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interfacing Sun StorageTek 3510 FC Array with a Sun Fire V490 Server

I wanted to know what interface modules or hardware would I need to be able to have the V490 server successfully communicate with the 3510 FC Array?

[155 byte] By [Renato_Guevara] at [2007-11-26 9:28:18]

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# 1

To interface with the management interface you'll need a serial line or an ethernet connection.To interface with the block i/o interface you'll need an HBA and associated drivers.

torreysun at 2007-7-7 0:09:31 >

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# 2

Your (if new) 3510 will come with a serial cable and a strange little adaptor. Guard that cable well. Lock it away where no one else can get hold of it.

You will need that serial cable to give your 3510 network information. Also, a previous firmware update from 3.xx to 4.xx required that you use the serial cable.

Depending on whether your 3510 has one or two controllers, you will need different PCI FC Host Bus Adaptors (HBA). If you have one controller, use two single HBA's to give redundancy. If you have two controllers, use two dual HBA's to give redundancy. You will also have to turn on mpxio for multipathing.

I would also suggest your HBA's go into the 66 MHz slots (slots 0 & 1) of your 490.

Check out the URL:

http://sunsolve.sun.com/handbook_pub/Systems/SunFireV490/components.html

It will give you the part numbers to use.

Eg, single channel 2 Gb HBA is a: SG-XPCI1FC-QF2

A dual channel 2 Gb HBA is a: SG-XPCI2FC-QF2

If you have only one controller on your 3510 use ports 0 and 5 to attach your two single channel HBA's.

If you have two controllers, attach one dual channel HBA to ports 0 and 1 and attach the other HBA to ports 1 and 4.

Don't forget to turn on mpxio and depending on your OS, you might need the SAN foundation kit.

Thats enough to get you going. Enjoy.

Stephen

stephen2602 at 2007-7-7 0:09:31 >

# 3

Is there a reason to use redundancy?

Renato_Guevara at 2007-7-7 0:09:31 >

# 4

Is there a reason why you suggested the 66MHz slot as opposed to the 33 MHz slot?

Renato_Guevara at 2007-7-7 0:09:31 >

# 5

I'm making a guess that if I were to connect it to another server like Netra 240, would these parts be compatible?

Renato_Guevara at 2007-7-7 0:09:31 >

# 6

Redundancy is there to cope with a failure. If one of your HBA's dies, you have the other path.

66 MHz slots offer better performance than 33 MHz slots (or at least that is what Sun suggest)

You can use the parts in a 240. Almost every thing that is in a current system can be used in other current systems especially HBA's.

The Sun System Handbook is your friend. Check it out.

Stephen

stephen2602 at 2007-7-7 0:09:31 >

# 7

I'd like to make a comment on the 66MHz slot, these PCI slots have a much better throughput capacity than the 33MHz slots. The fibrechannel HBA will need the best throughput capacity the server can offer to ensure that there are no IO bottle necks during operation. Search the blueprints section of sun.com for publications on SAN/DAS performance. Additionally contract sunsolve account will allow you to see what servers are supported with each component. Use the links that Stephen provided, but log in then place the part number in the search dialog box in the top right of the screen and search... you will be presented with a list of pages relating to the card.

mlennon at 2007-7-7 0:09:31 >

# 8

I've been looking at the manuals for these devices on which cables to use to interconnect these two (490 <-> FC or Netra <-> FC). Can anyone point me in the right direction as to which cable to use? I'm slightly confused about LC and SC connections.

Renato_Guevara at 2007-7-7 0:09:31 >

# 9

LC to LC. The length of the cable should be the only issue right now and that will depend on your rack configuration ( distance between the host, switch and storage system ). In the contact handbook you can select the components>cables section. There are many cables lengths available from 0.8M to 100M. I can't link you to it right now because I'm using the internal handbook. Another idea for you is to contact the pre sales guys at Sun ( or reseller ). These people are trained to ensure that the customer gets the right equipment, giver them a call.

mlennon at 2007-7-7 0:09:31 >

# 10

What is the advantage of having two RAID controller over one RAID controllers?

Renato_Guevara at 2007-7-7 0:09:31 >

# 11

What is the advantage of using two RAID controllers over one?

Renato_Guevara at 2007-7-7 0:09:31 >

# 12

The dual controller feature is an option to improve availability, if one controller fails the other is configured to become available to the application host, providing high availability. Another configuration option I would suggest is the use of 2 arrays with a single controller each configured as data and mirror, this may provide optimal ( higher ) performance with the 3510 storage system.

mlennon at 2007-7-7 0:09:31 >

# 13

Is redundancy (using two HBAs) required? I talked to one of the associates and she said it is but she needs to check that out.

Renato_Guevara at 2007-7-7 0:09:31 >

# 14

Does anyone know what the mean time between failures is on the RAID controllers and the HBAs?

Renato_Guevara at 2007-7-7 0:09:31 >

# 15

The level of redundancy is, well, what you want it to be. You can connect a single host to a dual controller 3510 with one FC cable and one HBA. Does that make sense for your data realiability requirements? You be the judge. :)

torreysuna at 2007-7-21 15:18:09 >

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