Host Attachment Overview - IBM Storwize V5010 Manual

5.1 Host attachment overview

A host system is an open-systems computer that is connected to the switch through a Fibre
Channel (FC), direct-attached, serial-attached SCSI (SAS) connection or an Internet Small
Computer System Interface (iSCSI).
The IBM Storwize V5000 supports the following host attachment protocols:
16 Gb FC
12 Gb SAS (standard host interface)
1 Gb or 10 Gb iSCSI (standard host interface, depending on the model)
This chapter describes the following topics:
Prepare the host operating system:
– Microsoft Windows:
• FC
• iSCSI
• SAS
– VMware:
• FC
• iSCSI
• SAS
Create hosts by using the Storwize V5000 GUI:
– Creating FC hosts
– Creating iSCSI hosts
– Creating SAS hosts
In this chapter, we assume that your hosts are connected to your FC, SAS, or Internet
Protocol (IP) network and you completed the steps that are described in Chapter 2, "Initial
configuration" on page 35. Follow basic zoning recommendations to ensure that each host
has at least two network adapters, that each adapter is on a separate network (or at minimum
in a separate zone), and that each adapter is connected to both canisters. This setup ensures
four paths for failover and failback.
For SAS attachment, ensure that each host has at least one SAS host bus adapter (HBA)
connection to each IBM Storwize V5000 canister. Further information about configuring SAS
attached hosts is provided in 2.4, "SAS direct-attach planning" on page 44.
Before you map the newly created volumes on the host of your choice, preparation goes a
long way toward ease of use and reliability. Several steps are required on a host in
preparation for mapping new Storwize V5000 volumes to the host. Use the IBM System
Storage Interoperation Center (SSIC) to check the code levels that are supported to attach
your host to your storage. The SSIC is a web tool that checks the interoperation of host,
storage, switches, and multipathing drivers. The SSIC is at the following address:
https://ibm.biz/BdjyuP
The complete support matrix is listed in the IBM Storwize V5000 Supported Hardware List,
Device Driver, Firmware, and Recommended Software Levels document.
200
Implementing the IBM Storwize V5000 Gen2 with IBM Spectrum Virtualize V8.1
or
10 Gb iSCSI/FC over Ethernet (FCoE) as an optional host interface