HP AP836A controller FC question

[ChrisKolti]

Hi,

on my P2000 are 2 ap836a connected. together there are 4 x FC connectors. It works perfectly fine with HBA cards which are in my HP Rack servers to connect and start the communication with it.

Since there are only 4 FC connectors i was thinking to put these FC cables to a switch and HBA cards connects to the switch as well. Does this works and my mainly question is what kind of switch do i need if this works, which protocls does the switch needs ? . Sorry but i have no idea about this.

Thank you

KOlti

[Cali · Accepted solution]

Hi KOlti,

yes, it's possible and it is the solution for every Customer who likes to attach more than 4 Servers to an MSA with Fibre Channel.

For redundancy, put two FC Switches between MSA and Server, one for every Controller.

You need to do a Zoning on the FC Switches, may be tricky for a newbie (Use YouTube).

Since the MSA is very old and support only 8GB FC, I would prefer to buy cheap used Fibre Channel Switches like HPE 8/8 or 8/24 SAN Switch or Brocade B300 (Search for "8GB fibre channel switch", HPE, Brocade, IBM, Dell does not matter).

You also need an SFP Transceiver Module for every used Port on the Switch, some People sell them with SPF Modules already included.

So, possible: Yes

Tricky for a Newbie: Yes

Cali

[ChrisKolti]

Hi @Cali,

thank you very much for the explanation. Then i will try to search for an 8/8 cheap one.  What i don't understand why fc ports need an extry license some 24 port switches have only 16 active. Do you know that ? 

Best Regards,

Christian

[Cali]

For the manufacturer, it is cheaper to build only one Product.

A Small Customer can buy the Product with reduced-Price and only 8 Port Licensed.

If they grow later, it's also easy to extend to 16 or 24 Ports by activating them only by License, without replacing the Switch.

Other Vendors do this by inserting additional Modules.

Even in Cars, some Hardware is already included and only activate by License.

I think we will see more and more things like this in the future.

See Silicon-On-Demand: https://community.hpe.com/t5/The-Cloud-Experience-Everywhere/Increasing-Agility-in-the-Age-of-Insights-with-Silicon-On-Demand/ba-p/7140161#.YQf6YY4zbYY

[ChrisKolti]

Hi @Cali 

thanks and yes indeed. Do you know if these licence are expensive ? i can get a 24/8 with 16 ports active for 299 €

this environment is just for private use

Regards and have a nice day

Kolti

[Cali]

Yes, the 8-Port License List Price is about 4.000$.

If it is for Home, I would only use 1 Switch, because you need no redundancy.

You can learn a lot about FC Switching and Zoning.

Cali