topic Re: RA4100 - Removing Redundancy in MSA Storage

RA4100 - Removing Redundancy

Stephen_119 — Tue, 07 Sep 2004 18:43:36 GMT

We have an RA4100 with dual RA4000 controllers that, a long time ago, was
set up for redundancy. What I want to do is remove this redundancy, so that
the second RA4000 controller in the unit operates as a separate path to the
same logical drives.

What piece of software/hardware controls whether this second controller is
in "redundant mode" or "additional path" mode?

Thanks in advance.

Re: RA4100 - Removing Redundancy

Stephen Kebbell — Wed, 08 Sep 2004 02:48:25 GMT

Hi Stephen,

What is your planned configuration? Do you want 2 HBAs in the server, going to 2 seperate Hubs/switches, and each switch with 1 RA4000 controller attached? Then you would need SecurePath 3.1 for Windows for RA4100.
With dual controllers in an RA4100, they are always configured for active/standby redundancy.

Regards,
Stephen

Re: RA4100 - Removing Redundancy

Stephen_119 — Wed, 08 Sep 2004 19:04:26 GMT

We previously had a redundant situation where we had two RA4000 controllers, each attached to seperate 8EL San switches. Each server in our farm had two HBA's, one of which attached to the first switch, and the other two the second.

Now, I need to have 10 servers connected to the SAN, and we no longer require the redundancy option. Can we use the second controller to attach additional servers via the san switch? Or can you only use it for redundancy?

Re: RA4100 - Removing Redundancy

Stephen Kebbell — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 01:51:02 GMT

Hi Stephen,

unfortunately that won't work. The 2nd controller is always there for redundancy, and the RA4100 only works in active/standby redundancy. That means only one controller is ever active. You can't connect some servers to one controller, and others to the 2nd one. The same goes for the MSA1000.

Regards,
Stephen