P2000 storage, 10Gb iSCSI direct connect to VC-FF with 2x c7000s

[chuckk281]

Duane had an iSCSI configuration question:

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A variation of this question was asked about a year ago, but seeking a sanity check on this – I believe it will work.

Customer has a small environment, but desires failover redundancy with a P2000 10Gb iSCSI array connected direct to (2) c7000 enclosures using VC-FF.   Port 2 used for iSCSI.    Besides the obvious limitations this imposes (ie expandability, etc),  is this legal and HP supported?   Any issues I need to be concerned about  regarding failover?

Last question – if customer were to put 6120XG switches in each enclosure in bays 3&4,  could he connect both VC-FF iSCSI ports and P2000 to them, using the 6120XG’s just as an uplink switch?    He was considering this .vs.  external rack mount switches.

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From Lionel:

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An iSCSI Storage system directly attach to a VC Domain is possible but requires some attention:

1-     When an iSCSI storage device is directly connected to a VC Domain, this iSCSI device is ONLY accessible to the servers belonging to this Virtual Connect Domain.

2-     iSCSI storage Systems that are sharing the same ports for both iSCSI host connectivity traffic and LAN management (also known as in-band management) can ONLY be managed from the Virtual Connect Domain. Also it makes the configuration of the management server a little bit more complex (requires a server connected to both the iSCSI vnet and datacenter vlan, cannot use NIC teaming, etc.)

(It’s apparently not your case as the  P2000 iSCSI has a dedicated port for management, right?)

3-     The only network interface bond supported on the iSCSI Storage system is Active-Passive.

4-     Only VC Active/Active iSCSI vNet is supported (VC Active/Standy vnet is not)

The use of a 6120XG is possible but not required as you can direct-attached your P2000.

A Direct attached  scenario will be available in the new iSCSI cookbook version (coming soon)

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Other comments or suggestions?

[chuckk281]

Additional input on this subject:

From Lionel:

The VC Active/Standby scenario would cause communication issues with the iSCSI System due to the NIC bonding, so Active/ Active must be used and yes it provides full redundant connection.

And from Chad:

With iSCSI, you shouldn’t be using NIC bonding but MPIO with your OS. What is the OS that is installed?

[mc1903-1]

Just seen that the HP Virtual Connect with iSCSI Cookbook (4th Edition) covers a direct-attached configuration for the c3000 - 'Scenario 3-C: “Low cost” Direct-attached iSCSI device with a c3000 enclosure'...

Please can you advise if this is supported using a pair of VC Flex10D Modules to allow a higher level of redundancy by remvoing the single point of failure...

I would be interested in deploying it as per the attached diagram...

Thanks,
Martin