HP StorageWorks 2/24 FW 07.00.00/HAFM SW 08.06.00 McDATA Products in a SAN Env - Page 126

Planning Considerations for Fibre Channel Topologies 3 A scalable fabric allows for nondisruptive addition of fabric elements (directors, fabric switches, and SAN routers) or ISLs to increase the size or performance of the fabric or SAN. Large, scalable fabrics and SANs are constructed by incorporating: • High-port count directors - Installing high-port count directors as SAN building blocks provides a larger number of non-blocking Fibre Channel ports per fabric element and reduces the need for ISLs. Newer products support high-bandwidth (10.2000 Gbps) ISLs that also reduce the fabric ISL count. In addition, fabrics and sub-fabrics can be merged or maintained as separate entities through dynamic partitioning. Refer to General Fabric Design Considerations and Inter-FlexPar Routing for information. • SAN routers - Installing SAN routers provides interoperable E_Port connectivity between local SAN fabrics. However, SAN routers terminate the E_Port connection at each SAN edge. This allows devices in each SAN to communicate through the router, but preserves the autonomy of each local SAN. Refer to R_Port Operation and Inter-FlexPar Routing for information. Scalability also relates to investment protection. If a core fabric switch is replaced with a newer or higher port count switch (such as the Intrepid 10000 Director), it is often valuable to use the existing switch elsewhere in the fabric (at the edge). Obtaining Professional Services Planning and implementing a multiswitch fabric topology can be a complex and difficult task. Obtain planning assistance from McDATA's professional services organization before implementing a fabric topology. Mixed Fabric Design Considerations This section discusses mixed fabric design considerations, including: • Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) and FICON environments in a single fabric. • Multiple data transmission speeds (1.0625, 2.1250, and 10.2000 Gbps) in a single fabric. 3-40 McDATA Products in a SAN Environment - Planning Manual