| Q1. |
What are the HP StorageWorks DC SAN Director Switches? |
| A1. |
The HP DC SAN Backbone Director Switch and HP DC04 SAN Director Switch are a new class of network infrastructure that resides at the core or edge of the Data Center Fabric. Designed to meet the growing connectivity, virtualization, and cost-efficiency needs of enterprise data centers, they deliver breakthrough performance, a highly robust services platform, seamless interoperability across fabrics and networking protocols, and future-built extensibility. |
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| Q2. |
What is the difference between the HP StorageWorks DC SAN Backbone Director Switch and the HP StorageWorks DC04 SAN Director Switch? What is unique about the HP DC SAN Backbone Director Switch? |
| A2. |
DC Backbone Director is a distinctly new class of network infrastructure designed for the largest enterprise data centers as well as vast virtual server environments, the HP DC SAN Backbone Director Switch delivers 5x the performance of director-class devices and broad capabilities beyond high-speed, six-nine reliable SANs.
DC SAN Directors are available in two modular form factors and they leverage the same Fibre Channel and function blades. Built for large enterprise networks, the 14U DC SAN Backbone Director has eight vertical blade slots to provide up to 384 Fibre Channel ports. Built for midsize networks, the 9U DC04 SAN Director has four horizontal blade slots to provide up to 192 Fibre Channel ports.
Both models feature ultra-high-speed Inter-Chassis Link (ICL) ports to connect two backbones, providing extensive scalability and flexibility at the network core. At the network edge, organizations can utilize B-series 8 Gb switches, 4/256 SAN Directors, or—for complete data center class capabilities—the DC04 SAN Director.
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| Q3. |
Why do customers need a HP StorageWorks SAN Backbone Director Switch now versus a HP StorageWorks SAN Director Switch? |
| A3. |
To address performance, data security, virtual server, and fabric connectivity needs today, while enabling non-disruptive adoption of emerging network technology with investment protection tomorrow. The Data Center Backbone is an investment for today and for the future. |
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| Q4. |
What type of Multi-Protocol support do the HP StorageWorks DC SAN Director Switches offer? |
| A4. |
There are several network protocols leveraged in the data center and connected SAN, FICON, HPC, and Ethernet islands. The DC SAN Directors delivers 1 – 10 Gbit/sec Fibre Channel, FCIP, iSCSI ready, today and is 10GbE (along with FCoE) ready. |
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| Q5. |
Does FCoE replace Fibre Channel? |
| A5. |
No. FCoE is Fibre Channel run on a new Data Center protocol based on 10GE and leverages the copper cabling plant of traditional Ethernet. FCoE will initially be used to connect server islands into the traditional SAN. FCoE is not expected to replace existing Fiber Channel or be used for future storage area networks supporting tier 1 applications for several years. |
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| Q6. |
How do the HP StorageWorks DC SAN Director Switches help virtual environments? |
| A6. |
Besides providing unprecedented bandwidth to the growing number of applications being attached to shared storage, the DC SAN Directors provide Adaptive Networking features that ensure service levels are maintained as applications move in a virtual infrastructure. Policy based services are automatically adjusted and reapplied as an application moves from one physical asset to another. |
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| Q7. |
What are the performance capabilities of the HP StorageWorks DC SAN Director Switches? |
| A7. |
The DC SAN Backbone Director:
- 384 ports operating simultaneously at full 8Gb speed
- 3 Tbit/sec of chassis bandwidth
- 512 Gbit/sec of ICL bandwidth (freeing up to 64 8Gb ports per chassis for server, storage, and fabric connections)
The DC04 SAN Director:
- 192 ports operating simultaneously at full 8Gb speed
- 1.5 Tbit/sec of chassis bandwidth
- 256 Gbit/sec of ICL bandwidth (freeing up to 32 8Gb ports per chassis)
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| Q8. |
What is the Inter-Chassis Link bundle, and what do customers gain by using it? |
| A8. |
Customers gain 64 additional external ports per DC Backbone Director and 32 additional external ports per DC04 Director by using ICLs connecting 2 DC SAN Directors to each other eliminating ISLs.
