fujitsu my very first san

Issue February 2008

Version 3

My very first SAN FibreCAT SX60, SX80 and SX88 Pages 15

Index My very first SAN 2 General Aspects - storage networks 2 Direct Attached Storage (DAS) - traditional solution 2 Network Attached Storage (NAS) - interim solution 4 Storage Area Network (SAN) - professional solution 5 Fibre Channel (SAN) - topology 7 SAN Hardware - components 7 My very first SAN - solutions and soft bundles 9 "My very first SAN" - order numbers 10 My very first SAN - soft bundle 1 10 My very first SAN - soft bundle 2 11 My very first SAN - soft bundle 3 12 My very first SAN - additional components for soft bundle 1 or 2 13 My very first SAN - in nine steps 14 My very first SAN - redundant configuration 15

White Paper Issue: February 2008 My very first SAN Page 2 / 15

My very first SAN A lot of small and medium-sized enterprises still do not have a Storage Area Network (SAN) in use and are working with direct attached storage (DAS). Fujitsu Siemens Computers offers with My very first SAN three most favourable, easily configurable and flexible SAN-solutions (soft bundles). These three soft bundles are primarily designed as an initial product for those customers, who want to start with a small package of a SAN but may not have any experience with this high-end-product. My very first SAN has a special price and service advantage, which offers all interested customers an easy entry into the world of SAN-technology.

General Aspects - storage networks There are always different ways of transporting and saving data in company networks. From these different options the following techniques have to be pointed out, as they are significant in practical experience:

(1) DAS: Direct Attached Storage traditional solution (2) NAS: Network Attached Storage interim solution (3) SAN: Storage Area Network - professional solution

Direct Attached Storage (DAS) - traditional solution

Picture 1: Direct Attached Storage (DAS)

Direct Attached Storage (DAS) is just one of many options to expand the storage space of a PRIMERGY-Server. Direct Attached Storage (e.g. FibreCAT SX30/ SX40) is a storage system which is directly connected to a PRIMERGY server. There is a permanent connection between


server and storage, usually made by a SCSI1-interface. Only the directly attached server has

access to the storage system (FibreCAT SX30/SX40). Mostly, the first extension to a server is through a DAS connected storage subsystem. At first, the supporting medium SCSI seems to be relatively cost-effective, as the range of products of hardware and software is large, but the

usage of SCSI-interfaces is limited to a few metres and it might become necessary to extend

the server through possibly expensive raid SCSI-controllers. However the SCSI-interface only

allows for 15 simultaneous HDD connections per controller. A further disadvantage of DAS

occurs whenever different clients are used on many servers, and this happens as soon as the

clients try to access the storage systems. Administration effort grows disproportionately high,

even when there is only one server online in the network. These DAS-configurations require a higher amount of maintenance and control. The consequences are higher personnel costs

caused by the increased amount of time that has to be spent on the maintenance. Furthermore

each system needs not only its own reserve-HDDs respectively hot-spare-HDDs but also its

own floor or rack space.

11/02/2008 1 SCSI: Small Computer Systems Interface


Network Attached Storage (NAS) - interim solution

Picture 2: Network Attached Storage (NAS)

Network Attached Storage (NAS) offers much flexibility in a LAN (Local Area Network). The NAS-concept also fits small and medium-sized businesses. NAS-systems are connected through local networks and thus provide the required disk-space-capacity. NAS is usually used for dedicated file servers. File-based services like NFS2, SMB3 and CIFS4 are the basic

functions. However, when SAN and NAS are compared, NAS has lower net performance and a

too large network protocol overhead. This is not surprising as NAS was not originally made for

storage systems. Neither the frequent access on storage subsystems nor fast access to small

amounts of data can be done efficiently with NAS. Initially, NAS always tries to access the

whole file to load, change or rewrite it. This wastes time, decreases performance levels and

leads hours to noticeable waiting periods, especially during periods with high data traffic.

