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

Application Note
AA–RHH6B–TE Page 7
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.
Table 2 Guidelines for Windows NT Intel Platform Supported Maximums
Maximum
Supported
Number of:
Host Bus
Adapters
per Server
(1)
Active
Controller
Host Ports
(HBA Targets)
per HBA
(2)
LUNs
per HBA
Target
(3)
HBAs per
Server per
Switch Zone
(4)
Active
Servers
per
Storage
System
(5)
Windows NT SAN 4 4 8 4 16
Heterogeneous SAN
8
Table Notes:
1. The actual maximum number of host bus adapters per server is dependent on the specific server model.
2.
The recommended maximum number of active HSG80 controller host ports a single HBA can simultaneously
access, the actual number of Targets available is 16, including the HBA.
3.
The maximum number of LUNs per SCSI target. The maximum number of LUNs per target a host bus adapter can
address in a SAN may be less.
4.
The maximum number of HBAs per server that can be connected to the same switch zone.
5. This column gives the maximum number of active hosts for one storage system in a Homogeneous SAN using the
specific operating system. This assumes 1 FC HBA per host for non-HA Transparent Failover configurations and
2 FC HBAs per host for HA Multiple-bus Failover configurations. The Heterogeneous Access entry is the
maximum total number of active host connections when multiple operating systems are accessing the same storage
system.
• All configurations are supported under Windows NT 4.0 with SP4 (minimum)
• For Windows NT, all server connections into the SAN use a FC-Fabric based HBA. FC-AL and
FC FL-Port HBA connections into the SAN are not supported for Windows NT platforms
• The maximum number of FC HBAs per server is 4, or total allowed in the server if less than 4.
Use Selective Storage Presentation (see below) to assign specific LUNs exclusively to each HBA
• The maximum number of active controller ports per FC HBA is 4
• Any combination of Windows NT Servers - standalone or clustered, and RA8000/ESA12000
storage systems is allowed per SAN configuration, provided these rules are followed:
1. A maximum of 16 Windows NT servers (assumes 1 FC HBA per server for non-HA and
2 FC HBAs per server for HA) per RA8000 or ESA12000 dual controller storage system,
with a maximum of 8 servers configured on each active port. See “Extended
Configurations” description below when greater than 4 servers have access to the same
HSG80 controller host port pair
2. All specific SAN configuration rule limits are followed. Refer to the individual SAN
Fabric configurations
• Extended Configurations - If you configure greater than 4 (up to 8) Windows NT servers
(assumes one FC HBA per server) for access to a single host port on an RA8000/ESA12000 Fibre
Channel storage system, you must select the “Extended Configuration” check box in the
StorageWorks Windows NT Platform Kit Fibre Channel Software Setup utility custom
installation setup. Each NT server in this configuration must have the option selected. Selecting
this option will adjust registry settings for your KGPSA host bus adapter to operate in an
"Extended Configuration" environment
• All configurations require the Connection Name Operating System parameter set to “WINNT”
• When configuring HSG80 controllers for access from Windows NT servers only, the controller
SCSI mode should be set to “SCSI-2” and the Command Console LUN (CCL) must be disabled.
When configuring controllers for access from Windows NT and other platforms that require
“SCSI-3” mode, set the controllers to SCSI-3 mode. When set in SCSI-3 mode the CCL will be
fixed at LUN 0. This will reduce the total number of LUNs available from 8 to 7 for all server
connections.