Each ICL has the following characteristics:
- 2 meters long proprietary cable
- Connection is through the core switching, each blade has receptacles for 2 ICLs
- All connectivity patterns for the ICLs are equivalent for performance and availability
Each ICL connection is the equivalent of 16 fixed speed 8Gbit/sec E_PORTs.
ICLs yield a 512Gbit/sec connection for the DC SAN Backbone Director and 256 Gbit/sec connection for the DC04 SAN Director. This is a full-duplex connection so traffic can simultaneously flow in each direction for an aggregate data movement of twice the listed speeds.
ISL Trunking is automatically enabled across the 16 x 8Gbit/sec connections within each ICL resulting in a 128Gbit/sec, frame-balanced pipe. HP DPS operates with ICLs so exchanges are balanced across the 4-four ICLs using a hash of the SID, DID, RxPort, and OxID.
ICLs can work in conjunction with conventional ISL using optical cables and ports on the DC SAN Director port blades. ISLs can be used to add bandwidth to the ICLs or to connect other switches to a DC SAN Director.
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| Q9. |
Are the HP StorageWorks DC SAN Director Switches blocking? |
| A9. |
No. The DC SAN Backbone Director architecture does not drop frames under any circumstance, so it does not “block”. It is possible to congest a DC SAN Backbone chassis if more than 256 ports need to simultaneously switch at 8 Gbit/sec or a single blade has more than 256Gbit/sec of backplane bandwidth requested. |
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| Q10. |
The HP StorageWorks DC SAN Director Switches requires B-series SFPs, why? |
| A10. |
Given the nature that SFP tolerance decreases as frequency increases, HP has standardized on specific specifications for it’s B-series SFPs. This ensures reliable connectivity and reduces support calls. |
| Q11. |
What is HP StorageWorks B-series Data Center Fabric Manager (DCFM) Enterprise Software? |
| A11. |
B-series Data Center Fabric Manager Enterprise Software is a server-based network management application that enables end-to-end management of B-series Storage Area Network (SAN) fabric. With unique asset tracking and reporting capabilities, Data Center Fabric Manager provides detailed visibility into performance utilization of hardware and network bandwidth. HP Offers a Professional, Professional+, and Enterprise version of Data Center Fabric Manager. |
| Q12. |
Who should use HP StorageWorks B-series Data Center Fabric Manager Enterprise Software and HP StorageWorks B-series Data Center Fabric Manager Professional Software? |
| A12. |
B-series Data Center Fabric Manager Enterprise Software provides end-to-end management across 24 SAN fabrics. It is designed for enterprise class director based installations, FICON environments, and fabrics leveraging routing and extensions as well as virtualization. It provides full management of the DC SAN Backbone Director.
B-Series Data Center Fabric Manager Professional Software is designed for IT organizations that use FOS-based fabrics and want a management solution for smaller SANs based on a single SAN fabric. |
| Q13. |
What is the Multi Protocol Extension Blade? |
| A13. |
The HP Multi Protocol Extension Blade is a blade-based solution designed for the DC SAN Director family that provides enterprise-class Fibre Channel and FCIP performance and availability for primary and secondary data centers. Aggregate bandwidth of 96 Gbps for Fibre Channel and up to 20 Gbps for FCIP provide leading performance and throughput for open systems and mainframe storage applications. Two optional 10 GbE ports, the industry’s first 10 GbE FCIP connectivity, maximize available FCIP bandwidth and enable consolidation of GbE ports.
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| Q14. |
What is the HP 10/24 FCoE Blade for DC San Directors? |
| A14. |
The HP 10/24 FCoE Blade for DC San Directors is designed for early adopters of the FCoE who which to start testing the technology. It offers 24 10GbE CEE ports and 32 8Gb FC ports to DC San Director over the backplane.
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| Q15. |
What is StorageWorks B-series Data Center Fabric Manager Enterprise Software and StorageWorks B-series Data Center Fabric Manager Professional+ Software? |
| A15. |
The main difference is that B-series Data Center Fabric Manager Professional Software manages FOS-based devices for a single fabric, whereas B-series Data Center Fabric Manager Enterprise Software manages both FOS and M-EOS devices across multiple fabrics. In addition, B-series Data Center Fabric Manager Professional Software provides real-time performance monitoring while B-series Data Center Fabric Manager Enterprise Software provides both real-time and historical performance monitoring.
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