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AA–RHH6B–TE
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Storage Area Network
Configurations for
RA8000/ESA12000 on
Windows NT – Intel
Application Note
AA-RHH6B-TE
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At Compaq we are continually making additions to our storage solutions product line. Please check
our web site for more information on the complete line of Fibre Channel storage products, product
certification, technical information, updates to this document, and other available documentation.
This information can be accessed through our web page at:
www.compaq.com/storageworks
Introduction
This application note describes fibre channel switch based Storage Area Network (SAN)
configurations for RA8000/ESA12000 storage systems on Windows NT Intel platforms. For mixed
platform heterogeneous SAN configurations refer to the "Heterogeneous Storage Area Networks"
application note, and the applicable platform specific application notes listed in Table 3.
Enterprise Network Storage Architecture (ENSA)
The Compaq Enterprise Network Storage Architecture is key to supporting Compaq’s NonStop
eBusiness strategy; through ENSA, Compaq leverages industry standards to allow deployment of
storage where applications need it. ENSA uses the Compaq StorageWorks product family to deliver
the storage solutions that address non-stop computing requirements like availability, reliability,
performance, scalability, manageability, and data backup/restore capabilities. ENSA addresses the
storage issues that our customers expect to face now and in the future. Compaq SANs address today’s
issues including:
•
Data protection
•
High availability
•
Increased distance
•
High connectivity
•
High bandwidth
•
Multi-vendor platform support
•
Enterprise backup support
•
Economical capacity growth
•
Scalability
•
Investment protection
With the addition of multi-switch fibre channel Fabric support in the RA8000/ESA12000 FC storage
products and the integration of Enterprise Backup Solutions into the SAN, Compaq has taken the next
evolutionary step in delivery of the ENSA vision. Our customers can now realize the full benefits of a
scalable Storage Area Network providing the robust backbone needed to address dispersed server
operation with shared storage access and backup across the enterprise.
