplinks, Fibre Channel ports will auto-negotiate 2, 4 or 8Gb speeds based on the
upstream switch port setting.
This configuration offers the simplest, most converged and flexible way to connect to any network eliminating 95%
of network sprawl and improving performance without disrupting operations.
The server-to-uplink ratio is adjustable, up to 2:1 with the FlexFabric-20/40 F8 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 FlexFabric 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.
Figure 61: Physical view
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
CNA 1 CNA 2
Fabric-1 Fabric-2
Storage Array
CNA 1 CNA 2
Blade server
16
NIC
1
NIC
2
UID
HP ProLiant
BL460c
CNA 1 CNA 2
NIC
1
NIC
2
UID
HP ProLiant
BL460c
CNA 1 CNA 2
NIC
1
NIC
2
UID
HP ProLiant
BL460c
CNA 1 CNA 2
Blade Servers
1 to 14
DCB/FCoE
Native Fibre Channel
VC FlexFabric-20/40 F8 Modules