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Dell PS6000 Configuration Guide - Page 54

Appendix B Recommended Switches, B.1 Recommended 1GbE Switches - switch compatibility

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Appendix B Recommended Switches In this section we present tables listing Ethernet switches that are recommended for use with Dell EqualLogic storage arrays. Recommended 1GbE switches are shown in Table 23. Recommended 10GbE switches are shown in Table 24. The choice of switches available for Ethernet networking is too broad to allow Dell to test every device for use within an EqualLogic SAN. Dell's goal is not to restrict which infrastructure components a customer can integrate with the EqualLogic SAN, but to provide a clear statement of how Dell will support 3rd Party devices that have not been tested and validated by the switch vendors. We will provide support for these products to the best of our ability, but we make no guarantee that the device will be compatible with EqualLogic storage solutions. In general, Dell will allow any infrastructure component to be used within a Dell EqualLogic SAN solution as long as it meets minimum standards (defined in Section 4.3) required for use within a Dell EqualLogic SAN infrastructure. Dell makes no guarantee that these switches will meet the customer's expectations for performance or scalability. Dell Labs has developed a set of tests to help determine if an infrastructure component will operate well within an EqualLogic SAN. These tests provide a level of confidence in the component's ability to be successfully integrated into an EqualLogic iSCSI SAN, and to provide adequate performance for use in a production storage solution. B.1 Recommended 1GbE Switches Vendor Brocade Cisco Systems Dell Model FastIron GS 624P-STK FastIron GS 648P-STK FastIron X-Series FastIron CX-Series Catalyst 4948 Catalyst 4900M Catalyst 3750E Catalyst 3750-G CBS M3130X PowerConnect 6224, 6248 PowerConnect J-EX4200-48 PowerConnect M6348 PowerConnect M6220 Dell EqualLogic Configuration Guide v11.3 Firmware Level Tested 05.0.01T7e1 04.3.00T73e1 06.0.00T7f1 12.2(40)SG 12.2(40)SG 12.2(35)SE5 (latest) (latest) 2.2.0.3 10.2R1.8 3.1.3.9 2.2.0.3 49

Section	Page
1 Introduction	6
1.1 Audience	6
1.2 Document Structure	6
2 PS Series Storage Arrays	7
2.1 Array Models	7
2.2 Feature Comparison	8
2.3 Controllers	9
2.3.1 Controller Types	9
2.3.2 Controller Redundancy	10
2.3.3 Controller Failover	10
2.3.4 Firmware	12
Firmware Upgrade	13
2.4 RAID Policies	14
2.4.1 RAID 5	14
2.4.2 RAID 6	15
2.4.3 RAID 10	16
2.4.4 RAID 50	17
3 Peer Storage Operations	19
3.1 Groups	19
3.2 Pools	19
3.3 Volumes	20
3.3.1 Volume Attributes	21
3.3.2 Volume Features	22
3.3.3 Thin Provisioning	22
3.3.4 Snapshots	23
3.3.5 Cloning	23
3.3.6 Replication	24
Example Replication Topologies	25
Sizing Replica Reserve and Delegated Space	28
3.3.7 Clustering	29
4 SAN Design	30
4.1 Implementation of Standards	30
iSNS Support	30
4.2 General Requirements and Recommendations	30
4.2.1 Quality of Service (QoS)	31
4.3 Ethernet Switches and Infrastructure	32
4.3.1 Connecting SAN Switches in a Layer 2 Network	33
Stacking Switches	33
Non-Stacking Switches	34
Using a LAG to Connect Stacked Switches	34
4.3.2 Sizing Inter-Switch Connections	35
4.3.3 Comparing Inter-Switch Connection Types	36
4.4 Host Configuration Guidelines	37
4.4.1 Recommendations for Host Connectivity in Redundant SANs	37
4.4.2 Multi-Path I/O	38
EqualLogic MPIO Requirements	39
EqualLogic MPIO General Recommendations	39
Configuring Microsoft Windows MPIO	39
Configuring VMware vSphere 4.1 Multipathing Extension Module (MEM)	39
4.5 EqualLogic iSCSI SAN Design	40
4.5.1 Redundant SAN Configuration	40
4.5.2 Partially Redundant SAN Configurations	41
Single Array Controller Configurations	41
Dual Array Controller Configurations	42
4.6 Integrating 1GbE and 10GbE SANs	43
5 M1000e Blade Chassis Integration	45
5.1 Guidelines for Stacking Switches in a Blade Chassis	45
5.2 Single M1000e Enclosure Integration	46
5.3 Multiple M1000e Enclosure Integration	46
Dual I/O Module Stacks	46
Single I/O Module Stack	47
5.4 M1000e Ethernet Pass-Through I/O Module	48
5.5 External Tier Stacking	48
5.6 Stack to Stack Interconnect	48
5.6.1 10GbE Uplink Recommendations	48
5.6.2 1GbE Uplink Recommendations	49
Appendix A Network Ports and Protocols	52
A.1 Required Ports and Protocols	52
A.2 Optional Ports and Protocols	52
Appendix B Recommended Switches	54
B.1 Recommended 1GbE Switches	54
B.2 Recommended 10GbE Switches	55
Appendix C Supported iSCSI Initiators	56
C.1 Hardware iSCSI Initiators (HBAs)	56
C.2 Software iSCSI Initiators	57
C.3 Network Interface Controllers	58
Appendix D PowerConnect 54xx Switch Configuration	59
D.1 Disabling iSCSI Optimization Setting	59
D.2 Enabling the PortFast Option to Configure STP Edge Ports	60
D.3 Configuring Flow Control	60
D.4 Disabling Unicast Storm Control	61
D.5 Configuring Jumbo Frames	62
Appendix E PowerConnect 62xx Switch Configuration	63
E.1 Interface Naming Convention	63
E.2 Enabling the PortFast Option to Configure STP Edge Ports	64
E.3 Configuring Flow Control	64
E.4 Disabling Unicast Storm Control	64
E.5 Configuring Jumbo Frames	65
Appendix F Cisco IOS based Switch Configuration	66
F.1 Enabling the PortFast Option to Configure STP Edge Ports	67
F.2 Configuring Flow Control	67
F.3 Disabling Unicast Storm Control	68
F.4 Configuring Jumbo Frames	68