• Ease of scalability for increased server and storage connectivity
• Shared backup and management support
• Optimum local performance when communicating devices are connected to the same switch in
the cascaded fabric
• Cost efficiency due to the large number of switch ports available
• Support for local data access and occasional centralized data access
Meshed fabric
A meshed fabric is a group of interconnected switches using multiple ISLs for fabric resiliency (Figure
3). If one ISL fails, the switch automatically reroutes data through an alternate path in the fabric. If
the alternate path includes other switches, the data must pass through those switches to reach its
destination.
Figure 3 Meshed fabric
.
As you add switches, ISLs are connected to two or more adjacent switches to maintain mesh
connectivity, ensuring path redundancy throughout the fabric (Figure 4). The additional ISL connectivity
provides communicating devices with more paths through the fabric. This dramatically reduces the
chance that, as you add switches, you will exceed the maximum hop count.
SAN Design Reference Guide 39
To Next Page
Loading...
