cross connect for SAN switch and servers

[bestinm]

Hi,

Is it possible to have cross connect with the serevrs and SAN switches, like connect the servers to a fibre patch panel and then from fibre patch panel to the SAN swich.

Tnx
bestin

[Peter Mattei]

Sure you can do that.
A patch panel is passive and best practice especially in large environmenst.

As a reference also see the HP SAN Design Reference Guide http://www.hp.com/go/sandesign
In the current November version in chapter 8 - SAN fabric connectivity and switch interoperability rules - on page 133 you find the following:

HP supports the use of optical fiber patch panels. The total channel insertion loss between the transmitter and receiver for the cable segment routed through the patch panel must not exceed the maximum listed for the connector and cable type.
...

Cheers
Pete