Fibre Channel
Storage Area Networks (SAN)
Module 3.3
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Fibre Channel Storage Area Networks (SAN)
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
 Describe the features and benefits of SAN.
 Describe the physical and logical elements of SAN.
 List common SAN topologies.
 Compare and contrast connectivity devices.
 Describe connectivity options of SAN.
 Describe the I/O flow in the SAN environment.
 List SAN management considerations.
 Describe applications of a SAN strategy.
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 2
In this module …
This module contains the following lessons:
 Fibre Channel SAN Overview.
 The Components of a SAN.
 FC SAN Connectivity.
 SAN Management.
 SAN Deployment Examples.
 Case Study and Applications of FC SAN.
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 3
Lesson: Fibre Channel SAN Overview
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
 Define a FC SAN.
 Describe the features of FC SAN based storage.
 Describe the benefits of an FC SAN based storage
strategy.
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 4
Business Needs and Technology Challenges
 Information when and where the business user needs it
 Integrate technology infrastructure with business
processes
 Flexible, resilient architecture
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 5
What is a SAN?
Array
 Dedicated storage network
 Organized connections
among:
Switches
 Storage
 Communication devices
Server
 Systems
 Secure
 Robust
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Servers
Storage
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 6
Evolution of Fibre Channel SAN
Servers
HUB
Switches
Switches
Storage
Servers
SAN Islands
FC
Arbitrated Loop
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage
Servers
Interconnected
SANs
FC
Switched Fabric
Arrays
Storage
Enterprise SANs
FC Switched Fabric
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 7
Benefits of a SAN
 High bandwidth
– Fibre Channel
 SCSI extension
– Block I/O
 Resource Consolidation
– Centralized storage and management
 Scalability
– Up to 16 million devices
 Secure Access
– Isolation and filtering
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 8
Lesson Summary
Topics in this lesson included:
 Definition of a SAN
 Features and Benefits of SANs
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 9
Lesson: The Components of a SAN
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
 Describe the elements of a SAN.
– Host Bus Adapter (HBA)
– Fiber Cabling
– Fibre Channel Switch /Hub
– Storage Array
– Management System
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 10
Components of a Storage Area Network
 Host Bus Adapter (HBA)
 Fiber Cabling
 Fibre Channel Switch /Hub
 Storage Array
 Management System
HBA
Switches
SAN-attached Server
SAN
Arrays
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 11
Nodes, Ports, & Links
HBA
Port 0
Tx
Rx
Link
Port 0
Port
Port 11
Port
Port n
n
Node
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 12
Host Bus Adapters
 HBAs perform low-level interface functions automatically
to minimize the impact on host processor performance
HBA
Switches
Arrays
Server
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 13
Connectivity
Single Mode
Fiber
Switches
Multimode
Fiber
Host
Storage
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 14
Connectors
Node Connectors:
 SC Duplex Connectors
 LC Duplex Connectors
Patch panel Connectors
 ST Simplex Connectors
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 15
Connectivity Devices
 Basis for SAN communication
– Hubs, Switches and Directors
Server
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HBA
Switches
Arrays
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 16
Storage Resources
 Storage Array
– Provides storage consolidation and
centralization
 Features of an array
– High Availability/Redundancy
– Performance
– Business Continuity
– Multiple host connect
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Server
HBA
Switches
Arrays
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 17
SAN Management Software
 A suite of tools used in a SAN
to manage the interface
between host and storage
arrays.
 Provides integrated
management of SAN
environment.
 Web based GUI or CLI
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 18
Lesson: Summary
Topics in this lesson included:
 The elements of a SAN:
– Host Bus Adapter (HBA)
– Fiber Cabling
– Fibre Channel Switch /Hub
– Storage Array
– Management System
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 19
Lesson: Fibre Channel SAN Connectivity
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
 Describe the Fibre Channel SAN connectivity methods
and topologies
 Describe Fibre Channel devices
 Describe Fibre Channel communication protocols
 Describe Fibre Channel login procedures
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 20
Fibre Channel SAN Connectivity
 Core networking principles
applied to storage
 Servers are attached to 2
distinct networks
– Back-end
– Front-end
SAN
switches
directors
IP
network
Users &
Application
Clients
Servers &
Applications
Storage &
Application
Data
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 21
What is Fibre Channel?
