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Switch Zoning Guidelines
The storage array imposes specific requirements that must be followed when setting up Fibre Channel switch zoning:
• If a Fibre Channel switch is used to connect your host server and storage array, it must be zoned. Un-zoned or open switches cannot be used.
• WWN port zoning is recommended. While
hard zoning
(zoning by device ID) is supported, LUN masking uses the
WWN identifier. You can mix WWN and hard-zoned ports in the same zone.
• Multi-port HBAs are supported. Each port in a multiple-port HBA represents one initiator. Each initiator must be connected to a single logical switch zone.
• No more than four paths (port-to-port segments) can be established from a single, physical host server to a single RAID controller.
• A zone can contain multiple targets and span multiple storage arrays (single initiator can point to multiple targets).
• If the Remote Replication premium feature is activated, a separate zone for each replication port is required.
Only data traffic related to Remote Replication can move through that zone. For more details and requirements regarding Remote Replication, see the
Dell PowerVault MD3260/3260i/3660i/3660f/3060e Storage Arrays
Administrator's Guide
at support.dell.com/manuals.
Setting Up Zoning On The Fibre Channel Switch Hardware
Setting up zoning on Fibre Channel switches varies greatly between manufacturers. For detailed information on how to set up zoning on your switch, see the manufacturer’s product documentation or technical support website.
Cabling The Storage Array
Cabling the storage array depends on a number of factors such as:
• Direct- or SAN-attached storage array
• Required level of redundancy or throughput
• Number of host servers connected to the storage array
• Type of HBAs (dual- or single-port) used in the host server(s)
• Remote Replication premium feature (if applicable)
The cabling diagrams shown here do not represent every supported cabling scenario but the concepts of redundancy and switch logic can be used to build your own configuration.
Redundant And Non-Redundant Cabling
Non-redundant cabling configurations provide a single data path from a host server to the storage array. This type of configuration is only recommended for non-critical data storage. A path failure from a failed or removed cable, failed
HBA, or failed or removed RAID controller module results in loss of host access to the storage array.
Redundant configurations establish separate data paths between the host server and storage array. Each path is connected to separate RAID controller modules in the storage array. Redundancy protects the host server from losing access to data in the event of a path failure since both RAID controller modules can independently access all the physical disks in the storage array.
Direct-Attached Cabling
Direct-attached cabling configurations provide simple, non-switched connections between the host server and storage array. Redundancy is achieved in a direct-attached configuration if two RAID controllers are installed in the storage array and multiple paths between the host sever and storage array are established.
A single RAID controller, direct-attached configuration is supported, but is not recommended due to the low level of redundancy offered.
Single Controller Configurations
The following figures show two and four host servers, each connected to one RAID controller module. The host servers share storage space without redundant paths. If one path fails, the host server on that path is disconnected from the storage array.
NOTE: The MD Series Dense storage arrays do not support single-controller (simplex) configurations.
Figure 2. Two Host Servers With Dual Port HBAs Connected to a Single-Controller Storage Array
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Figure 3. Two Host Servers With Two Single-Port HBAs Connected to a Single-Controller Storage Array
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Figure 4. Four Host Servers With Single-Port HBAs Connected to a Single-Controller Storage Array
Dual Controller Configurations
Figure 5 through Figure 7 show two and four host servers, each connected to two RAID controller modules. Since each host server has redundant paths, loss of a single path allows access to the storage array through the alternate path.
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Figure 5. Two Host Servers With Two Dual-Port HBAs Connected to a Dual-Controller (Duplex) Storage Array
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Figure 6. Four Host Servers With Single-Port HBAs Connected to a Dual-Controller (Duplex) Storage Array
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Figure 7. Four Host Servers With Single-Port HBAs Connected to a Dual-Controller (Duplex) Storage Array Using Cluster Cabling
Figure 7 shows a four-cluster node connected to two RAID controller modules. Since each cluster node has redundant paths, loss of a single path still allows access to the storage array through the alternate path.
