Fibre Channel Switches; San Design Approaches - HP StorageWorks 4000/6000/8000 - Enterprise Virtual Arrays Reference Manual

Fibre Channel switches

A switch is identified by its function in a SAN:
Core (or director)—Provides ISLs for any-to-any connectivity
Edge (or fabric or SAN)—Provides user ports for connecting servers and storage systems
For some switches, the model name (for example, HP StorageWorks Core Switch 2/64) indicates its
intended use in a SAN.
NOTE:
This guide describes specific switch and fabric rules for SAN configuration. A heterogeneous
environment requires coordination of components based on their rules to create a consolidated system.
You must also consider the restrictions and requirements of the servers, HBAs, operating systems,
cables, and other components.

SAN design approaches

HP has three approaches to SAN design, listed here in order of complexity and experience required:
HP standard design
HP standard designs specify the arrangement of Fibre Channel switches in a SAN fabric, and are
optimized for specific data access requirements and typical workloads. Implementing a standard
design is the simplest approach to SAN design. HP recommends this approach for users who are
designing a SAN for the first time.
Modified HP standard design
Select a standard SAN design that satisfies most of your requirements, and then modify it to meet
your data access and connectivity requirements. HP recommends this approach for users with an
intermediate level of SAN experience.
Custom design using the HP SAN design rules
Use a custom SAN design for specific storage and data access requirements. The SAN design
rules in this guide specify guidelines for configuring custom topologies. HP recommends this
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approach for users with an intermediate or advanced level of SAN experience.
For information about:
Standard SAN designs, see
Customizing a SAN design, see:
"H-series switches and fabric
"B-series switches and fabric
"C-series Fibre Channel and FCoE switches and fabric
"M-series switches and fabric
Heterogeneous SAN design, see:
"Heterogeneous server
"MSA storage system
"EVA storage system
"XP and VA storage system
"SAN fabric topologies" on page 35.
rules" on page 83
rules" on page 93
rules" on page 157
rules" on page 185
rules" on page 235
rules" on page 247
rules" on page 263
rules" on page 135
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