MP Router fabric rules
This section describes the fabric rules for the MP Router and other factors you should consider when
building B-series fabrics that contain MP Routers. The fabric rules for the MP Router apply to SANs
that include the same operating system and storage products as the B-series switches (see
“Operating systems and storage products” on page 107).
See “B-series MP Router” on page 319 for information about configuring the MP Router for FCIP.
Table 33 describes the rules for creating fabrics with MP Routers.
Table 33 MP Router fabric rules
Description
Rule
nl
number
All configurations must use the default settings for R_A_TOV (10,000 seconds) and E_D_TOV
(2,000 seconds).
1
Devices connected directly to the MP Router or the backbone fabric are for iSCSI access only
and cannot be routed via an LSAN zone to an edge fabric (Figure 43).
2
Devices connected to edge fabrics are for local and routed access only and cannot be routed
via an LSAN to an iSCSI port on the MP Router (Figure 44).
3
The MP Router is not supported for use as a Fibre Channel switch. Direct device connectivity
to MP Router ports (F_Port) is only supported with iSCSI (see “iSCSI storage” on page 355). You
can configure a Fibre Channel port as an E_Port, EX_Port (Fibre Channel Routing), GbE iSCSI,
or GbE FCIP. Traffic switching is supported between the following port types:
• Fibre Channel and Fibre Channel routing (E_Port, EX_Port)
• Fibre Channel and iSCSI (E_Port, F_Port, GbE iSCSI)
• Fibre Channel and FCIP (E_Port, GbE FCIP)
• Fibre Channel routing and FCIP (EX_Port, GbE FCIP)
Traffic switching between other port combinations is not supported. This applies to port
combinations on the same platform or independent platforms. For example, traffic from an
iSCSI initiator connected to an MP Router cannot be routed to an EX_Port on the same router
or independent router.
4
Fibre Channel SAN boot or iSCSI server boot through the MP Router is not supported.5
For redundancy, HP recommends using a minimum of two EX_Ports (MP Router ISLs) for each
fabric connected to the MP Router. The number of EX_Ports required is based on the performance
requirements for all devices shared by fabrics through the MP Router.
• For initial settings, calculate the number of EX_Ports using a 5:1 ratio of standard ISLs or
switch device ports to MP Router EX_Port ISLs. Monitor port performance to determine if this
ratio is acceptable based on usage. Use the portperfshow command to monitor MP
Router port performance.
• For very high bandwidth requirements and applications, use a ratio of 3:1 or 1:1.
6
Supports routing between B-series secured and nonsecured edge fabrics using Secure Fabric
OS. This requires MP Router firmware 7.4 or later.
7
SAN Design Reference Guide 121
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