 SAN Transport Protocol
– Integrated set of standards (ANSI)
– Encapsulates SCSI
 A High Speed Serial Interface
– Allows SCSI commands to be transferred over a storage network.
 Standard allows for multiple protocols over a single
interface.
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 22
Fibre Channel Ports
Servers
NL Port
NL Port
NL Port
Node
Server
Node
Storage
HUB
HUB
NL Port
Node
NL Port
FL Port
FL Port
Server
E Port
N Port
Node
F Port
F Port
Node
N Port
Switch
F Port
E Port
Switch
Switch
N Port
Node
F Port
N Port
Node
Array
Array
Storage
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 23
World Wide Names
 Unique 64 bit identifier.
 Static to the port.
– Used to physically identify a port or node within the SAN
– Similar to a NIC MAC address
 Additionally, each node is assigned a unique port ID
(address) within the SAN
– Used to communicate between nodes within the SAN
– Similar in functionality to an IP address on a NIC
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 24
World Wide Names: Example
World Wide Name – Array
5
0
0
6
0
1
6
0
0
0
6
0
0
1
B
2
0101
0000
0000
0110
0000
0001
0110
0000
0000
0000
0110
0000
0000
0001
1011
0010
c
4
0
Company ID
24 bits
Port
Model seed
32 bits
World Wide Name - HBA
1
0
0
0
Reserved
12 bits
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
0
0
0
0
Company OUI
24 bits
c
9
2
0
d
Company Specific
24 bits
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 25
Fibre Channel Logins
Fabric
N Port 1
F Port
F Port
N Port 2
Process a
Process x
Process b
Process y
Process c
Process z
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 26
Fibre Channel Addressing
 Fibre Channel addresses are used for transporting
frames from source ports to destination ports.
 Address assignment methods vary with the associated
topology (loop vs switch)
– Loop – self assigning
– Switch – centralized authority
 Certain addresses are reserved
– FFFFFC is Name Server
– FFFFFE is Fabric Login
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 27
What is a Fabric?
 Virtual space used by nodes to
communicate with each other
once they are joined.
 Component identifiers:
– Domain ID
Arrays
Servers
Fabric
– Worldwide Name (WWN)
Switches
Storage
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 28
Fibre Channel Topologies
 Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL)
– Devices attached to a shared
“loop”
HUB
– Analogous to Token Ring
Clients
Storage
 Switched Fabric (FC-SW)
Arrays
– All devices connected to a “Fabric
Switch” – Analogous to an IP
switch
– Initiators have unique dedicated
I/O paths to Targets
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Clients
Switch
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 29
Switch versus Hub Comparison
 Switches (FC-SW)
– FC-SW architecture scalable to
millions of connections.
– Bandwidth per device stays
constant with increased
connectivity.
– Bandwidth is scalable due to
dedicated connections.
– Higher availability than hubs.
– Higher cost.
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
 Hubs (FC-AL)
– FC-AL is limited to 127
connections (substantially fewer
connections can be implemented
for ideal system performance).
– Bandwidth per device diminishes
with increased connectivity due to
sharing of connections.
– Low cost connection.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 30
How an Arbitrated Loop Hub Works
Node A
NL_Port
NL_Port
#1
#1
Node D
Transmit
Hub_Pt
Hub_Pt
Byp
Byp
HBA
HBA
Byp
Byp
Receive
Receive
HBA
Transmit
Node B
NL_Port
NL_Port
#4
#4
HBA
HBA
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
NL_Port
NL_Port
#2
#2
Node C
Transmit
Receive
Receive
Byp
Byp
Byp
Byp
Hub_Pt
Hub_Pt
NL_Port
NL_Port
#3
#3
FA
Transmit
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 31
How a Switched Fabric Works
Node A
NL_Port
N_Port
#1
Node D
Transmit
Port
Port
Receive
#1
#2
Storage
HBA
Port
HBA
HBA
Receive
Transmit
Node B
NL_Port
N_Port
#4
#4
Node C
Transmit
Receive
N_Port
#3
NL_Port
#3
HBA
HBA
Receive
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
N_Port
#2
NL_Port
Port
Port
Transmit
Storage
FA
Port
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 32
Inter Switch Links (ISLs)
Multimode Fiber
1Gb=500m 2Gb=300m
Switch
Switch
Single-mode Fiber
up to10 km
Switch
Switch
Metro ring or point-to-point
topologies with or without
path protection
Switch
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Router
Router
Switch
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 33
Topology: Mesh Fabric
 Can be either partial or full mesh
 All switches are connected to each other
 Host and Storage can be located anywhere in the fabric
 Host and Storage can be localized to a single switch
Partial Mesh
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Full Mesh
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 34
Full Mesh Benefits
 Benefits
– All storage/servers are a maximum of one ISL hop away.
