Storage Area Network Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT-Intel Application Note

SAN Configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 on Windows NT - Intel
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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. The SSP feature also provides a means to track the numerous FC HBAs
within servers attached to a SAN by identifying each by Worldwide ID (WWID).
Additional information about these products and features is available in the documentation listed in
Table 4
SAN Performance Considerations
The performance of an application on a system that utilizes RA8000 or ESA12000 FC storage can be
limited by many different components of the system and the configuration of the SAN. Some of the
possible component limiting factors include the host CPU(s), memory size, FC HBA, RAID
controllers, or the specific configuration of disks used behind the controllers. At the SAN level,
performance can be limited by the number and arrangement of FC switches and inter-switch links
(ISL) in the Fabric, and the way servers and storage systems are connected to the Fabric. The limiting
factor can move to any of these areas depending on the workload. Identifying the limits will assist in
determining the best configuration for a given application.
Table 1 lists the upper limit performance specifications for the components of the RA8000 and
ESA12000 FC storage systems based on testing using standard storage performance tests and
methodologies. These numbers should be used to compare component level performance as a means
to determine the best configuration from a performance perspective. User application tests may not
necessarily reach these levels of performance as applications may perform additional levels of
processing for each I/O. The controller specifications listed show both cache (no disk access) and
media (with disk access) limitations.
The limits are based on I/O performance (I/O’s per second) - typical of small transfer applications
such as databases and mail, and bandwidth performance (MB’s per second) - typical of large transfer
applications such as video and graphics.
Table 1 Performance Limits of FC-Fabric Components
Transfer Size IO/sec (small transfer sizes,
random access)
MB/sec (large transfer sizes,
sequential access)
Operation Type Read Write Read Write
FC HBA - KGPSA-BC 15,500 14,250 86 51
FC Switch (see note)
FC Switch ISL (see note)
400,000
25,000
400,000
25,000
1600
100
1600
100
Single HSG80 Controller
(1 Active Port)
12,000 Cache
4,100 Media
9,000 Cache
4,000 Media
77 Cache
54 Media
50 Cache
44 Media
Single HSG80 Controller
(2 Active Ports)
12,000 Cache
4,100 Media
9,000 Cache
4,000 Media
98 Cache
54 Media
100 Cache
47 Media
Dual HSG80 Controllers
(2 Active/2 Standby Ports)
24,000 Cache
8,200 Media
18,000 Cache
8,000 Media
154 Cache
102 Media
101 Cache
88 Media
Dual HSG80 Controllers
(4 Active Ports)
24,000 Cache
8,200 Media
18,000 Cache
8,000 Media
195 Cache
102 Media
178 Cache
88 Media
EBS TBS TBS TBS TBS