8
Host Interface Cards Each controller in a CE7900 controller tray has one or two host interface cards (HICs)
that contain the host ports. Each controller in a CE4900 controller-drive tray has two
Fibre Channel host ports built in, as well as an optional HIC for additional host ports.
Each controller in an E2600 controller-drive tray or an E2660 controller-drive tray
has two SAS host ports built in, as well as an optional HIC for additional host ports. A
E5400 controller-drive tray has two quad 8-Gb/s Fibre Channel ports built in and an
optional HIC for additional host ports.
An HIC is attached to a host adapter: a host bus adapter (HBA) for Fibre Channel or
SAS, a host channel adapter (HCA) for InfiniBand, or an Ethernet adapter for iSCSI.
The host adapter in the host must match the type of HIC to which it is attached.
Network Interface
Cards
A network interface card (NIC) is an expansion board that is installed in the host
server. Some servers are equipped with an integrated NIC. The NIC supports Ethernet
technology. The NIC is required for network communication. Each Ethernet cable
connection for out-of-band storage array management is made through an NIC (see
the topics under "In-Band Management and Out-of-Band Management" on page
10).
NOTE It is the responsibility of the customer to obtain the required NICs and to install
them.
Switches and
Zoning
A switch is an intelligent device that connects multiple devices. A switch allows data
transfer between the devices, depending upon the designated source (initiator) and the
destination (target) of the data. Switches can redirect traffic to ports other than the
designated destination, if necessary. A switch provides full bandwidth per port and
high-speed routing of data.
Zoning allows a single hardware switch to function as two or more virtual switches.
In a zoned configuration, communication among devices in each zone is independent
of communication among devices in another zone or zones. Zoned switches allow an
administrator to restrict access to specific areas within a storage area network (SAN).
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