HP StorageWorks 4000/6000/8000 .HP StorageWorks SAN Design Reference Guide, Pa - Page 45

For example, a 4 x 24 core-edge fabric indicates 4 core switches and 24 edge switches, for a total of 28 switches. Figure 9 shows a 4 x 12 core-edge fabric with 4 core switches and 12 edge switches, each connected to the core with 4 ISLs. 08 19 16 24 32 17 25 33 40 48 56 41 49 57 2 10 18 26 34 42 50 58 3 11 19 27 35 43 51 59 4 12 20 28 36 44 52 60 5 13 21 29 37 45 53 61 6 14 22 30 38 46 54 62 7 15 23 31 39 47 55 63 08 19 16 24 32 40 48 56 17 25 33 41 49 57 2 10 18 26 34 42 50 58 3 11 19 27 35 43 51 59 4 12 20 28 36 44 52 60 5 13 21 29 37 45 53 61 6 14 22 30 38 46 54 62 7 15 23 31 39 47 55 63 0 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 1 9 17 25 33 41 49 57 2 10 18 26 34 42 50 58 3 11 19 27 35 43 51 59 4 12 20 28 36 44 52 60 5 13 21 29 37 45 53 61 6 14 22 30 38 46 54 62 7 15 23 31 39 47 55 63 08 19 16 24 32 40 48 56 17 25 33 41 49 57 2 10 18 26 34 42 50 58 3 11 19 27 35 43 51 59 4 12 20 28 36 44 52 60 5 13 21 29 37 45 53 61 6 14 22 30 38 46 54 62 7 15 23 31 39 47 55 63 Figure 9 Core-edge fabric (4 x 12) . 25097a Switch models All HP Fibre Channel switches are supported for use in a core-edge fabric topology. Core-edge topologies typically use the SN6000 Fibre Channel Switch; the 8/20q Fibre Channel Switch (or the HP Simple SAN Connectivity Kit); SAN, Fabric, or Edge switches on the edge; and Core and Director switches in the core. H-series core-edge topologies use the SN6000 Fibre Channel Switches as edge and core switches (particularly if using the stacking capability) and 8/20q Fibre Channel Switches as edge and core switches. When using switches with different Fibre Channel maximum speed capabilities (such as 1 Gb/s, 2 Gb/s, 4 Gb/s, or 8 Gb/s), HP recommends using the higher-speed switches in the core. Benefits The benefits of a core-edge fabric include: • Typically, a maximum of two hops between switches • Equal, centralized access to devices in the core • Increased fabric and switch redundancy with two or more switches in the core • Full many-to-many connectivity with evenly distributed bandwidth • Support for centralized and distributed data access needs • Ability to designate an optimally located core switch as the primary management switch, with direct connections to all switches SAN Design Reference Guide 45