– Hosts and storage may be located anywhere in the fabric.
– Multiple paths for data using the Fabric Shortest Path First (FSPF)
algorithm.
– Fabric management made simpler.
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 35
Topology: Simple Core-Edge Fabric
 Can be two or three tiers
– Single Core Tier
– One or two Edge Tiers
Host Tier
 In a two tier topology,
storage is usually
connected to the Core
 Benefits
– High Availability
– Medium Scalability
– Medium to maximum
Connectivity
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Tier
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 36
Core-Edge Benefits
 Simplifies propagation of fabric data.
– One ISL hop access to all storage in the fabric.
 Efficient design based on node type.
– Traffic management and predictability.
 Easier calculation of ISL loading and traffic patterns.
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 37
Lesson: Summary
Topics in this lesson included:
 The Fibre Channel SAN connectivity methods and
topologies
 Fibre Channel devices
 Fibre Channel communication protocols
 Fibre Channel login procedures
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 38
Lesson: SAN Management
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
 Describe SAN management functions
– Infrastructure protection
– Provisioning
– Capacity Management
– Performance Management
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 39
SAN Management Overview
 Infrastructure protection
 Fabric Management
 Storage Allocation
 Capacity Tracking
 Performance Management
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 40
Infrastructure Security
 Physical security
Corporate LAN
Secure
VPN
or
Firewall
– Locked data center
Servers
 Centralized server and storage
infrastructure
– Controlled administrator access
Control
Station
Switch
Management
LAN (Private)
Switch
In-band (FC)
Storage Arrays
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Out-band (IP)
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 41
Switch/Fabric Management Tools
 Vendor supplied management software
– Embedded within the switch
– Graphical User Interface (GUI) or Command Line Interface (CLI)
 Functionality
– Common functions
 Performance monitoring
 Discovery
 Access Management (Zoning)
– Different “look and feel” between vendors
 Additional third party software add-ons
– Enhanced functionality, such as automation
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 42
Fabric Management: Zoning
Servers
Arrays
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 43
Zoning Components
Zones Sets
(Library)
Zone Set
Zones
(Library)
Members
(WWN’s)
Zone
Member
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Member
Zone
Member
Member
Zone
Member
Member
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 44
Types of Zoning
Servers
WWN
10:00:00:00:C9:20:DE:56
WWN
10:00:00:00:C9:20:DC:40
Domain ID = 21
Port = 1
Array
Switches
Domain ID = 25
Port = 3
WWN
50:06:04:82:E8:91:2B:9E
Examples:
WWN Zone 1 = 10:00:00:00:C9:20:DC:40; 50:06:04:82:E8:91:2B:9E
Port Zone 1 = 21,1; 25,3
Mixed Zone 1 = 10:00:00:00:C9:20:DE:56; Port 21/1
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 45
Single HBA Zoning
 Optimally, one HBA per zone.
– Nodes can only “talk” to Storage in the same zone
 Storage Ports may be members of more than one zone.
 HBA ports are isolated from each other to avoid potential
problems associated with the SCSI discovery process.
– Also known as “chatter”
 Decreases the impact of a changes in a Fabric by
reducing the amount of nodes that must communicate.
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 46
Provisioning: LUN Masking
 Restricts volume access to
specific hosts and/or
host clusters.
 Servers can only access the
volumes that they are assigned.
 Access controlled in the storage
and not in the fabric
– Makes distributed administration
secure
 Tools to manage masking
Switch
– GUI
– Command Line
Servers
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Array
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 47
Capacity Management
 Tracking and managing assets
– Number of ports assigned
– Storage allocated
 Utilization profile
– Indicates resource utilization over time
– Allows for forecasting
 SAN management software provides the tools
– Inventory databases
– Report writers
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 48
Performance Management
 What is it?
– Capturing metrics and monitoring trends
– Proactively or Reactively responding
– Planning for future growth
 Areas and functions
– Host, Fabric and Storage Performance
– Building baselines for the environment
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 49
Lesson: Summary
 Topics in this lesson included:
– Infrastructure protection
– Provisioning
– Capacity Management
– Performance Management
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 50
Lesson: SAN Deployment Examples
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
 Describe common SAN deployment considerations
 Explain SAN deployment examples
 Describe SAN Challenges
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 51
When Should a SAN be Used?
