HP StorageWorks 4000 Compaq RAID Array 4000 Storage System: Deployment and Con - Page 3

Compaq RAID Array 4000 Storage System: Deployment and Configuration 3 Fibre Channel Storage System to RAID Array 4000 The Compaq StorageWorks RAID Array 4000 (RA4000), formerly the Fibre Channel Storage System (FCSS), is an external storage solution incorporating Fibre Channel interconnect technology. Compaq changed the name of the FCSS to the RA4000 to clearly position this product within our line of external storage solutions and leverage the new rebranded Storageworks. None of the functionality of the FCSS has been reduced, in fact, Compaq has added significant new features to the RA4000. With the RA4000, Compaq has implemented redundant controller support for both the RA4000 and the FCSS for Windows NT 4.0 and NetWare 4.x and 5.x. Redundant controller support allows for dual fibre loop configurations and further reduces both planned and unplanned downtime. The FCSS controller board contained 32 megabytes of cache for systems manufactured before September 15, 1998, and 64 megabytes of cache for systems manufactured after September 15, 1998. The controller board for the RA4000 system features 64 megabytes of cache. With both systems, the array controller is housed in the external storage cabinet. With the RA4000, the customer can utilize two controller cards with the accompanying software. The RA4000 Storage System In its base configuration, an RA4000 storage system consists of the following components: • A Fibre Channel Host Adapter (installed in a Compaq X86 server) • A Fibre Channel Storage Hub and required Fibre Channel interconnects • One or more RA4000s shipped standard with RA4000 Controllers A description of each component is detailed in the sections below. Fibre Channel Host Adapter The Compaq Fibre Channel Host Adapter is a high-speed host interface that provides connectivity from the server to one or multiple RA4000s via a Fibre Channel Storage Hub. The adapter is available in either a PCI version or an EISA version. The Fibre Channel Host Adapter/P is a 33 MHz 32-bit PCI bus master device. The Fibre Channel Host Adapter/E is for use in a server equipped only with an EISA expansion bus or with a server that has a majority of EISA bus slots. The Fibre Channel Host Adapter/E takes advantage of the EISA architecture by performing 32-bit bus master burst transfers. IMPORTANT: Both the PCI and EISA versions of the Fibre Channel Host Adapter require installation of a gigabit interface converter module into the I/O port before the multi-mode fibre cable is connected. 0206-0699