Dell 651F, 650F User Manual
CHAPTER 2
SAN Configurations
This chapter introduces the components that you can include in your Storage Area
Network (SAN). It also explains the different operating system environments and
configurations that you can use in your SAN.
SAN Components
The following sections describe the various components in a SAN.
Servers
In a SAN, servers provide the attached client systems with access to high throughput,
reliable storage systems. Servers also manage the storage systems and attached
SAN appliances.
When you are installing, configuring, managing, or maintaining a server in a SAN, you
must consider both the installed operating system, software, and storage that is
beingusedonorbythatserver.
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Server Software
The server software that is required on each server varies by the type of storage system it is using and by whether it is using a SAN Appliance.
Servers Accessing Storage Systems Directly
Ensure that each host server that is only accessing storage systems directly and
through a PowerVault 530F SAN appliance, such as the server in Figure 2-1, has the
following software installed:
not
• Dell OpenManage Data Managed Node Data Agent (for 650F and 651F only)
• Dell OpenManage Storage Consolidation (for 650F, 651F and 660F)
• Dell OpenManage Application Transparent Failover (ATF) (for 650F and 651F
only)
• QLogic QLdirect (for 660F only)
• Dell OpenManage Array Manager (for 650F, 651F and 660F)
SAN Configurations 2-1
Figure 2-1. Example of Server Accessing Storage Systems
Servers Accessing Storage Systems Behind a PowerVault 530F SAN
Appliance
Ensure that each host server that is only accessing storage systems through a PowerVault 530F SAN appliance, such as the server in Figure 2-2, has the following software
installed:
• Dell OpenManage Data Managed Node Data Agent (for 650F and 651F only)
• QLogic QLdirect (for 530F and 660F)
• Dell OpenManage Array Manager (for 650F, 651F and 660F)
NOTE: The PowerVault 530F SAN appliance comes with QLDirect, Dell OpenManage
Application Transparent Failover (ATF), and Dell OpenManage Array Manager preinstalled.
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Figure 2-2. Example of Server Accessing Storage Systems Behind a
PowerVault 530F
Servers Accessing Storage Systems Directly and Behind a 530F SAN
Appliance
Ensure that each host server that is accessing storage systems both directly and
through a PowerVault 530F SAN appliance, such as server in Figure 2-3, has the following software installed:
• Dell OpenManage Data Managed Node Data Agent (for 650F and 651F only)
• Dell OpenManage Storage Consolidation (for 650F, 651F, and 660F)
• Dell OpenManage ATF (for 650F and 651F only)
• QLogic Qldirect (for 660F only)
• Dell OpenManage Array Manager (for 650F, 651F, and 660F)
NOTE: The PowerVault 530F SAN appliance comes with QLDirect, Dell OpenManage
Application Transparent Failover (ATF), and Dell OpenManage Array Manager preinstalled.
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SAN Configurations 2-3
Figure 2-3. Example of Server Accessing Storage Systems Directly
and Behind a PowerVault 530F
Host Bus Adapters
Within a SAN, a host bus adapter (HBA) provides the connectivity from the host computer system to the external Fibre Channel device or to a PowerVault 50F, 51F, or 56F
switch. The following HBAs are supported.
QLogic QLA2100, QLA2100F, QLA2200, and QLA2200F
The QLA2
nent Interconnect (PCI) 2.1 interface (fully backward compatible with 32-bit PCI). The
QLA2100 and QLA2200 support copper media. The QLA2100F and QLA2200F support fiber-optic media. For additional information about HBA cabling, see Appendix A,
“Cable Types.”
QLogic QLA2200/66 and QLA2200F/66
The QLA2200/66 series HBAs support a 66-MHz, 64-bit PCI interface (fully backwardcompatible with 32-bit PCI). The QLA2200/66 supports copper media. The
QLA2200F/66 supports fiber-optic media. For additional information about HBA
cabling, see Appendix A, “Cable Types.”
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x
00 series HBAs support a 33-megahertz (MHz), 64-bit Peripheral Compo-
PowerVault Fibre Channel Switches
Dell PowerVault Fibre Channel switches are used for building and managing a SAN.