11/02/2008 2 NFS: Network File Service 3 SMB: Server Message Block 4 CIFS: Common Internet File System


Storage Area Network (SAN) - professional solution

Picture 3: Storage Area Network (SAN)

Storage Area Network (SAN) does away with the worst disadvantages of DAS- and NAS-systems. All servers integrated in Storage Area Networks can access all storage systems, thus making it possible to consolidate the individual storage elements, the common administration

and the use of disc space for different systems.

Storage Area Network (SAN) has an inherent potential for consolidation. SAN does not have the typical limitations which can be found by DAS- and NAS-systems. For instance, all servers in a SAN can frequently access all storage-systems (for example a FibreCAT SX60 / SX80 / SX88). Performance critical times periods, like a nightly time window for backup, can be used optimally. On-going business is substantially supported by the availability of storage, data bases

and resources. The common administration of mirrored systems and spatially separated

systems (FibreCAT SX60, SX80, SX88) is simplified. It is possible to use servers with diverse operating systems in a SAN.

Data traffic in a SAN mainly consists of block-based data transfer because there is no need to

transfer the whole file if only one part of the file, the data-block, is needed. On the other hand,

the whole file is requested by a file-based data transfer ("file /windows/helps/help_1.txt" per

NFS/ SMB/ CIFS)5. In contrast to this only individual data blocks are requested by a block-

based data transfer (e.g. "block 4004 of HDD 4"). This boosts performance extremely. The so

called SCSI - protocol is used in SANs, and is combined with the Fibre Channel - protocol as a transfer protocol. SAN can also be adjusted to the whole enterprise. The FC6-protocol, based

11/02/2008 5 Take a look at the footnotes 2 till 4. 6 FC: Fibre Channel,


on fibre optic cable7 or copper cables, is used for the data traffic between application servers, storage arrays or tape libraries8. All current operating systems support SAN-technology. Fibre Channel Cables overcome a distance of up to 35 km depending on the configuration even up to 100 km. This makes wholly new storage concepts possible. The whole backup and restore

can be processed in the Storage Area Network, though the storage systems (like FibreCAT SX60 / SX80 / SX88 ) may be far away and widely spread. SAN uses the Fibre Channel (FC) technology for cables, cords and wires. This technology has been an ANSI9-standard since 1994, the physically present interfaces and the individual layers

of the protocol are defined there. Fibre Channel is a serial transfer matrix method; this means every direction of transfer has its own data line10. This is a huge advantage when compared to

parallel SCSI. The higher the transfer-rate the more error-prone the data signals by SCSI. This

is caused by the run-time differences in the data line. With higher transfer-rates a mixture of

signals occurs, which are hard to separate. In Fibre Channel Cables, signals cannot overtake

each other; they always arrive in the right order, as they are transported by light. Fibre Channel

- technology has already established its position in professional storage networks and has

become prevalent. The Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) is the standard protocol for the optimal connection between servers and storage systems.

Time for Backup& Restore

DesasterRecovery Performance Extension

Adminis-tration Distance

DAS goodperformance not possiblemedium till

high limitedlocal

short way very short

NAS limitedperformancea lot of

time + effort medium limited distributed medium range

SAN highperformancelittle

time + effort highup to 16 million

devicescentral +

distributed

up to21,7 mi62 mi

possible

Picture 4: Comparison of SAN-architecture to DAS and NAS

11/02/2008 7 Often called Fibre Channel Cable 8 Data pool 9 ANSI: American National Standards Institute Organisation 10 Also called full duplex


Fibre Channel (SAN) - topology There are different Fibre Channel-topologies; they are presented as follows.

Picture 5: Storage Area Network SAN-topology is similar to the LAN-topology. One distinguishes between Switched Fabric (FC-SW), Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) and Point-to-Point.

FC-AL is a logical bus. The complete bandwidth is provided for each parallel working Point-to-

Point connection. Arbitrated Loop makes possible to operate up to 127 devices in one logical

bus and all devices share the available bandwidth.

Point-to-Point connects only two devices and these have the complete bandwidth at their service.

With FC-SW many Point-to-Point connections can be formed between different devices. Up to

16 million devices are possible through a special Switched Fabric address mode11.

