4 H-series switches and fabric rules
This chapter describes the fabric rules for the HP StorageWorks H-series switches. It describes the
following topics:
• H-series switches, page 83
• Fabric rules, page 86
H-series switches
The SN6000 Fibre Channel Switches:
• Can be used as core or edge switches. When configured in a core-edge fabric topology, a core
switch typically connects to other switches in the SAN; an edge switch typically connects to servers
and storage.
• Support multi-switch networks with up to 30 switches and 7 hops.
• Have twenty 8 Gb ports and four stacking (high speed ISL) 10Gb ports. You can upgrade the10
Gb ports to 20 Gb. Using the 10 Gb/20 Gb ports for ISLs reduces or eliminates the need to use
8 Gb device ports for ISLs, allowing more device connections to the switch.
• Can make use of the 10 Gb/20 Gb stacking ports to configure up to six switches into a stack
(single manageable unit), resulting in up to 120 usable device ports in a stack.
• Support plug-and-play compatibility.
• Have two hot-swappable power supplies or one replaceable power supply depending on model.
The 8/20q Fibre Channel Switches:
• Can be used as core or edge switches. When configured in a core-edge fabric topology, a core
switch typically connects to other switches in the SAN; an edge switch typically connects to servers
and storage.
• Support multi-switch networks with up to 30 switches and 7 hops.
• Have 8 or 16 base ports, which you can upgrade to 20 ports in 4-port increments.
• Support plug-and-play compatibility.
The 8 Gb Simple SAN Connection Kit offers:
• Ease of use
• Cost efficiency
The kit includes:
• An 8/20q Fibre Channel Switch (8 base ports that can be upgraded to 12, 16, or 20),
• (4) 81Q PCI-e FC HBAs
• (10) 8-Gb SFP+ transceivers (SFP+ is the expanded standard for 8-Gb Fibre Channel support.)
• (6) Fiber optic cables
• Scalability
You can expand the SAN in four port increments using license keys and additional HBAs and
switches.
SAN Design Reference Guide 83