The PowerVault 50F and 51F are 8-port Fibre Channel switches, and the PowerVault
56F is a 16-port Fibre Channel switch. The switch is a key component of a SAN. The
switch’s primary function is to enable true switched Fibre Channel fabric configura-
tions. The PowerVault Fibre Channel switches are necessary for PowerVault 650F,
651F, and 660F storage system configurations that include more than two servers.
In a fully redundant SAN configuration, at least two switches are required. Each
switch connects to one of the storage controllers in the PowerVault 650F, 651F, or
660F storage system, which allows all servers connected to the switch to access all
logical unit numbers (LUNs) bound on that storage controller. This why each server
must have two HBAs installed. Each HBA is connected to one switch and to one storage controller. Due to the failover capabilities provided by the Dell OpenManage
Application Transparent Failover (ATF) software for 650Fs and 651Fs and by QLogic
QLDirect for 660Fs, this configuration eliminates cables, switches, gigabit interface
converters (GBICs), and HBAs as single points of failure. If any one of these hardware
components fails, connectivity is maintained with no loss of data. The switch also
allows you to add and remove devices while the SAN is operational.
PowerVault 650F and 651F Disk Processor Enclosures
The PowerVault 650F storage system is a Fibre Channel-attached, external redundant
array of independent disks (RAID) subsystem. The configuration is expandable to 120
hard-disk drives with additional PowerVault 630F disk array enclosures (DAEs). Each
650F and 630F supports up to 10 hard-disk drives. This configuration supports one
650F and up to 11 630Fs connected through link controller cards (LCCs). Standard features include redundant power supplies, fans, and LCCs.
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The PowerVault 651F is a stand-alone deskside enclosure. The enclosure contains a
PowerVault 650F DPE and a PowerVault 630F DAE, which together provide a maximum of 20 hard-disk drives.
PowerVault 660F and 224F Storage Systems
The PowerVault 660F storage system is a Fibre Channel-attached, external RAID storage system. The configuration is expandable to 112 hard-disk drives with additional
PowerVault 224F storage enclosures. Each 660F and 224F supports up to 14 hard-disk
drives. This configuration supports one 660F and up to seven 224Fs connected
through input-output (I/O) expansion modules. Standard features include redundant
power supplies, fans, I/O expansion cards, and loop resiliency circuit/SCSI enclosure
services (LS) modules.
PowerVault 35F Fibre Channel Multiport Bridge
The PowerVault 35F Fibre Channel multiport bridge is a small computer system interface (SCSI)-to-Fibre Channel protocol converter that enables SCSI-based high-voltage
differential (HVD) tape libraries and autoloaders, such as the PowerVault 130T
DLT4000 or DLT7000 library or 120T DLT4000 or DLT7000 autoloader, to be attached
to the Fibre Channel fabric and to be shared between multiple servers in the SAN.
SAN Configurations 2-5
PowerVault 130T Library and 120T Autoloader
The PowerVault 130T library is a compact, tape-based, HVD SCSI-2 storage subsystem for data backup and restore for one or more servers and disk storage
subsystems. Referred to as a tape library, the PowerVault 130T features high capacity,
high throughput, data compression, automated backup capability, and reliable, accurate data restore functions.
The PowerVault 120T DLT400 0 and DLT7000 autoloaders are fully automated, seventape, random-access tape autoloaders that are designed to be more effective network
backup solutions than manually operated stand-alone tape drives.
PowerVault 530F SAN Appliance
The Dell PowerVault 530F is a SAN appliance that offers a variety of functions,
depending on customer needs and application requirements. The primary function of
the PowerVault 530F is local and remote data mirroring for disaster recovery and data
replication. In addition, the system features Snapshot Copy, LUN masking, mapping
and partitioning, as well as the ability to boot a server through the PowerVault 530F
system.
For more information on PowerVault 530F features, refer to the documentation that
came with your system.
Supported SAN Configurations
A Dell SAN supports consolidation of storage for Microsoft Windows NT and
Windows 2000, both clustered and non-clustered, and consolidation of storage for
Novell NetWare. Each of these operating system environments are supported on
independent SANs or in separate zones on the same SAN. PowerVault 530F SAN
appliances can exist on the same SAN.
Windows NT and Windows 2000 SAN Configurations
Table 2-1 lists the maximum number of devices that the Windows NT or Windows
2000 SAN configurations can support.
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