For many organizations, the storage infrastructure has evolved into a set of multiple disconnected SAN islands increasing complexity and costs. The HP StorageWorks B-Series Multi-protocol Router Blade enables organizations to derive more value from the SAN infrastructure by providing the ability to connect SAN islands and share resources, without the risk and complexity of merging them into a single large fabric, both for FCIP and native Fibre Channel connectivity. The resulting modular SAN design provides a more scalable, flexible and stable infrastructure that is not limited by distance, maximizing the business value of the SAN infrastructure.

By being an option in the industry leading HP StorageWorks 4/256 SAN Director, the HP MPR blade is able to provide these SAN services with the performance and high-availability characteristics of the director platform. The HP MPR Blade provides two types of SAN Services:

• FC-FC Subnet Routing Service for SAN island consolidation: Logically connect devices in multiple SAN fabrics to share storage resources-from any fabric regardless of distance-with the administration and fault isolation benefits of separately managed fabrics
  
• FCIP Tunneling Service for SAN extension over distance: Seamlessly and reliably extend HP B-Series SANs across MAN and WAN IP networks with FCIP, and it is fully integrated with HP CA solutions for EVA and XP
  

These services provide new options for connecting SAN islands and extending SAN benefits over multiple networks, to larger SAN sizes, across longer distances, and offer key advantages such as:

• Simplifying SAN design, implementation, and management through centralization
  
• Providing a seamless and secure way to share resources across multiple SANs without the complexity of physically merging those SANs
  
• Creating a more unified SAN environment with easier interconnection and support for SANs and SAN resources purchased from different storage vendors
  
• Reducing disruptions created by events such as data migration, storage or server consolidation, migration to production environments, and application rebalancing between fabrics
  
• Extending those benefits over long distances with high performance FCIP services

1. Maximize the value of SANs
   a. Reduces the cost and effort of SAN design, implementation and management
   b. Ensures greater utilization of data networks
   c. Integrated with HP B-Series products and management tools for investment protection
2. Outstanding scalability and operational flexibility
   a. Hierarchical routing architectures for increased SAN scalability (supports 1000's of ports and 1000's of shared devices)
   b. Maintains fabric isolation for improved operational stability
   c. Non-disruptive integration to the SAN environment
3. Superior performance
   a. Industry's leading 4 Gbit/sec FC routing services
   b. Performance optimized FCIP services with compression, and up to 8 FCIP tunnels per Gbit Ethernet port
   c. Ability to run applications at line-rate speeds
   

The HP MP Router Blade is fully compatible with the B-series of FC switches, and the HP 400 MP Router. For complete interoperability information please check:

• http://www.hp.com/go/SANdesign
  
• http://www.hp.com/go/SANdesignguide

One of the services on the HP Multi-protocol Router Blade, the FC-FC Subnet Routing Service enables devices located in separate SAN fabrics to establish communication without requiring the fabrics to merge into a single large SAN. By using this service, organizations can interconnect devices without having to redesign or reconfigure their entire environment. FC-to-FC routing capabilities provide key strategic advantages, such as:

• Simplifying SAN design, implementation, and management by introducing modular architectures
  
• Providing a seamless way to share resources across multiple SANs without the complexity of physically merging those SANs
  
• Creating a more unified SAN environment with easier interconnection and support for SANs and SAN resources deployed for different purposes
  

When devices on different SAN fabrics are allowed to communicate through the HP MPR Blade, the resulting connectivity group is known as a Logical SAN (LSAN). LSANs enable selective, secure resource sharing across multiple SAN fabrics and facilitate scalability by:

• Minimizing the risk and complexity of large SAN fabrics
  
• Right-sizing SANs based on application and business requirements rather than over-building just to avoid possible availability risk
  
• Simplifying management and fault isolation while protecting existing technology investments
  

This service also provides superior performance and scalability through hardware-based compression, combined with an industry leading eight virtual FCIP tunnels per Gigabit Ethernet port. This enables more data throughput over expensive WAN bandwidth, and conserves Ethernet ports at the central data center when fanning in multiple remote sites.

FC routing and FCIP work together to form a powerful combination. The FC routing function enables two fabrics connected to an FCIP link to remain separate rather than merging them into a single fabric across the IP WAN. The solution provides flexible device connectivity to enable a variety of uses combined with fault isolation. As a result, this combined FC routing and FCIP approach enables a more secure and reliable distance-connectivity solution for disaster recovery, site mirroring; and data migration over distance; and it is fully integrated with HP CA solutions for XP and EVA.

• B-Series Web Tools
  
• B-series Fabric Manger (sold separately)
  
• CLI
  
• Support for SMI-S based applications

Fabric Manager is a highly scalable, Java-based application that manages multiple switches and multiple fabrics (up to eight) in real time, helping SAN administrators with SAN configuration, monitoring, dynamic provisioning, and daily management. SAN administrators gain rapid access to critical SAN information across multiple personality fabrics, including both Fabric OS SANs and enhanced Secure Fabric OS SANs.

HP Service & Warranty Support Additional Warranty protection and/or HP Installation packages can be purchased.
NOTE: Certain restrictions and exclusions apply. Consult the Customer Support Center for details. HP provides a one-year, hardware limited warranty, fully supported by a worldwide network of resellers and service providers. The first year of Rights to New License Version and standard business day, standard business hours telephone support is included with the purchase of an HP Power Pack. In order to continue to receive telephone support and Rights to New License Version after the first year, the purchase of a software support contract or Care Pack is required.

In addition, available service offerings include a full range of HP Care Pack packaged hardware and software services:

• Installation
• Extended coverage hours and enhanced response times
• System management and performance services

For more information on warranty and support options, please visit our Web site at: http://www.hp.com/hps/tech/storage/supp/.

• Stand-alone telephone support
  
• Rights to new license version
  
• Media and documentation updates

• Installation services
  
• On-site maintenance (includes warranty support)
  
• Response time upgrades during the warranty period
  
• Post-warranty coverage

Service offerings include a full range of Customer HP Care Pack services for both hardware and software services:

• Response - Upgrade on-site response from next business day to same day 4-hours
• Coverage - Extend hours of coverage from 5 days x 9 hours to 7 days x 24 hours
• Duration - Select duration of coverage for a period of 1, 3, or 5 years
  

HP Care Pack is defined as an upgrade to the product warranty attribute, available for a specific duration and hours of coverage.

• HP Care Pack is not available for less than the product's warranty duration.
• HP Care Pack is available for sale anytime during the warranty period for most products, but the commencement date will be the same as the Warranty Start Date (delivery date to end user customer). Proof of purchase may be required.
• HP Care Pack services are prepaid.
  

Distance

• 4Gb performance: 150 meters between devices
• 2Gb performance: 300 meters between devices
• 1Gb performance: 500 meters between devices

© Copyright 2007 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.

The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.

The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.