topic Re: msa 1050 connection with DL360p in MSA Storage

msa 1050 connection with DL360p

Nullo — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 10:08:36 GMT

Hello,

I have a HP Proliant DL360p Gen8 and I want to buy a msa 1050 to store my virtual machines and in the future buy a second server for backup. The problem is the connection between them. I would to use a DAC sfp+ cable, to have a 10Gb bandwidth. I have read msa 1050 specs in HP site and I have seen that there are a lot of possible configurations for Server to SAN connection. All the seller I use to search a HP SAN are not so clear in the specs, and since I am not so skilled in this type of connection I need some explanation. Every SAN that in the specifications reports that have 8gb FC ports, are using a FC tranceiver in a sfp+ port? If isn't specified rj45 ethernet I will find a sfp+ port?How I can be sure that the msa configuration I will buy will have sfp+ port?

For the server I will buy a HP 530FLR-SFP+ card. Am I wrong or this card will let me to establish a 10gbe connection with a DAC sfp+ cable?

Regards and Thanks.

Re: msa 1050 connection with DL360p

parnassus — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 22:07:52 GMT

First of all, I'm not a storage expert too (but I know some!), the very first thing you should consider is that HPE MSA 1050 provides various SAN connection modes, that's to say that a quick look at its QuickSpecs (here) will let you to discover it can be factory ordered for the specific SAN connection mode you want to deploy, choice between 8Gb Fiber Channel, 12Gb SAS, 1GbE iSCSI or 10GbE iSCSI is available.

Schematically, the HPE MSA 1050 Storage is offered with 8 possible factory configured models (where drives SFF/LFF mean Small/Large Form Factor):

MSA 1050 8Gb FC with 4-ports per array system, SFF or LFF
MSA 1050 12Gb SAS with 4-ports per array system, SFF or LFF
MSA 1050 1GbE iSCSI with 4-ports per array system, SFF or LFF
MSA 1050 10GbE iSCSI with 4-ports per array system, SFF or LFF

So it's a matter of understand which SAN connectivity you want to deploy and then order the more appropriate MSA 1050 model to fit your needs.

Here some other info about HPE MSA 1050 (here for a document list). Forgot to mention the HPE Upgrading to HPE MSA Storage 1050/2050/2052 Technical white paper which provide other good infos about MSA 1050.

Edit: since early November this web page was setup to provide a simplified access to HPE MSA Storage Firmware & Release Notes (the HPE MSA 1050 is included).

Consider also the good HPE MSA 1050 Storage User Guide (at page 26 starts an entire chapter about "Connecting hosts" and there you will find what are you looking for).

Re: msa 1050 connection with DL360p

SUBHAJIT KHANBARMAN_1 — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 14:27:00 GMT

I would suggest you to check SPOCK for compatibility check before ordering anything. As per the SPOCK link I don't see the CNA card HP 530FLR-SFP+ card mentioned in MSA1050 compatibility list,

General link for supported Operating System,

https://h20272.www2.hpe.com/spock/Content/Default.aspx?LinId=HPE%20MSA%201050%2010Gb%20iSCSI%20Storage&ConfigType=Fibre%20Channel%20Connectivity||iSCSI%20Connectivity||Serial%20Attached%20SCSI%20Conn&deprecated=false

Specific for Windows 2016,

https://h20272.www2.hpe.com/spock2/Cont/ConfigsetView/index/91420

Specific for ESXi 6.5

https://h20272.www2.hpe.com/spock2/Cont/ConfigsetView/index/91426

From MSA1050 quickspec I see different DAC cables supported as below,

Step 4b - Choose Supported Options For 10GbE Infrastructure

Copper Cable

HP BladeSystem c-Class 10GbE SFP+ to SFP+ 0.5m Direct Attach Copper Cable 487649-B21

HP BladeSystem c-Class 10GbE SFP+ to SFP+ 1m Direct Attach Copper Cable 487652-B21

HP BladeSystem c-Class 10GbE SFP+ to SFP+ 3m Direct Attach Copper Cable 487655-B21

HP BladeSystem c-Class 10GbE SFP+ to SFP+ 5m Direct Attach Copper Cable 537963-B21

HP BladeSystem c-Class 10GbE SFP+ to SFP+ 7m Direct Attach Copper Cable 487658-B21

DAC Cable

HPE X242 10G SFP+ to SFP+ 1m Direct Attach Copper Cable J9281B

HPE X242 10G SFP+ to SFP+ 3m Direct Attach Copper Cable J9283B

HPE X242 10G SFP+ to SFP+ 7m Direct Attach Copper Cable J9285B

HPE FlexNetwork X240 10G SFP+ to SFP+ 0.65m Direct Attach Copper Cable JD095C

HPE FlexNetwork X240 10G SFP+ to SFP+ 1.2m Direct Attach Copper Cable JD096C

HPE FlexNetwork X240 10G SFP+ to SFP+ 3m Direct Attach Copper Cable JD097C

So I would suggest you to first check SPOCK what type of CNA cards supported, then check those CNA cards supported with your server or not, then accordingly you go for MSA1050 order

Note:

Both Fibre Channel and iSCSI controllers ship with SFPs as standard. FC controllers ship with four 8Gb FC SFPs, the 1Gb iSCSI controller with copper RJ-45 SFPs, and the 10Gb controller with SR optic SFPs. It is supported to remove the 10Gb SFPs and in their place use optional DACs instead, however it is not possible to order the controller without these SFPs.