Iscsi/Fcoe Operation; Total Number Of Initiators; Number Of Paths Required Per Initiator; Use Of Isns - HP MPX200 User Manual

Table 4 MPX200 supported configuration maximums
Configuration parameter
iSCSI connections, 1-GbE model
iSCSI-FCoE connections, 10-GbE model
Initiators, 1-GbE model
FCoE Initiators, 10-GbE model
LUNs, 1-GbE model
FCoE LUNs, 10-GbE model
Targets
1
For mixed-blade chassis configurations that include one 1-GbE blade and one 10-GbE blade, the supported maximums
are the 1-GbE values.
2
10-GbE ports only.
3
For iSCSI connectivity, a total of 4 storage systems supported (any mix of 3PAR StoreServ 10000/7000, 3PAR
T-Class/F-Class, P6000 EVA, or XP24000/20000 arrays).

iSCSI/FCoE operation

You can configure the MPX200 with a single blade or with two (redundant) blades.

Total number of initiators

With two blades, the initiator is registered in both blades for consistency, whether or not you intend
to access both blades.

Number of paths required per initiator

After establishing the number of initiators, determine how many paths are required by each. The
number of connections per blade is finite, and every initiator login constitutes a connection to the
MPX200. In a multipath environment, HP recommends a minimum of one connection per blade;
high-performance applications may require up to four connections per blade (a total of eight).

Use of iSNS

The MPX200 presents one iSCSI target for each VPG (a total of four). Each initiator, therefore,
discovers four times the number of FC targets. HP recommends that you use iSNS to present to the
initiator only the required iSCSI targets.

Use of iSCSI ports

When configuring the MPX200 for iSCSI, there are four available iSCSI ports per blade. For high
performance and maximum initiator connectivity, HP recommends that you use all available ports.

Balancing the load

HP recommends that you use all iSCSI ports for both 1-GbE and 10-GbE blades. If multiple 1-GbE
initiators are required, ensure that logins are spread across all 1-GbE ports. For 10-GbE blades,
you can place a higher number of initiators on the 10-GbE ports than on the 1-GbE ports.
Because iSCSI and data migration traffic can share the same FC ports, it is prudent to understand
how each function effects the other during I/O operation. The use of bandwidth throttling for data
migration or MPIO for iSCSI provides a mechanism to allocate FC bandwidth to each function.
Per port Per blade
256 1,024
2
2,048 2,048
N/A 300
N/A 600
N/A 4,096
N/A 4,096
N/A Up to four 3PAR,
EVA, or XP
storage systems
1
Per chassis (2 blades )
2,048
4,096
300
600
4,096
4,096
Up to four 3PAR StoreServ
10000/7000, 3PAR
3
T-Class/F-Class, P6000 EVA, or
3
XP storage systems
iSCSI/FCoE operation 21