SAN Hardware - components A SAN consists of (server-) HBAs12, network components and FC-cables. Network components

are for instance Hubs and Switches. Every FC-cable has end pieces with a connector. This connector has to be plugged in a special port called SFP13, which is a SFP shrunken variant of

standardised compact optical transceivers, the so-called GBICS14. They are used for network

connections. Saps interface devices (e.g. switch) to FC-cables. Saps are supported by several

11/02/2008 11 With the help of a so-called WWPN e.g. 20:08:00:05:1e:03:37:e7 12 HBA: host-bus-adapters 13 Small Form-factor Pluggable, also known as mini-GBIC 14 Gigabit Interface Converter


vendors. They are a newer generation of modular optical transceivers and can be replaced15

very easily in cases of upgrade or service. Saps are available in different types depending on

different frequencies of light (wavelength), Multi-Mode-Frequency (MMF) and Single-Mode-

Frequency (SMF). The different wavelength16, data rates and distances also differ accordingly.

The storage elements are attached to this infrastructure, e.g. storage systems with RAID

controllers (FibreCAT SX60 / SX80 / SX88), tape libraries (virtual tape solution CentricStor) and

autoloaders (FibreCAT TX08/TX24/TX48).

11/02/2008 15 hot-swap 16 850 nm, 1300 nm, 1550 nm or CWDM


My very first SAN - solutions and soft bundles A larger installation17 of SAN will always require a systematic analysis, focusing on the real needs of the customer. However, significant advantages can be achieved even with only a few

SAN components. This is exactly what Fujitsu Siemens Computers wants to achieve with the soft bundle My very first SAN. Even small and mediums-sized enterprises should enjoy the advantages of Storage Area Networks (SAN). The solution "My very first SAN" can grow with the requirements of the network and the business.

Picture 6: My very First SAN- soft bundle 1, 2 and 3.

11/02/2008 17 The planning and installation are not to be underestimated. They require professional know-how especially with larger installations.


"My very first SAN" - order numbers The individual components can be freely combined to provide the best possible field of

application.

My very first SAN - soft bundle 1 SAN-solution with one FibreCAT SX60 including 4 Gbit/s FC controller: Order number Description / Label Quantity Picture

D:FCSX60-BASE Base Unit FibreCAT SX60

(one RAID-Controller with two FibreChannel ports is in the basic unit included)

