HP StorageWorks 4000/6000/8000 - Enterprise Virtual Arrays Reference Manual page 41

NOTE:
HP does not recommend the ring fabric for applications requiring many-to-many connectivity.
Figure 5 Ring fabric
.
If the ring fabric has fewer than 12 switches, you can add switches (called satellite switches) outside
the ring to create more user ports
total number of switches that can be configured in a ring to 7; satellite switches are not supported.
NOTE:
Adding satellite switches slightly reduces fabric availability.
For more information on switch fabric maximums, 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
(Figure 6). M-series switches have a 3-hop maximum, reducing the
rules" on page 83
rules" on page 93
rules" on page 157
25093a
rules" on page 135
SAN Design Reference Guide 41