Connecting HPE C7000 to Brocade DS6510 with HA

[MrBusy]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to HPE server. We are currently planning for a lab environment with

• 01 x HP BLc7000
• 02 x BladeSystem SAN Switch
• 02 x Brocade DS6510

My very basic question is: How can I connect and configure them to work together in high availability model? Please advice some guide if possible.

I attach our planned topo: each BladeSystem SAN switch is connect to 01 Brocade.

Thanks,

MrBusy

[Torsten.]

>> 02 x BladeSystem SAN Switch

What exactly is it?

[MrBusy]

Hi Torsten,

2 BladeSystem SAN switch are: AJ821B    HP B-series 8/24c BladeSystem SAN Switch

Thanks,

[Torsten.]

You can trunk them (c-class to external), so you create 2 fabrics. Maybe you need additional licenses. Both are brocade, so it will work without problems.

[MrBusy]

Thank Torsten,

May I know what is the license?

Normally, we only have 1 layer of SAN switch between server & storage, so it's pretty confusing in this case. Could you suggest any guide that I should read, or list some high level steps?

Regards,

MrBusy

[Torsten.]

Set a unique domain id for each switch, then connect an internal and external switch. They will form and work like a single switch then, more or less.

[MrBusy]

Hi,

We plan to connect as attached topology.

As per your guide, do we have 2 different domain in the same SAN infrastructure, each includes one DS6510 & one HP B-series 8/24c BladeSystem SAN Switch? Will they work active-active or active-standby? Is there any service disruption if a connection is down?

If we configure zone, where should we do, in DS6510 or in HPE SAN switch card?

Thanks,

[Torsten.]

As said, the most important is to have unique domain IDs set on each switch, at least each switch in the same fabric.

Depending on the tools (interface) you use for config (zoning), it doesn't really matter on which switch you do, because they are connected. Prefer to work on the switch with the lower domain ID.

For active/active etc. - this depnds on the storage hardware and OS of the servers, usually nowadays everything works active/active, at least in ALUA mode (storage side).