Application Note
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FC switch Zoning to create separate Zones for each of the server groups that you wish to
configure with specific storage systems.
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When configured with greater than 4 Windows NT Servers per active controller host port,
classified as an “NT Extended Configuration” (refer to the StorageWorks Windows NT Platform
Kit FC Software Setup Utility)
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Performance considerations, assuming relatively equal server load:
If using two storage systems, for balanced performance across all servers, configure half of
the servers on each of the storage systems and equally on the controller port pairs.
The recommended maximum number of controller host ports configured per FC HBA is 2 for
high bandwidth applications and 4 for high throughput applications.
Use these general performance rules to determine the optimum number of ISLs required
between both switches.
For balanced SAN performance configure 1 storage system on each FC switch.
For the highest available performance, whenever possible, devices that exchange the highest
amount of data should be connected to the same FC switch, for example, servers and the
storage assigned to them should be configured on the same FC switch, otherwise:
For high bandwidth applications – One ISL between switches for every 2 storage controller
ports on one switch being accessed by a server on the other switch.
For high throughput applications – One ISL between switches for every 6 storage controller
ports on one switch being accessed by a server on the other switch.
