Chapter 5. Host configuration 201
This chapter focuses on Windows and VMware. If you want to attach any other hosts, for
example, IBM AIX®, Linux, or an Apple system, you can find the required information at the
following address:
https://ibm.biz/BdjSrZ
5.2 Planning for direct-attached hosts
Starting with V7.5, we supported direct-attached Fibre Channel hosts. A direct-attached
configuration dedicates the entire port bandwidth for use for a specific connection. Planning
must account for the volume of expected traffic before you decide how many ports are used in
a direct-attached configuration. The Storwize V5000 system offers multiple options for you to
decide how to create a direct-attached configuration.
Because of the bandwidth requirements when you use a direct-attached configuration, it is
important to determine the volume of expected traffic when you decide the number of
required ports. For example, if a Storwize V5000 to Storwize V5000 direct-attached link is
configured between nodes, the link might carry intra-node traffic, such as FlashCopy data.
Therefore, enough Storwize V5000 to Storwize V5000 bandwidth needs to be available so
that it can carry all possible intra-node traffic without any bandwidth bottleneck.
The following guidelines are provided for direct-attached configurations.
5.2.1 Fibre Channel direct attachment to host systems
The Storwize V5000 supports direct attachment connectivity between its FC ports and host
ports. Host systems can connect to 16 Gb FC ports on the Storwize V5000. No special
configuration is required for host systems that use this configuration.
5.2.2 FC direct attachment between nodes in a Storwize V5000 system
Direct connection of the Storwize V5000 FC ports without using an FC switch is supported.
Such connections between the Storwize V5000 nodes might be useful in small configurations
where no FC switch exists. It can also be used to connect nodes in the same input/output
(I/O) group to provide a dedicated connection for mirroring the fast write cache data. Ensure
that sufficient bandwidth is provisioned between nodes to accommodate all of the intra-node
traffic.
The Storwize V5000 Gen2 supports 16 Gb Fibre Channel ports and supports Fibre Channel
direct attachment on all 16 Gb ports.
5.3 Preparing the host operating system
The following steps are required to prepare a host to connect to the Storwize V5000:
1. Ensure that the latest supported system updates are applied to your host operating
system.
2. Ensure that the HBAs are physically installed in the host.
Note: Be careful about the maximum length of the Fibre Channel links in this configuration.
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