Storage Area Network Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT – Intel Application Note AA-RHH6B-TE Visit Our Web Site for the Latest Information At Compaq we are continually making additions to our storage solutions product line. Please check our web site for more information on the complete line of Fibre Channel storage products, product certification, technical information, updates to this document, and other available documentation. This information can be accessed through our web page at: www.
SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel Product Overview The RA8000 and ESA12000 FC storage systems are based on a common architecture and offer customers centralized management, high availability, and exceptional performance and scalability in open systems environments. These products provide a Fibre Channel storage solution with industry leading SAN support utilizing both FC-Fabric (switch) and FC-AL (arbitrated loop) technology.
Application Note Controllers in Multiple-Bus failover mode monitor each other and automatically failover storage units from the failed member of a controller pair. The Secure Path software detects the failure of I/O operations to complete on a failed path and automatically re-routes all traffic to the surviving path. Controller and path failover is completed seamlessly, without process disruption or data loss.
SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel those that are allowed access. Additionally, SSP allows the setting of host modes and LUN offsets for each HBA connected to the array. The host mode is specially tailored to the storage communication techniques of the operating system. The LUN offset feature allows higher numbered LUNs in a RAID Array to be presented in a range required by specific operating systems.
Application Note NOTE Fibre channel switch and ISL performance limits are theoretical. Actual measured performance is lower due to limits unrelated to the switch. SAN Configuration Guidelines The following sections provide information about configuring SANs including the base Fabric design selection, fibre channel Fabric rules, platform and disk storage connectivity rules, Enterprise Backup integration rules and Compaq Secure Path for Windows NT rules.
SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel Line 2 in Table 2 lists the configuration maximums for Windows NT Intel platforms in a heterogeneous SAN configuration. 4. If implementing a SAN for high availability storage using Compaq Secure Path for Windows NT, refer to the Secure Path configuration rules. 5. If implementing a SAN integrating Compaq Enterprise Backup on your SAN, refer to the EBS connectivity and configuration rules 6.
Application Note Windows NT Server/Storage Rules Table 2 describes the Windows NT Intel platform maximums when in a homogenous Windows NT SAN and when using Windows NT Intel platforms in a heterogeneous mixed platform SAN.
SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel • • • • • • • • Each active controller host port presents one SCSI Target ID with up to eight LUNs to each server (FC HBA) that has a connected path through the Fabric to the port. The maximum number of LUNs per HSG80 controller pair is 128 Dual redundant controllers can be configured for Transparent Failover Mode or Multiple-Bus Failover Mode.
Application Note • • • • • Up to 2 Fibre Channel Tape Controllers Maximum of 1 TL895 library Up to 7 tape drives Maximum of 1 switch hop between servers and a tape controller Supports backup for up to 2 RA8000 or 1 ESA12000 (4 controller pairs) storage systems Compaq Secure Path for Windows NT Rules • • • • • • • All High Availability Multiple-Bus Failover configurations require Compaq Secure Path for Windows NT (minimum revision v2.
SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel Configuration Descriptions Table 3 lists six SAN Fabric configuration examples for RA8000 and ESA12000 storage systems when using Windows NT Intel platforms. The configurations are based on the rules listed in the configuration guideline section.
Application Note SAN Fabric Configuration 1 - One FC Switch, Controller Transparent Failover Mode, Integrated EBS SAN Fabric Configuration 1 (Figure 2) is a general-purpose configuration that provides connectivity for multiple servers, disk storage, and tape storage all on a single SAN. Up to 12 separate noncooperating servers or up to 6 pairs of clustered cooperating servers can be connected through a 16port switch providing access from all servers to a single storage system.
SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel • • Or Maximum Storage Capacity, Up to 2 Storage Systems (6 storage ports/3 Active, 3 Standby) and 2 Servers [8 – 2 server ports = 6 storage ports] All HSG80 array controllers configured in Transparent Failover Mode EBS Integration Supported SAN Configuration 1 Fabric Rules • • • • Total Switches = 1, 16-port or 8-port Maximum Switch Hops (nominal) = 0 Maximum Switch Hops (worst case )= 0 Maximum Distances Up to 500 meters per FC cable segmen
Application Note SAN Fabric Configuration 2 – Two FC Switches, High Availability, Secure Path, Controller Multiple-Bus Failover Mode, Integrated EBS SAN Fabric configuration 2 (Figure 3) is a high availability storage configuration that uses two separate Fabrics to provide two data paths between servers and disk storage configured in MultipleBus failover mode. Tape storage can be configured on one of the Fabrics to provide backup and restore capabilities.
SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel • • • • 16-port FC Switches, total number of switch ports available for Servers and Storage is 32 Maximum Server Connectivity, Up to 14 Servers and 1 Storage System (4 Active storage ports) [(32 – 4 storage ports)/2 = 14 servers] Maximum of 8 FC HBA's configured on any one active controller host port Or Maximum Storage Capacity, Up to 6 Storage Systems (24 Active storage ports) and 4 HA Servers [32 – 8 server ports = 24 storage ports] Maximum
Application Note SAN Fabric Configuration 3 – Two FC Switches, Cascaded, Controller Transparent Failover Mode, Integrated EBS SAN Fabric configuration 3 (Figure 4) is a general purpose single Fabric cascaded switch configuration that provides increased server, disk, and tape storage connectivity capabilities. Up to 22 separate (non-cooperating) servers or up to 11 pairs of clustered (cooperating) servers can be connected through a 16-port switch providing access from all servers to 2 storage systems.
SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel • • • [32 – 2 ISL ports – 8 storage ports = 22 server ports] Maximum of 16 servers configured on one controller pair Maximum of 8 servers configured on any one active controller host port Or Maximum Storage Capacity, Up to 7 Storage Systems (26 Storage Ports/13 Active, 13 Standby) and 4 Servers [32 – 2 ISL ports – 4 server ports = 26 storage ports] Maximum of 4 active controller host ports per FC HBA 8-port FC Switches total number of switch po
Application Note SAN Fabric Configuration 4 – Four FC Switches, Cascaded High Availability Fault Tolerant Fabric, Secure Path, Controller Multiple-Bus Failover Mode, Integrated EBS SAN Fabric configuration 4 (Figure 5) is a high availability storage cascaded switch configuration that provides increased server, disk, and tape storage connectivity capabilities. This configuration uses two separate Fabrics to provide two data paths between servers and disk storage configured in Multiple-Bus failover mode.
SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel SAN Configuration 4 Server/Storage Connectivity Rules • • • • • Any mix of Windows NT Intel Servers - standalone or clustered, configured for HA or non-HA, and any mix of Multiple-bus Failover and Transparent Failover storage systems using these maximums. Assumes all servers configured for HA, 2 FC switches and 2 FC HBA’s per server for HA, an even storage port count, and no EBS ports.
Application Note • • • FC switch Zoning to create separate Zones for each of the server groups that you wish to configure with specific storage systems.
SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel SAN Fabric Configuration 5 – Three FC Switches, Cascaded Meshed Fabric, Controller Transparent Failover Mode SAN Fabric configuration 5 (Figure 6) is a meshed Fabric cascaded switch configuration that provides increased server, disk, and tape storage connectivity capabilities in addition to Fabric resiliency. All of the switches in the Fabric are interconnected providing alternate paths within the Fabric.
Application Note • • • 16-port FC Switches, total number of switch ports available for Servers and Storage is 42 Maximum Server Connectivity, Up to 30 Servers and 3 Storage Systems (12 storage ports/6 Active, 6 Standby) [48 – 6 ISL ports – 12 storage ports = 30 server ports] Maximum of 16 servers configured on any one controller pair Maximum of 8 servers configured on any active controller host port Or Maximum Storage Capacity, Up to 9 Storage Systems (36 storage ports/18 Active, 18 Standby) and 6 Serve
SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel For high bandwidth applications – One ISL between switches for every 2 storage controller ports on one switch being accessed by a server on the other switch. For high throughput applications – One ISL between switches for every 6 storage controller ports on one switch being accessed by a server on the other switch.
Application Note SAN Fabric Configuration 6 – Four FC Switches, Cascaded Meshed Fabric, Controller Transparent Failover Mode SAN Fabric configuration 6 (Figure 7) is a meshed Fabric cascaded switch configuration that provides the maximum server and storage connectivity available in a single Fabric. All of the switches in the Fabric are interconnected providing alternate paths within the Fabric. This Fabric feature automatically reconfigures a route to a good path should a component in a Fabric path fail.
SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel SAN Configuration 6 Server/Storage Connectivity Rules • • • • Any mix of Windows NT Intel Servers - standalone or clustered, and storage systems using these maximums. Assumes 1 FC HBA per server, an even storage port count, and no EBS ports.
Application Note • • storage system. (See Windows NT Server/Storage Rules). This situation can be avoided by using FC switch Zoning to create separate Zones for each of the server groups that you wish to configure with specific storage systems. Performance considerations, assuming relatively equal server load: If using four storage systems, for balanced performance across all servers configure one quarter of the servers on each of the storage systems and equally on the controller port pairs.
SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel Parts List • Intel Servers with Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Service Pack 4 (minimum) Page 26 Compaq Part # Description 380551-001 RA8000/ESA12000 FC Solution Software V8.5 for Windows NT/Intel 128697-B21 ACS V8.
Application Note Product Details The RA8000/ESA12000 storage systems utilize the Compaq HSG80 RAID controller running Array Controller Software (ACS) V8.5. The ACS software is designed to support multiple platforms providing features including: dual controller operation, two controller failover modes – Transparent and Multiple-Bus, mirrored write back cache, read ahead cache, RAID implementation, disk mirroring, and disk partitioning capabilities.
SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel Configuration References The following documents provide further information on the configuration of RA8000 and ESA12000 Fibre Channel Storage Systems: Table4 Configuration Reference Material Topic Document Title Order Number Heterogeneous SAN Application Note Heterogeneous Storage Area Networks EK-SMA30-AN Sun SAN Application Note Storage Area Network Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Sun Solaris EK-SMA37-AN HP-UX SAN Application No
