HP Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Networking Scenarios Cookbook

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Scenario 5: Fabric-Attach SAN fabrics connectivity with HP
Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-Port module
Overview
Virtual Connect FlexFabric is an extension of Virtual Connect Flex-10 which leverages the new FCoE (Fibre Channel
over Ethernet) protocols. By leveraging FCoE for connectivity to existing Fibre Channel SAN networks, you can
reduce the number of HBAs required within the server blade and the Fibre Channel modules. This further reduces
cost, complexity, power and administrative overhead.
Figure 48: 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 10Gb/24-Port
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 3, 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 Fibre Channel modules with HBAs inside the servers, this scenario uses CNAs (Converged Network Adapters)
with adjustable FlexHBAs (Flexible Host Bus Adapters) with the VC FlexFabric modules.
However, you can implement scenarios 1 through 4 with the VC FlexFabric modules.
Benefits
Using FlexFabric technology with Fibre Channel over Ethernet, these modules converge traffic over high speed 10 Gb
connections to servers with HP FlexFabric Adapters. Each module provides four adjustable connections (three data
and one storage or all data) to each 10 Gb 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.
With the HP Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-port 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 10Gb connection. 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 4:1 with the FlexFabric modules.