4 IRF usage with storage
The HP FlexFabric 5900CP switch supports IRF for use with Ethernet and storage networks. For
Ethernet networks, you can configure up to nine HP FlexFabric 5900CP switches in a single IRF
domain. For storage networks, including FCoE, you can configure up to two switches per fabric
in an IRF domain. When using IRF, NIC teaming is supported and is utilized for LAN traffic.
For more information about IRF, see the HP 5900 switch series documentation available on the
HP Networking website at
http://h17007.www1.hp.com/us/en/networking/products/switches/
HP_5900_Switch_Series/index.aspx#.UwuBMU2A1aQ
.
For Ethernet/FCoE/FC storage network environments, the following HP FlexFabric 5900CP
storage-IRF deployment scenarios are supported:
1.
Dual-redundant fabric SAN with no IRF
—Traditional Fibre Channel high availability
no-single-point-of-failure (NSPOF) configuration. See
Figure 11 (page 14)
.
•
Provides physically separate redundant fabrics with failover capabilities for high availability
with storage.
Figure 11 Dual-redundant storage fabric configuration, no IRF
5900CP4A
FC Storage
Server/HBA
Server/HBA
5900CP
Switches
Fabric-B
Fabric-A
2.
Dual-redundant fabric SAN with 2-switch IRF for Ethernet
—Implemented with two HP FlexFabric
5900CP switches configured in an IRF domain across both the fabrics, with one switch from
each fabric. See
Figure 12 (page 15)
.
•
Provides logically separate redundant fabrics with failover capabilities for high availability
with storage
•
Requires two VSANs to prevent storage traffic across the IRF link
•
Must be specific on device placement to allow desired access such as CNA to storage
•
Allows Ethernet usage of the IRF links
14
IRF usage with storage
