19 Best Practices; San Planning - HP StorageWorks 4000/6000/8000 - Enterprise Virtual Arrays Reference Manual

19 Best practices

This chapter describes HP best practices for SAN design and implementation. It describes the following
topics:
SAN planning, page 417
Design specification, page 418
SAN topology, page 418
SAN configuration, page 419
Storage-based LUN
Zoning, page 421
SAN scaling, page 424
SAN fabric
For SAN design assistance, see the HP Network Storage Services website:
http://www.hp.com/hps/storage/

SAN planning

Allocate adequate time to plan your SAN prior to implementation. Design a SAN that fulfills current
and future requirements for capacity and connectivity.
During the planning phase, consider these design factors and recommendations:
Deployment strategy
Consider initially implementing entry-level SANs that can be interconnected to increase capacity.
Entry-level SANs are relatively easy to implement. Enterprise SANs offer economy of scale; however,
they are more complex and can take longer to implement.
Topology design
Choose an initial design that can accommodate expansion without transitioning to a different to-
pology.
Experience level
If you have limited experience implementing a SAN, start with an entry-level SAN. As you gain
experience, deploy mid-range or enterprise-level SANs.
SAN management strategy
Specify the policies, identification schemes, and tools to manage your SAN.
Technological advances
Anticipate the gradual availability of Fibre Channel switches that have more ports and faster inter-
connect speeds.
masking, page 420
merging, page 425
SAN Design Reference Guide 417