Scribd
Upload
8 views2 pages

LAB 4 FC SAN - Architecture - Solution

The organization plans to implement a core-edge FC SAN topology to improve scalability and utilization of its storage arrays while minimizing hop counts for server access. A total of 2 core switches and 3 edge switches are required, allowing for efficient connectivity to 90 servers and 3 storage arrays. This configuration provides sufficient ports for current needs and future growth, ensuring optimal performance for high-performance applications.

Uploaded by

ahmed7hmila
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views2 pages

LAB 4 FC SAN - Architecture - Solution

The organization plans to implement a core-edge FC SAN topology to improve scalability and utilization of its storage arrays while minimizing hop counts for server access. A total of 2 core switches and 3 edge switches are required, allowing for efficient connectivity to 90 servers and 3 storage arrays. This configuration provides sufficient ports for current needs and future growth, ensuring optimal performance for high-performance applications.

Uploaded by

ahmed7hmila
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

LAB 4: FC SAN (Architecture)

Scenario:(FC SAN Topology) The IT infrastructure of an organization consists of three


storage arrays direct-attached to a heterogeneous mix of 45 servers. All servers are dual-
attached to the arrays for high availability. Because each storage array has 32 front-end ports,
each could support a maximum of 16 servers. However, each existing storage array has the
disk capacity to support a maximum of 32 servers. The organization plans to purchase 45
more servers to meet its growth requirements. If it continues using direct-attached storage, the
organization needs to purchase additional storage arrays to connect these new servers. The
organization realizes that its existing storage arrays are poorly utilized; therefore, it plans to
implement FC SAN to overcome the scalability and utilization challenges.

The organization uses high- performance applications; therefore, it wants to minimize the hop
count for the server’s access to storage.

Task: Propose a switched fabric topology to address organization’s challenges and


requirements. Justify your choice of the fabric topology. If 72-port switches are available for
FC SAN implementation, determine the minimum number of switches required in the fabric.

Solution:

Full mesh topology is not suitable for environment that requires high scalability. Partial mesh,
although, provides more scalability than full mesh, but several hops or ISLs may be required
for the network traffic to reach its destination. Therefore, the recommended solution is core-
edge topology. The core-edge topology provides higher scalability than mesh topology and
provides one-hop storage access to all servers in the environment. Because of the
deterministic pattern (from the edge to the core) of FC traffic movement, it is easy to calculate
traffic load distribution across ISLs.

Total number of server ports = 90 servers × 2 ports = 180 ports

Total number of array ports = 3 arrays × 32 ports = 96 ports

Number of switches required at the core = 96 array ports/ 72 ports per switch = 2 switches

The core switches provides 144 ports of which 96 ports will be used for array connectivity.
Remaining 48 ports can be used for ISLs and future growth.
Number of switches at the edge = 180 server ports/ 72 ports per switch = 3 switches

The edge switches provide 216 ports of which 180 ports will be used for server connectivity.
Remaining 36 ports can be used for ISLs and future growth.

Number of edge switch ports used for connecting to core switches = 6, this is less than the
remaining edge switch ports.

Number of core switch ports used for connecting to edge switches = 6, this is less than the
remaining core switch ports. So, at minimum, 2 core switches and 3 edge switches are
required to implement the core- edge fabric.

You might also like