6320 - fc-sw compliant? What is switch-side point-to-point?
hi,
I'm trying to sort through the marketing rhetoric and find out exactly is sun StorEdge 6320 (with 6120s) supports FC-SW....?
Right now I think FC-SW is not supported by 6320...
The second question is about point-to-point topology...
According to Sun online course (WE-2033: Storage Area Network (SAN) Topologies and Design),
"The point-to-point topology provides a dedicated connection between the node ports of two end-devices, an initiator and a target. The end devices are usually one server and one storage device. The transmit and receive connections of a node port are attached directly to the receive and transmit connections of the other device."
From this qoute it sounds like it utilizes direct connection between array and a server...
How come then 6320 comes with 2 FC switches in it? And how come QLogic SANbox2-16 and other switches allow to be configured for point-to-point topology?
How is it working? It is not FC-SW fully switched fabric, is it? On the other hand, it supports some marketing monster called "non-blocking architecture"...
Thanks
[1136 byte] By [
sabrah] at [2007-11-25 23:14:17]
# 1
http://sunsolve.sun.com/handbook_pub/Systems/6320/components.html
This list of components makes me thing that the 6320 will work fine with a FC switch.
The Sun online course is ambiguous on that definition.
It's possible to have point-to-point with and without fabric. I don't know of anyone that does it without fabric. Usually what people do if they connect the storage directly to the HBA is use FC-AL. If it's connected through a switch then they go point-to-point.
From what it looks like, the marketing people successfully confused you.
This storage should work in any mode. ie. with and without a FC switch.
Regards.
# 2
thanks for the reply
I didn't have doubts that 6320 would work with switches - it does.....
then word "fabric" doesn't imply fully switched fabric
and you are right - marketing guys did succeed in confusing me, and making angree, and the next time I am unlikely to recommend sun storedge
the setup is working... they invited me to optimize it cuz
FC-AL is not comparable in performance with FC-SW when there are 8 arrays
point-to-point implies DAS model albeit via fibre channel
non-blocking architecture is better than FC-AL but not as good as FC-SW?
# 3
Not sure what you are looking for here. The course you referenced was for general SAN topologies and design and the P2P reference may have just been in there as a reference.
The 6320 is based to operate on FC technology utilizing the swicthes in the rack, as you stated. P2P could be used on the 6320 but would be a waste of money (just by the 6120's).
Can you clarify exactly what you need to know?
HTH -- Jodey
# 4
Not sure what you are looking for here. The course you referenced was for general SAN topologies and design and the P2P reference may have just been in there as a reference.
The 6320 is based to operate on FC technology utilizing the swicthes in the rack, as you stated. P2P could be used on the 6320 but would be a waste of money (just buy the 6120's).
Can you clarify exactly what you need to know?
HTH -- Jodey
