March 2013
Dell EqualLogic Configuration Guide v14.1
9-85
Table 30
Blade I/O Module options for EqualLogic
Maximum Available
External Ports
Ports Recommended
for Interconnect
Arrays Supportable per
M1000e
PowerConnect
M6220
8x 1GbE
0(Stackable)
2
PowerConnect
M6348
16x 1GbE
0(Stackable)
4
PowerConnect
M8428-k
8x 10GbE
2x10GbE(PS6010/6510)
3x10GbE(PS4110/6110)
3(PS6010/6510)
5(PS4110/6110)
PowerConnect
M8024-k
8x 10GbE
2x10GbE(PS6010/6510)
3x10GbE(PS4110/6110)
3(PS6010/6510)
5(PS4110/6110)
Force10 MXL
2x40GbE Fixed +
2x option slots
(2x40GbE, 4xSFP+,
4x10GbaseT)
2x40GbE (Multiple
chassis, Stacked)
16(PS4110/6110)
16(14x PS6010/6510)
(+ 2x PS-M4110)
Cisco Catalyst Blade
Switch 3032
8x 1GbE
4x1GbE
1
Cisco Catalyst Blade
Switch 3130G
4x 1GbE
0(Stackable)
1
Cisco Catalyst Blade
Switch 3130X
4x 1GbE
0(Stackable)
1
1GbE or 10GbE
Pass-Through
Module
16
n/a
n/a
•
All switches within the SAN infrastructure, including blade I/O modules, must provide a path
from all ports hosting array connections to all other ports within the SAN.
•
An important networking requirement for EqualLogic SAN infrastructure design is that all
switches must be part of the same Layer 2 Ethernet fabric if they will be hosting connections
from EqualLogic arrays. For this reason, if arrays are going to be directly attached to one or
more blade chassis, then the I/O modules within the Fabric that will be hosting the arrays must
be interconnected. Since the I/O modules are not interconnected via the chassis midplane, the
only alternative is to use external ports (stacking or Ethernet) to make these inter-switch
connections.
•
Maximum stack size versus practical stack size
•
Depending on the I/O module model, the maximum number of switches allowed in a single
stack may be different. In addition, the number of switches supported by the switch may not
be optimal for a SAN using EqualLogic arrays. SAN solutions tend to be sensitive to latency
and adding multiple hops between a host and target may create situations where latency
becomes unacceptable for your application. Testing is advised.
•
Each M1000e enclosure will contribute two switches to the stack placing an upward limit on
the number of enclosures that can be interconnected into a single SAN network. Regardless
of the maximum number of I/O modules supported in a single stack, Dell recommends not
going above six switches in the stack due to possible hop related latency.
•
M-Series I/O module Stacking Compatibility
