IBM Flex System V7000 Expansion Enclosure 4939H29 Manuel D’Utilisation
Codes de produits
4939H29
8068ch11-SAN Config.fm
Draft Document for Review January 29, 2013 12:52 pm
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IBM Flex System V7000 Storage Node Introduction and Implementation Guide
N_Port ID Virtualization
In Transparent Mode the FC3171 8Gb SAN Switch becomes a gateway device on FC SAN. A
gateway device that uses NPIV technology might be referred to by various names, including
NPort concentrator, NPort Aggregator, or NPIV Gateway. Vendors also use many terms to
refer to such gateways. For example, Cisco uses the term N_Port Virtualization (NPV),
Brocade uses the term Access Gateway, and QLogic uses the term Transparent Mode.
gateway device that uses NPIV technology might be referred to by various names, including
NPort concentrator, NPort Aggregator, or NPIV Gateway. Vendors also use many terms to
refer to such gateways. For example, Cisco uses the term N_Port Virtualization (NPV),
Brocade uses the term Access Gateway, and QLogic uses the term Transparent Mode.
The gateway device employs N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) technology which is used in
traditional Fibre Channel networks to reduce the number of domains in the overall fabric. The
number of FC switches (domains) that can join a single fabric has a theoretical limit of around
250. It also has practical limit generally in the range 50-75. The recommended limits vary by
vendor.
traditional Fibre Channel networks to reduce the number of domains in the overall fabric. The
number of FC switches (domains) that can join a single fabric has a theoretical limit of around
250. It also has practical limit generally in the range 50-75. The recommended limits vary by
vendor.
In Transparent Mode on the edge of an FC SAN fabric NPIV is used to allow the FC3171 8Gb
SAN Switch to appear as a switch (F_Port) to the storage nodes. It will also appear as a node
(N_Port) to the external FC switch to which it connects, acting as “concentrator” for multiple
N_Port storage nodes. The FC3171 8Gb SAN Switch will allow the attachment of multiple
N_Ports of storage nodes but does not use a domain in the external FC fabric.
SAN Switch to appear as a switch (F_Port) to the storage nodes. It will also appear as a node
(N_Port) to the external FC switch to which it connects, acting as “concentrator” for multiple
N_Port storage nodes. The FC3171 8Gb SAN Switch will allow the attachment of multiple
N_Ports of storage nodes but does not use a domain in the external FC fabric.
Using Transparent Mode and NPIV any interoperability issues of merging external SAN
switches to the IBM Flex System Enterprise Chassis switch module which may be from
different vendors are overcome. Also there is the benefit of easy management as FC3171
8Gb SAN Switch becomes a node in the external FC SAN fabric.
switches to the IBM Flex System Enterprise Chassis switch module which may be from
different vendors are overcome. Also there is the benefit of easy management as FC3171
8Gb SAN Switch becomes a node in the external FC SAN fabric.
The Transparent Mode option will only be considered when connecting the FC3171 8Gb SAN
Switch to an external SAN fabric, as previously mentioned this will be used for the IBM Flex
System V7000 Storage Node to connect and manage external storage controllers. Another
option is to use the IBM Flex System FC3171 8Gb SAN Pass-thru switch which does not have
full switch functionality and operates as a gateway device only using NPIV. The
consequences of using Transparent Mode or a gateway device (IBM Flex System FC3171
8Gb SAN Pass-thru) is that all FC traffic between compute nodes and IBM Flex System
V7000 Storage Node will be passed externally from the IBM Flex System Enterprise Chassis
to a FC switch on the external SAN fabric via the gateway device (or FCF for FCoE) and back
into the IBM Flex System Enterprise Chassis.
Switch to an external SAN fabric, as previously mentioned this will be used for the IBM Flex
System V7000 Storage Node to connect and manage external storage controllers. Another
option is to use the IBM Flex System FC3171 8Gb SAN Pass-thru switch which does not have
full switch functionality and operates as a gateway device only using NPIV. The
consequences of using Transparent Mode or a gateway device (IBM Flex System FC3171
8Gb SAN Pass-thru) is that all FC traffic between compute nodes and IBM Flex System
V7000 Storage Node will be passed externally from the IBM Flex System Enterprise Chassis
to a FC switch on the external SAN fabric via the gateway device (or FCF for FCoE) and back
into the IBM Flex System Enterprise Chassis.
11.6 Storage Area Network Summary
This chapter has reviewed each type of SAN connectivity between the IBM Flex System
V7000 Storage Node and compute nodes, detailing iSCSI over TCP/IP network, FCoE with
10Gb Ethernet, and FC. We have shown that each has capability to connect to an external
SAN of same type. The FCoE having the advantage of connecting to external FCoE or FC
SAN in FCF or NPV modes with the IBM Flex System Fabric CN4093 10Gb Converged
Scalable Switch.
V7000 Storage Node and compute nodes, detailing iSCSI over TCP/IP network, FCoE with
10Gb Ethernet, and FC. We have shown that each has capability to connect to an external
SAN of same type. The FCoE having the advantage of connecting to external FCoE or FC
SAN in FCF or NPV modes with the IBM Flex System Fabric CN4093 10Gb Converged
Scalable Switch.
The flexibility and use of Converged Network Adapter (CNA) on a compute node makes
FCoE and iSCSI attractive options with its use of 10Gb Ethernet over a single network.
However, a number of sources recommend that FCoE should be separated from other
Ethernet traffic. This defeats the purpose of combining FC host bus adapter (HBA) and
Ethernet network interface card (NIC) in a CNA card. FCoE is a relatively new storage
protocol and is increasing in popularity with Ethernet speeds to exceed that of FC, FCoE may
well displace FC as the leading block based storage protocol. Use of FCoE within the IBM
Flex System Enterprise Chassis where only one FCF in the internal dedicated network is
employed, we would expect to see it perform at its optimum (as with iSCSI and FC). In the
FCoE and iSCSI attractive options with its use of 10Gb Ethernet over a single network.
However, a number of sources recommend that FCoE should be separated from other
Ethernet traffic. This defeats the purpose of combining FC host bus adapter (HBA) and
Ethernet network interface card (NIC) in a CNA card. FCoE is a relatively new storage
protocol and is increasing in popularity with Ethernet speeds to exceed that of FC, FCoE may
well displace FC as the leading block based storage protocol. Use of FCoE within the IBM
Flex System Enterprise Chassis where only one FCF in the internal dedicated network is
employed, we would expect to see it perform at its optimum (as with iSCSI and FC). In the