ChaunceySchwartz Simplified Integration Multi Vendor

Simplified Integration & Management in
Multi-Vendor SANs

Chauncey Schwartz
Senior Technical Marketing Manager
QLogic

Simplified Integration & Management in Multi-Vendor SANs
2012 Storage Networking Industry Association. All Rights Reserved.
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Abstract
Simplified Integration & Management in Multi-Vender
SANs
Situation: Rapidly increasing requirements for storage,
IT initiatives driving virtualization across all aspects of
the infrastructure, cloud-enabling the environment
Problem Statement: Data Center Managers face a
fundamental task in figuring out how to integrate SAN
environments over multi-vender and multi-protocol
infrastructures.
Resolution: This session will review methods to
connect together multi-vendor SANs without loosing
management function and cost while increasing multi-
vender interoperability.

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Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: Become familiar
with the terminology relating to
Transparent SAN technologies
Learning Objective 2: Understand the solution sets
and challenges inherent in integrating a multi-vender
SAN infrastructure
Learning Objective 3: Evaluate the potential solutions
for integrating multi-protocol and multi-vender SAN
infrastructures

Agenda
Connections and Port
Overview
Issues and Responses
Virtualization
Blade Enclosures
Potential Use Cases
Sample Setup of Virtual
Switch

5
Connections and Port Overview
F_Port
N_Port
E_Port
N_Port
N_Port N_Port
F_Port
E_Port
Inter-Switch Link
Traditional Interconnect Port Types
Traditional
F_Port
N_Port
E_Port
Relationship
1:1
1 N_Port =
1 WWN
Issues and Responses
The Issue Part 1 Virtualization
1:1 relationship becomes
inadequate
Need a method to develop
a many virtual to one
physical port relationship
N_Port ID Virtualization
(NPIV)
NPIV allows a single physical
N_Port to register multiple
World Wide Port Names
(WWPNs) and V-N_Port
identification numbers.
9
N_Port
The Issue
VM1
VM2
VMn
1 ID
WWWN1
V-N_Port
The Answer Part 1
VM1
VM2
VMn
n IDs
WWWN1
WWWN2
WWWNn
The Issue Part 2 Blade Servers
Blade servers increase server density resulting in the
need for switch port aggregation capability
Blade switch module to consolidate blade servers to
external SAN switches (top of rack role)
Concern for domain ID limit of 239
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Blades
Many
HBA
Ports
F
_
P
o
r
t
s

E_Port
Domain ID Domain ID
The Answer Part 2 Switch
Virtualization
Extend the idea of NPIV to the fabric (F_Port level)
Multiple approaches to switch NPIV were developed
Brocades access gateway
Ciscos N_Port virtualization
QLogics transparent routing
Transparent switch for blade server racks (all FC switch vendors)
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F_Port
Domain ID
N_Port
Existing
SAN
F_Port
F_Port
N_Port
N_Port
Transparent Architecture
Domain ID
Existing
SAN
F_Port
N_Port
N_Port
Looks like this to Existing SAN Manage End Points As Normal
Considerations for NPIV on Switch
Address potential domain ID limit
(239)
Multi-vendor fabric without loss of
management or function
Manage end points as normal
Support both new SAN management
and transparent integration to
existing SAN
Granularity strategy per port or
whole switch transparent
Cost effective transition to new
technologies
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Characteristic of Transparent Blade
Switch
SAN connectivity as a N_Port
Does not have constraints of FC switch
Doman proliferation
Interoperability avoids reduced feature set likely required in
multivendor networks
All ports are transparent to fabric
Many to one multiplexing
All or none approach
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Blades
Many
HBA
Ports
F
_
P
o
r
t
s

N_Port
Characteristic of External Virtual
Switches
SAN connectivity as a N_Port
Does not have constraints of FC switch
Doman proliferation
Interoperability avoids reduced feature set likely required in
multivendor networks
Granularity varies by vendor
All or none
Port level
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External Virtual Switch Granularity
All ports or none approach
Reduces domain ID consumption
Local communication requires hairpin through fabric
Port level approach
Reduces domain ID consumption
Flexible use of other ports
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F_Port
F_Port
Domain ID
N_Port
Benefits of Virtualizing The Switch
Reduce number of domain-ids
needed (max 239)
Provide heterogeneous multi-vendor switch fabrics
without loss of management or function
More interoperable than switch-to-switch functions
Simplify connection of blade servers to external
fabrics
A NPIV transparent switch is less expensive than a
full-function switch
Manage end points as normal
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Virtual Switch Possible Use Cases
Use Case 1: Migrate to the latest technology
Upgrade legacy 2 Gbps and 4 Gbps SANs
NPIV and Virtual Switch for heterogeneous SAN attach
Keep existing services running while bringing new systems online
Ability to share resources across SANs without disruption improves cost-effectiveness
8Gbps
SAN
Servers
(HBAs)
Active
Legacy
SAN
Array
Servers (HBAs)
Array
Virtual Switch
between SANs
New
switch(s)
Existing
switch(s)
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Domain ID
Existing
SAN
F_Port
N_Port
N_Port
Looks like this to Existing SAN
Use Case 2: Backup SAN utilizing TR
Virtual
switch(s)
Backup SAN
Backup
Servers
Primary Data
Center
Virtual Switch
to Backup
SAN
Backup
storage
Arrays
Servers
(HBAs)
Arrays
Existing
fabric
SAN accessed for dedicated and secure backup
No disruption to existing fabric or LAN
Improved fault tolerance
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QLogic
switch(s)
Departmental SAN
Arrays
Primary Data Center
Virtual Switch
to
Corporate
SAN
Servers
(HBAs)
Storage
Arrays
(New Finance SAN)
Use Case 3: Departmental build-out
Brocade or
Cisco
fabric
(Existing fabrics)
Build and manage a new
departmental fabric inexpensively
Seamless, non-disruptive connection to existing
fabrics.
Simplify server upgrades and replacement.
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Sample Setup of Virtual Switch
Map
devices
to Virtual
Ports
Virtual Switch Configuration:
3 Step Process
Activate
Virtual Mode
Zone new
N-Port devices
for both fabrics
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SB5800 TR port #3
Brocade name server
1. Set the QLogic port type to TR
(QuickTools or CLI)
Port is displayed as
TR_port.
N
QLogic TR_port logs in
as an N_port on the
Brocade switch and is
displayed in the Brocade
name server.

Sharing will not yet
occur devices must be
mapped.
I see a
new
N_port
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2. Map Devices (4 clicks in
TR Mapping Manager)
(1, 2) Select storage or
server devices from the
QLogic and Brocade fabrics
that you wish to share.

(3) Select a configured TR
port for those devices to
use.

(4) Click OK.
Devices
attached
to QLogic
switch
Devices on
Brocade
fabric
Available
TR ports
on QLogic
switch
1
2
3
4
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3. Zoning method for both fabrics
Brocade
Zones must also be created on
the remote fabric before
devices can communicate.

Inter-fabric zones are
automatically created on the
QLogic switch.

Wizard generates zoning
commands for the remote
fabric which can be easily
copied/pasted directly into the
remote fabric management
tools.
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Discussion and Questions
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Attribution & Feedback
Please send any questions or comments regarding this SNIA Tutorial to
tracktutorials@snia.org

The SNIA Education Committee would like to thank the
following individuals for their contributions to this Tutorial.
Authorship History

Chauncey Schwartz, QLogic 08/23/2012:

Updates:

Additional Contributors

Marty Holmes, QLogic

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