 SANs are optimized for high bandwidth block level I/O
 Suited for the demands of real time applications
– Databases: OLTP (online transaction processing)
– Video streaming
 Any applications with high transaction rate and high data
volatility
– Stringent requirements on I/O latency and throughput
 Used to consolidate heterogeneous storage
environments
– Physical consolidation
– Logical consolidation
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 52
Consolidation Example: DAS Challenge
Servers
Servers
Servers
Storage
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 53
Consolidation Example: SAN Solution
Servers
Servers
Servers
Array
Switch
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 54
Connectivity Example: Challenge
Server
Array
Server
Switches
Array
Server
Server
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Server
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 55
Connectivity Example: Solution
Server
Server
Switches
Server
Server
Server
Array
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Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 56
FC SAN Challenges
 Infrastructure
– New, separate networks are required.
 Skill-sets
– As a relatively new technology, FC SAN administrative skills need to
be cultivated.
 Cost
– Large investments are required for effective implementation.
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 57
Lesson: Summary
Topics in this lesson included:
 Common SAN deployment considerations.
 SAN Implementation Scenarios
– Consolidation
– Connectivity
 SAN Challenges
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 58
Module Summary
Topics in this module included:
 The features and benefits of SAN.
 The physical and logical elements of SAN.
 The common SAN topologies.
 Comparison of SAN connectivity devices.
 The connectivity options of SAN.
 The I/O flow in the SAN environment.
 SAN management considerations.
 Applications of a SAN strategy.
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 59
 Check Your Knowledge
 Name three key features of a SAN implementation.
 What is a Switch?
 Describe how a SAN can be connected?
 What is one common SAN topology?
 What are two management considerations for a SAN
environment?
 What is a Fabric?
 What is a Core-Edge Fabric?
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 60
Apply Your Knowledge
Connectrix™ Family of
SAN Switches and Directors
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 61
Apply Your Knowledge…
Upon completion of this topic, you will be able to:
 Describe EMC’s product implementation of the
Connectrix™ Family of SAN Switches and Directors.
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 62
The Connectrix Family
 High-speed Fibre Channel connectivity1 to 10 gigabits per second
 Highly resilient switching technology, and
ED-10000M
 options for IP storage networking.
 configure to adapt to any business need
MDS-9509
ED-48000B
MDS-9506
AP-7420B
ED-140M
MP-2640M
MP-1620M
MDS-9216i/A
MDS-9140
DS-4100B
MDS-9120
DS-4700M
DS-220B
DS-4400M
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 63
Switches versus Directors
 Connectrix Switches
– High availability through
redundant deployment
– Redundant fans and power
supplies
– Departmental deployment
or part of Data Center
deployment
– Small to medium fabrics
– Multi-protocol possibilities
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
 Connectrix Directors
– “Redundant
everything”
provides optimal
serviceability and highest
availability
– Data center deployment
– Maximum scalability
– Maximum performance
– Large fabrics
– Multi-protocol
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 64
Connectrix Switch - DS-220B
 Provides eight, 12, or 16 ports
– Auto-detecting 1, 2, and 4 Gb/s Fibre Channel ports
– Single, fixed power supply
– Field-replaceable optics
– Redundant cooling
 Simplified setup—no previous SAN experience needed
– Eliminates the need for advanced skills to manage IP addressing or
Zoning
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 65
Connectrix Director – MDS 9509
 Multi-transport switch—Fibre
Channel, FICON, iSCSI, FCIP
– 16 to 224 Fibre Channel ports
– 4–56 Gigabit Ethernet ports for iSCSI
or FCIP
– Non-blocking fabric
– 1 / 2 Gb/s auto-sensing ports
 All components are fully
redundant
MDS-9509
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 66
Connectrix Management Interfaces
MDS-Series
Fabric Manager
M-Series
Web Server
B-Series
Web Tools
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 67
Module Summary
The Connectrix Family of Switches and Directors;
 Has three product sets:
– Connectrix B-Series
– Connectrix MDS 9000 Series
– Connectrix M-Series
 Provides highly available access to storage.
 Connects a wide range of host and storage technologies.
© 2006 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) - 68