SAN-Attached Cabling
SAN-attached cabling configurations provide the highest level of redundancy and alternate-path connectivity between the host server and storage array. A SAN configuration using a Fibre Channel compatible switch fabric allows you to establish multiple redundant paths to data on the storage array.
NOTE: A SAN configuration using a supported Fibre Channel switch hardware is required if the Remote Replication premium feature is activated on the storage array. Remote Replication is not supported in a direct-attached configuration. For specific cabling requirements for Remote Replication, see Remote Replication Cabling Example.
SAN-Attached Cabling Example
The following figure shows a three-server, mixed HBA cabling configuration that uses two separate switch fabrics to establish multiple paths to the storage array. Port-to-port connections in each switch fabric/zone are detailed in the text boxes.
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Figure 8. Three SAN-Attached Host Servers Connected to a Storage Array Using Multiple Paths
Switch Fabric A
Zone_1_Server_1_HBA_0
Server1-HBA_0
Array_Ctrl-0-1
Array_Ctrl-1-0
Zone_2_Server_2_HBA_0
Server2-HBA_0
Array_Ctrl-0-3
Array_Ctrl-1-2
Zone_3_Server_3_HBA_0-0
Server3-HBA_0_0
Array_Ctrl-0-1
Array_Ctrl-1-0
Zone_4_Server_3_HBA_1_0
Server3-HBA_1_0
Array_Ctrl-0-3
Array_Ctrl-1-2
Switch Fabric B
Zone_5_Server_1_HBA_1
Server1-HBA_1
Array_Ctrl-0-0
Array_Ctrl-1-1
Zone_6_Server_2_HBA_1
Server2-HBA_1
Array_Ctrl-0-2
Array_Ctrl-1-3
Zone_7_Server_3_HBA_0_1
Server3-HBA_0_1
Array_Ctrl-0-0
Array_Ctrl-1-1
Zone_8_Server_3_HBA_1_1
Server3-HBA_1_1
Array_Ctrl-0-2
Array_Ctrl-1-3
Remote Replication Cabling Example
Remote Replication is a storage array premium feature that provides online, real-time replication of data between storage arrays. When this feature is activated, a dedicated port (port 3) on each RAID controller is reserved exclusively
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for Remote Replication traffic. No other data traffic is allowed on that port until the Remote Replication feature is deactivated. A dedicated zone on each Fibre Channel switch is also required.
Figure 9. Remote Replication Cabling
Switch Fabric A
Zone_1_Server_1_HBA_0
Server-1-HBA_0
Array-1_Ctrl-0-1
Array-1_Ctrl-1-0
Zone_2_Server_2_HBA_0_0
Server-2-HBA_0_0
Array-1_Ctrl-0-1
Array-1_Ctrl-1-2
Zone_3_Server_2_HBA_1-0
Server-3-HBA_1_0
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Switch Fabric B
Zone_5_Server_1_HBA_1
Server1-HBA_1
Array-1_Ctrl-0-0
Array-1_Ctrl-1-1
Zone_6_Server_2_HBA_0_1
Server2-HBA_0_1
Array-1_Ctrl-0-2
Array-1_Ctrl-1-1
Zone_7_Server_2_HBA_1_1
Server-2-HBA_1_1
Switch Fabric A
Array-1_Ctrl-0-1
Array-1_Ctrl-1-0
Zone_4_Server_3_HBA_0
Server3-HBA_0
Array-2_Ctrl-0-1
Array-2_Ctrl-1-2
Replication_Zone_1
Array-1_Ctrl-0-3
Array-2_Ctrl-0-3
Switch Fabric B
Array-1_Ctrl-0-0
Array-1_Ctrl-1-1
Zone_8_Server_3_HBA_1
Server3-HBA_1
Array-1_Ctrl-0-2
Array-1_Ctrl-1-1
Replication_Zone_2
Array-1_Ctrl-1-3
Array-2_Ctrl-1-3
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