Dell PS4100 Technical Information download pdf (Page 63)

June 2012 Dell EqualLogic Configuration Guide v13.2 57

• Creating an external SAN switch infrastructure to host all array connections and using the

blade IO modules as “host access” switches.

For each of these two general SAN design strategies, the user must make design decisions with

respect to the type of interconnects to use between the blade IO modules and/or the external stand-

alone switches. Depending on the design recommendation, stacking, link aggregation, or a

combination of both types of interconnect may be used. In Section 4.7.1 we will discuss strategies for

directly attaching arrays to blade IO modules within one or more M1000e chassis. In Section 4.7.2 we

will discuss strategies for connecting M1000e blade chassis to an external SAN infrastructure.

4.7.1 Designing a SAN using Blade Chassis IO Modules with Directly-Attached Arrays

The following points should be taken into consideration when planning a SAN solution that requires

directly attaching EqualLogic arrays to PowerConnect M-Series blade IO modules:

• Limited number of externally accessible ports typically available on blade IO modules

Current PowerConnect M-Series blade IO modules have limited numbers of externally

accessible Ethernet ports. For a 1GbE SAN solutions each array will require up to 4 ports per

IO module and for a 10GbE SAN solution each array will require up to 2 ports per IO module.

Based on these maximum requirements, the table below provides a breakdown on the number

of externally accessible ports on each model of PowerConnect M-Series blade IO modules

and the maximum number of arrays that could be directly attached to a single M1000e blade

chassis.

Table 23 Blade IO 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)

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

• All switches within the SAN infrastructure, including blade IO 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 IO modules within the Fabric that will be hosting the arrays must

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