2xA5800-24 and 3 VM hosts w/ 10Gbe...how to connect

[ej257]

I have to deploy the following config:

3 esxi hosts w/ 2xNC522SFP each

2 a5800-24g w/ 4 port SFP+ (8 10gbe ports)

4 Procurve 2910al-48 

1 p2000 10gbe iscsi w/ dual controller

There aren't too many VLANs so I was thinking to use VRRP on the 5800s to provide redundnacy for the default gateway, connect two 10gbe from each host to each 5800, then the same for the SAN. Then use 4x1gb trunks to connect the 2910s. 

I have two vlans for iscsi with each server providing 1-10gbe port for each vlan.

Does this like a functional topology?

[Fredrik Lönnman]

Stack the two 5800 with IRF to make it one logical unit, then there's no need for VRRP or STP (depending on your physical topology).

[ej257]

Thanks for the info. So if I trunk them w/ IRF, and then make sure each server and SAN has a link to each switch, the environment will continue to operate if one switch fails?

Also, what kind of connectivity is required between the switches? Right now, I'm slated to be using all 16 10gbe ports, will that cause an issue because I should have a dedicated link between the 5800 switches?

[Fredrik Lönnman]

Yes the IRF will make this a nice redundant design, though you will need to interconnect them with 10G for IRF.

[ej257]

The 5800-24 only supports the 8xSFP+ that we have in there. Given that requirement, I'm going to have to drop 1-10gb per switch in order to accomodate the dedicated link. I'll just have to lose it on the vm network side and add a 2x1gb standby nics. 

Another question: can I use the irf and have the switches act as my default gateway instead of the firewall?

[Fredrik Lönnman]

Ah right, didnt really count the 10G ports ;\. Then I'd recommend you to buy the extension slot and use those ports for IRF and your front-facing ports to vm and san.

With IRF both switches will act as one and have the same IP address etc, so you can use them as a redundant default gateway.

This is a good document about IRF: http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c02648772/c02648772.pdf

[ej257]

No problem. We already have the expansion module installed, it comes with 24 1gbe and 4xsfp+ by default, we already added the 4xsfp+ module so I'll have to drop one of the 10gbe.