Introduction; Boot-From-San Configuration Restrictions; Risks Of Booting From The Storage Array - EMC QLogic User Manual

Configuring an EMC Boot Device
3

Introduction

Boot-from-SAN Configuration Restrictions

Risks of Booting from the Storage Array

3-2
EMC Fibre Channel with QLogic HBAs in the Windows Environment
Windows hosts have been qualified for booting from EMC array
devices interfaced through Fibre Channel as described under Boot
Device Support in the EMC Support Matrix.
Refer to the EMC Support Matrix for any specific boot-from-SAN
restrictions. This guide no longer contains restriction information,
and the information in the EMC Support Matrix supersedes any
restriction references found in previous HBA Installation guides.
EMC recommends that you do not boot a Windows host from the
storage array. However, if it is necessary to use the storage array as a
boot disk, EMC recommends shutting down the host server during
any maintenance procedures that could make the boot disk
unavailable to the host.
CAUTION
!
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 use virtual memory
paging files that reside on the boot disk. If the paging file becomes
unavailable to the memory management system when it is needed,
the operating system will crash with a blue screen.
Any of these events could crash a system booting from the storage
array:
Lost connection to array (pulled or damaged cable connection)
◆
Array service/upgrade procedures, such as on-line microcode
◆
upgrades and/or configuration changes
Array failures, including failed lasers on Fibre Channel ports
◆
Array power failure
◆
Storage Area Network failures, such as Fibre Channel switches,
◆
switch components, or switch power failures