upgrading EVA with 2Gb host port to 4 Gb

[Hasan_9]

Hello,

Currently I have an EVA with 2Gb host ports. Recently HP introduced 4Gb EVA.
Can I upgrade my EVA from 2Gb to 4Gb?
Do I need hardware upgrading or It can be done just by firmware upgrading?


Thank you

[Torsten.]

Hi,

you need different hardware in every case.
What is your current model?

[Hasan_9]

Hi,

Currently I have an EVA 8000.

[Delrish · Accepted solution]

Yes you can upgrade it but you need to change your controllers,loop switches and connectivity cables.

[Tom O'Toole]

Don't forget there is a 'caveat' about using 1g SAN gear with the 4GB host port equipped eva units. I requested clarification on this from HP, and the gist of it was - they don't certify that 1g FCHBAs connected to 1G switches can use the unit when it's running at 4G speed (i.e. the unit is plugged into 4G san ports, and on the same SAN there is a 1G HBA connected to a 1G switch - that HBA is not 'certified' to use the eva storage). They said 1G HBAs can be connected (e.g. via an LC-SC cable) to a 2g or 4G switch and that would be OK.

Would anyone from hp like to clarify this further? I never did find it all that clear myself.

[Luk Vandenbussche]

Hasan,

EVA8000 has 4 GB ports.
probably you only need to upgrade your san switches and HBA

http://h18006.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12408_div/12408_div.html

[Uwe Zessin]

> EVA8000 has 4 GB ports.

The first-generation EVA4000/6000/8000 have 2-GBit ports.

[Lyndon Handy]

Quick questions, as there are conflicting responses in this thread...

1) HP EVA 8000 quickspecs indicate 4Gbps host ports and EVA 8K's that I have deployed are 4Gbps. Is there an older generation of an EVA 8000 that has only 2Gbps host ports? (I don't care about the internal port speeds just the host port speeds)

2) If there are multiple generations out there, how does one quickly identify visually which is the EVA 8000 with only 2Gbps host support? (Without CV EVA login).

Is XCS 6.0 required to support the 4Gbps host ports on the EVA 8000? The EVA Q&A article mentions XCS 6.0

thanks in advance for clearing this up.

[Stephen Kebbell]

Hi,

when the EVA4000/6000/8000 first came out, it only had 2Gbit Host Ports. Several months later updated models of the EVAs with 4Gb Host Ports were brought out, with newer HSV2x0 controller hardware, along with 4Gbit back-end components. I have not installed any EVAs in the last few months, so I cannot say if they can be differentiated by visual inspection.

XCS 6.0 is not a requirement for 4Gbit. According to the SPOCK streams:
"5.100 is minimum required for 4Gb/s controllers. 5.110 only needed if Phase II 4Gb/s back-end (30-10022-01) loop switch installed."

Hope that answers your questions.
Stephen

[Uwe Zessin]

The front bezel says "HSV200-A" and on the rear of the controller module is a sticker that says the minimum firmware is V5.100. I am sure there are different model numbers, but those stickers are not visible when the controller is mounted in a cabinet.