1

D:FCSX-SATA250 SX-HDD SATA 250 GB 7,2 K 2

D:FCSX-ANWIN

SX60 attachment to WINDOWS

and/or

D:FCSX-ANLIN

SX60 attachment to LINUX

and/or

D:FCSX-ANVM

SX60 attachment to VMware

and/or

1x per server

D:FCSX-ANNON

SX60 "NON" Fujitsu Siemens Computers server attachment or

D:FCSX-ANPS

SX60 PRIMERGY attachment or

1x per server

type

D:FCSFP-MM4G FC SFP MULTI MODE (MMF) 4 Gbit (per LP101) GBIC 2

D:FCKAB-MM-

C05L FC cable MMF 5m (metre), connector LC-LC

(per connection) 2

D:FCSW-SX FC switch BRCD200E 8 port zoning 1

S26361-F3864-L1 First SAN FC controller 4 Gbit/s LPe111 LC*) 1

*) LPe111 is only released for FibreCAT SX60



D:FCSX80-BASE

Base Unit FibreCAT SX80 (one RAID-Controller with two FibreChannel ports is

included in the basic unit) 1


D:FCSX-ANWIN


and/or

D:FCSX-ANSUN

SX80 attachment to SOLARIS

and/or

D:FCSX-ANLIN


and/or

D:FCSX-ANVM


and/or

1x per server

D:FCSX-ANNON


D:FCSX-ANPQ

SX80 PRIMEQUEST attachment or

D:FCSX-ANPS


D:FCSX-ANPW

SX80 PRIMEPOWER attachment or

1x per server

type

D:FCSFP-MM4G FC SFP MULTI MODE (MMF) 4 Gbit (per LPe 1150) 2

D:FCKAB-MM-

C05L FC cable MMF 5m (metres), connector LC-LC

(per connection) 2


S26361-F3306-L99 First SAN FC ctrl. 4 Gbit/s LPe1150 LC 1



D:FCSX88-BASE

Base Unit FibreCAT SX88 (one RAID-Controller with two FibreChannel ports is

included in the basic unit) 1


D:FCSX-ANWIN


and/or

D:FCSX-ANSUN

SX88 attachment to SOLARIS

and/or

D:FCSX-ANLIN


and/or

D:FCSX-ANVM


and/or

1x per server

D:FCSX-ANNON


D:FCSX-ANPQ

SX88 PRIMEQUEST attachment or

D:FCSX-ANPS


D:FCSX-ANPW

SX88 PRIMEPOWER attachment or

1x per server

type

D:FCSFP-MM4G FC SFP MULTI MODE (MMF) 4 Gbit (per LPe 1150) 2

D:FCKAB-MM-

C05L FC cable MMF 5m (metres), connector LC-LC

(per connection) 2


S26361-F3306-L99 First SAN FC ctrl. 4 Gbit/s LPe1150 LC 1


My very first SAN - additional components for soft bundle 1 or 2 The Emulex FC controllers LPe 111 and LPe 1150 as low profile variants:

Order number Description / Label Hint Picture

S26361-F3306-L299

First SAN FC Ctrl. 4 Gbit/s LPe1150 LP

For FibreCAT SX60 and FibreCAT SX80

S26361-F3864-L201

First SAN FC Ctrl. 4 Gbit/s LPe111 LP

LPe111 is supported only with the

FibreCAT SX60

Hint: Other additional components like FC-switches and redundant RAID-controllers for the FibreCAT

SX can be ordered. These further SAN components can be found in a system configurator, the

so-called System-Architect18. (You can find this configurator in the internet:

http://configurator.fujitsu-siemens.com/public/public_en.htm)

11/02/2008 18 A specific system configurator of Fujitsu Siemens Computers GmbH
http://configurator.fujitsu-siemens.com/public/public_en.htm


My very first SAN - in nine steps

1. Unpack 2. Install 3. Connect the cables 4. Insert the FC controller 5. Install and configure the device driver for the FC controller (topology, port speed) 6. Configure the Switch (Brocade 200E) (IP-address for administration, zoning) 7. Configure the FibreCAT SX (port speed, disk, volume, host-mapping) 8. Format and partition the volume on the server 9. You are ready: Your very first SAN is operable!

Hint: Detailed instructions can be found in the included manuals or on the internet: www.fujitsu-siemens.com/manuals
http://www.fujitsu-siemens.com/manuals


My very first SAN - redundant configuration We recommend the following configuration for a redundant connection to the PRIMERGY server:

Picture 7: Recommended configuration with two redundant access paths

(Path 1: left and red; path 2: right and turquoise) Additionally needed components for redundancy of softbundle 1, 2 and 3:

a) 1 x FC-controller (for PRIMERGY)

b) 1 x switch (Brocade 200E)

c) 4 x SFP (for Brocade 200E)

d) 4 x FC-cable

Hint: Redundancy of controllers and paths requires the appropriate configuration depending on the particular operating system. Please read the so-called multipathing whitepaper for detailed instructions, you will find it on the internet: www.fibrecat.net (Column: Downloads Documents).

Delivery subject to availability, specifications subject to change without notice, correction of errors and omissions accepted. All conditions quoted (Tics) are recommended cost prices in EURO excl. VAT (unless stated otherwise in the text). All hardware and software names used are brand names and/or trademarks of their respective holders. Copyright Fujitsu Siemens Computers, 02/2008; Art

Published by Fujitsu Siemens Computers Enterprise Products Storage Business Produkt Marketing [email protected] http://www.fujitsu-siemens.com/storage
http://www.fibrecat.net/mailto:[email protected]://www.fujitsu-siemens.de/