Cabling SAN-Attached Host Servers
An SCv2000/SCv2020 storage system with Fibre Channel or iSCSI front-end ports connects to host
servers through Fibre Channel or Ethernet switches.
• A storage system with Fibre Channel front-end ports connects to one or more FC switches, which
connect to one or more host servers.
• A storage system with iSCSI front-end ports connects to one or more Ethernet switches, which
connect to one or more host servers.
Connecting to Fibre Channel Host Servers
Choose the Fibre Channel connectivity option that best suits the front‐end redundancy requirements and
network infrastructure.
Preparing Host Servers
Install the Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs), install the drivers, and make sure that the latest
supported firmware is installed.
About this task
NOTE: Refer to the Dell Storage Compatibility Matrix for a list of supported Fibre Channel HBAs.
Steps
1. Install Fibre Channel HBAs in the host servers.
NOTE: Do not install Fibre Channel HBAs from different vendors in the same server.
2. Install supported drivers for the HBAs and make sure that the HBAs have the latest supported
firmware.
3. Use the Fibre Channel cabling diagrams to cable the host servers to the switches. Connecting host
servers directly to the storage system without using Fibre Channel switches is not supported.
Two Fibre Channel Fabrics with Dual 16 Gb 2-Port Storage Controllers
Use two Fibre Channel (FC) fabrics to prevent an unavailable port, switch, or storage controller from
causing a loss of connectivity between host servers and a storage system with dual 16 Gb 2-port storage
controllers
About this task
This configuration includes two fault domains, two FC fabrics, and two FC switches. The storage
controllers connect to each FC switch using one FC connection.
• If a physical port or FC switch becomes unavailable, the storage system is accessed from the switch in
the other fault domain.
• If a storage controller becomes unavailable, the virtual ports on the offline storage controller move to
the physical ports on the other storage controller.
Steps
1. Connect each server to both FC fabrics.
2. Connect fault domain 1 (shown in orange) to fabric 1.
• Storage controller 1: port 1 to FC switch 1
• Storage controller 2: port 1 to FC switch 1
3. Connect fault domain 2 (shown in blue) to fabric 2.
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Connect the Front End
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