HP StorageWorks 2/24 FW 08.01.00 McDATA Products in a SAN Environment Planning - Page 117

Employ device locality, Install an additional ISL, Upgrade the existing ISL

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Planning Considerations for Fibre Channel Topologies 3 Two NT servers, each with maximum I/O of 100 MBps, are contending for the bandwidth of a single ISL operating at 1.0625 Gbps. In addition to data, the ISL must also transmit Class F traffic internal to the fabric. When operating at peak load, each NT server receives less than half the available ISL bandwidth. Depending on fabric performance requirements and cost, there are several options (best practices) to solve ISL oversubscription problems, including: • Employ device locality - NT Server 1 and its associated storage device can be connected through one director. NT Server 2 and its associated storage device can be connected through the other director. As a result, minimal traffic flows across the ISL between directors and the congestion problem is mitigated. For additional information, refer to Device Locality. • Install an additional ISL - A second ISL can be installed to balance the traffic load between fabric elements. Two ISLs are sufficient to support the bandwidth of both NT servers operating at peak load. • Upgrade the existing ISL - Software, firmware, and hardware can be upgraded to support a 2.1250, 4.2500, or 10.2000 Gbps bandwidth traffic load between fabric elements. A 2.1250, 4.2500, or 10.2000 Gbps ISL is sufficient to support the bandwidth of both NT servers operating at peak load. • Deliberately employ ISL oversubscription - SANs are expected to function well, even with oversubscribed ISLs. Device I/O is typically bursty, few devices operate at peak load for a significant length of time, and device loads seldom peak simultaneously. As a result, ISL bandwidth is usually not fully allocated, even for an oversubscribed link. An enterprise can realize significant cost savings by deliberately designing a SAN with oversubscribed ISLs that provide connectivity for noncritical applications. Device Locality Devices that communicate with each other through the same director or switch have high locality. Devices that must communicate with each other through one or more ISLs have low locality. Part (A) of Figure 3-13 illustrates high device locality with little ISL traffic. Part (B) of Figure 3-13 illustrates low device locality. Planning Considerations for Fibre Channel Topologies 3-33

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3
Planning Considerations for Fibre Channel Topologies
3-33
Planning Considerations for Fibre Channel Topologies
Two NT servers, each with maximum I/O of 100 MBps, are
contending for the bandwidth of a single ISL operating at 1.0625
Gbps. In addition to data, the ISL must also transmit Class F traffic
internal to the fabric. When operating at peak load, each NT server
receives less than half the available ISL bandwidth.
Depending on fabric performance requirements and cost, there are
several options (best practices) to solve ISL oversubscription
problems, including:
Employ device locality -
NT Server 1 and its associated storage
device can be connected through one director. NT Server 2 and its
associated storage device can be connected through the other
director. As a result, minimal traffic flows across the ISL between
directors and the congestion problem is mitigated. For additional
information, refer to
Device Locality
.
Install an additional ISL -
A second ISL can be installed to
balance the traffic load between fabric elements. Two ISLs are
sufficient to support the bandwidth of both NT servers operating
at peak load.
Upgrade the existing ISL -
Software, firmware, and hardware can
be upgraded to support a 2.1250, 4.2500, or 10.2000 Gbps
bandwidth traffic load between fabric elements. A 2.1250, 4.2500,
or 10.2000 Gbps ISL is sufficient to support the bandwidth of both
NT servers operating at peak load.
Deliberately employ ISL oversubscription -
SANs are expected
to function well, even with oversubscribed ISLs. Device I/O is
typically bursty, few devices operate at peak load for a significant
length of time, and device loads seldom peak simultaneously. As
a result, ISL bandwidth is usually not fully allocated, even for an
oversubscribed link. An enterprise can realize significant cost
savings by deliberately designing a SAN with oversubscribed
ISLs that provide connectivity for noncritical applications.
Device Locality
Devices that communicate with each other through the same director
or switch have high locality. Devices that must communicate with
each other through one or more ISLs have low locality. Part (A) of
Figure 3-13
illustrates high device locality with little ISL traffic. Part
(B) of
Figure 3-13
illustrates low device locality.