Getting Started; Design The Fabric - Qlogic Fast Fabric User Manual

Before using the Fast Fabric toolset, the Site Implementation Engineer must perform
the tasks described in the sections which follow. To aid in keeping track of steps
performed a checklist is provided
the Fast Fabric configuration files which must be edited or created are described
throughout the procedure. For more information about the configuration files used
by Fast Fabric
The instructions below describe the basic fabric installation and verification
sequence for a typical single IB subnet fabric. For more information on installation
and verification of multiple IB subnet fabrics,
Some of the tasks are only applicable when Linux is being used. They will be marked
with (Linux). Similarly some of the tasks are only applicable when QuickSilver
Linux IB software is being used on the hosts. Those will be marked with (Host). All
tasks which are applicable only when SilverStorm IB Switches or SilverStorm IB
Chassis are being used will be marked with (Switch). All remaining tasks are
generally applicable to all environments and will be marked with (All).
NOTE:
3.1

Design the Fabric

Prior to beginning the installation and setup of the fabric, its important to carefully
design and plan the installation. Part of the design plan must include identification
of which servers will be the administration nodes for the cluster and hence where
Fast Fabric will be installed.
For large clusters, cable, power, and cooling plans are very important and must be
carefully considered. These plans drive the ultimate layout of equipment in the
racks. A typical configuration involves leaf switches and servers in the same racks,
with core switches in centrally located racks. This minimizes both cable lengths and
complexity. It is also recommended to place the IB switches at the bottom of a rack.
This allows inter-rack cables to be cleanly routed below the floor (some sites use
cable routing above the racks in which case placing the IB switches near the top of
the rack is recommended).
NOTE:
D000006-000 Rev A
Section 3

Getting Started

see appendix B.
Some of the Linux steps may be applicable to other Unix-like operating
systems if it is desired to enable use of non-IB specific Fast Fabric tools
(such as cmdall) against the given hosts.
The overall physical design has many complex aspects, such as power,
cooling and rack layout which are beyond the scope of this document.
(see appendix A). During the setup procedure,
see appendix D.
3-1