MSA1000 and MDS9120

[Nedeljko Matejak]

Hi!

How can I connect MSA1000 with Modular SAN Array Fabric Switch 6 into MDS9120?
Can I use the leftmost port on Modular SAN Array Fabric Switch 6, and do I need to do some extra configuration?
Is that configuration supported?
Thank you!

[Ted Buis]

http://bizsupport.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00403562/c00403562.pdf
is the location of the SAN Reference Guide.
On page 121, at the bottom, it says that HP does not support MSA1000 in interoperable heterogeneous switch fabric configurations. I doubt that the MSA Fabric Switch is a Cisco switch. The MDS9120 is a Cisco switch. So, this seems to me to be a heterogeneous switch fabric, and hence unsupported. That doesn't necessarily mean it won't work, but the lack of support should be a real deterent to use in a production environment and to my thinking any environment.

[Ted Buis]

From the SAN Reference Guide: "MSA1000 with optional embedded switch
MSA1000 storage systems with the MSA SAN Switch 2/8 are supported with B-Series switches
only.
â ¢ MSA1000 with Small Business SAN G2 kit
The HP StorageWorks Modular Smart Array 1000 Small Business SAN G2 kit is a 2 Gb Fibre
Channel storage system designed to reduce the complexity and risk of an entry-level SAN. It
provides a low-cost, scalable, high-performance storage consolidation system with investment
protection.
The MSA1000 Small Business SAN is a standalone SAN configuration that is not supported for
connectivity to B-Series, C-Series, or M-Series SAN fabrics.
For configuration support information, see http://h18006.www1.hp.com/products/
storageworks/msa1000smb/index.html.
This section describes support for MSA1000 storage systems that are not in a Small Business SAN.
Before implementation, contact an HP storage representative for information about support for specific
configurations, including the following elements:
â ¢ Storage system firmware version
â ¢ HBA firmware and driver versions
For additional support information, see the MSA1000 Compatibility Guide under Technical
documentation at http://www.hp.com/go/msa1000."

Going there and drilling down to:
http://bizsupport.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00868010/c00868010.pdf
You can check but it appears that C-series switches are supported with the MSA1000, so it would seem that you could just take the MSA Fabric switch out of the fabric you could create a supported environment.

[Nedeljko Matejak]

Thanks for reply. I found in documentation that this Modular SAN Array Fabric Switch 6 can be cascaded onli with another Modular SAN Array Fabric Switch 6 (only one hop). I must install FC I/O module or 2/8 B-series module.
Thanks again!