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storage. While these solutions do not match every environment exactly, use the
closest one as a design blueprint that can be customized to suite your particular
environment. For environments with different server configurations, choose the
solution that best matches the servers whose applications are mission-critical or most
important.
General Configuration Considerations
The entry-level configuration for an FC array uses only one RAID controller. If this
configuration is used, two single-controller arrays should use host-based mirroring
to ensure high reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS).
Note – Please refer to Veritas Volume Manager or an equivalent host mirroring
application to set up the optimum configuration with single-controller arrays.
It is a best practice to use dual-controller arrays to avoid a single point of failure.
A dual-controller FC array features a default active-to-active controller
configuration. This configuration improved application availability because, in the
unlikely event of a controller failure, the array automatically fails over to a second
controller, resulting in no interruption of data flow. Single controller arrays are
provided for small configurations requiring fast, scratch disk, as in EDA
environments.
Sun StorEdge 3500 series arrays are extremely flexible, but when designing storage
solutions remember to keep them as simple as possible. Keep the following
suggestions in mind when designing the configuration of a Fibre Channel storage
system:
To ensure power redundancy, connect the two power modules to two separate
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circuits, such as one commercial circuit and one UPS.
In a single-controller configuration, disable the Write-Back Cache feature to avoid
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the possibility of data corruption in the event of a controller failure. This will have
a negative effect on performance. To avoid either issue, use dual controllers.
Using two single-controllers in a clustering environment with host-based
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mirroring provides some of the advantages of using a dual controller. However,
you still need to disable the Write-Back Cache in case one of the single controllers
fails and you want to avoid data corruption. For this reason, a dual controller
configuration is preferable.
Prior to creating logical drives and mapping them to host channels, set the
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appropriate cache optimization, Fibre Channel protocol, and controller channel
IDs. Reset the controller after these configuration parameters have been set.
For best performance and RAS, create logical drives across expansion units.
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Best Practices for the Sun StorEdge 3510 and 3511 FC Arrays
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