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12233
September 19th, 2012 10:00
MD3200i connectivity to network switch
Hi
we have a MD3200i dual controller iscsi storage. I want to connect this device to cisco switch.
What i understand that a cable from from controller1 ->port1 -> to switch port 1
same like controller 2 ->port1->to switch port2
to seperate iscsi traffic we will create a new VLAN in switch.
both storage ports and server port will put in same vlan ( there are 3 servers and may increase more)
is this setup is correct? i hope we need to coesnnect just 2 cable from storage to switch to participate in network.
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Dev Mgr
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September 20th, 2012 15:00
If you're using 2 NICs on each server for iSCSI, I'd use at least 2 ports on each controller (in 2 different subnets).
Don't use 2 NICs in the same subnet.
So, something like this:
Controller 0 iSCSI port 0: 192.168.130.101
Controller 0 iSCSI port 1: 192.168.131.101
Controller 1 iSCSI port 0: 192.168.130.102
Controller 1 iSCSI port 1: 192.168.131.102
Server A NIC 1: 192.168.130.201
Server A NIC 2: 192.168.131.201
Server B NIC 1: 192.168.130.202
Server B NIC 2: 192.168.131.202
Then you plug all 8 of these connections into ports that are part of the iSCSI VLAN.
This way, if you ever have the budget for a 2nd switch, you just move '0-1', '1-1', 'A-2', and 'B-2'. and you're done.
DELL-Sam L
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September 19th, 2012 11:00
Hello Akther,
Here is a link to our deployment guide. On page 20 it explains the proper setup to ensure that all hosts have access to shared storage. support.dell.com/.../DG.pdf
Also it shows how you can connect up to 64 hosts to the MD. Also on Page 38it explains the proper setup for your iscsi connections.
If have any other questions please feel free to contact us.
Akther
19 Posts
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September 19th, 2012 21:00
Hi Sam
Thanks for the reply. I have still one doubt in mind. just one cable from first iscsi port controller1 and cable from iscsi port1 of controller 2 to switch ?
regardless of host servers...host servers already connected in to switch. so host server part nothing need to do. i want to know the storage iscsi port cabling to switch.
i hope we dont need to connect all the iscsi ports in to switch from both controllers.
Dev Mgr
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September 20th, 2012 07:00
Each port on a controller should be on a different subnet. The other controller can then mirror the subnet (but obviously with a unique IP).
This is shown in the factory default settings for an MD3200i with this:
Controller 0 iSCSI port 0: 192.168.130.101
Controller 0 iSCSI port 1: 192.168.131.101
Controller 0 iSCSI port 2: 192.168.132.101
Controller 0 iSCSI port 3: 192.168.133.101
Controller 1 iSCSI port 0: 192.168.130.102
Controller 1 iSCSI port 1: 192.168.131.102
Controller 1 iSCSI port 2: 192.168.132.102
Controller 1 iSCSI port 3: 192.168.133.102
For redundancy you would then want to use at least 2 switches and split the ports between them making sure that ports on the same subnet connect to the same switch.
For example:
Controller 0 + 1 ports 0 and 2 -> switch 1
Controller 0 + 1 ports 1 and 3 -> switch 2
If you have only 2 NICs available in a server for iSCSI, and you're only connecting that 1 server, you can leave the "2" and "3" ports disconnected/unused.
If you are using 2 NICs for iSCSI in 2 or more servers, I'd spread them between the available subnets.
Example:
Server 1:
iSCSI NIC 1: 192.168.130.201
iSCSI NIC 2: 192.168.131.201
Server 2:
iSCSI NIC 1: 192.168.132.202
iSCSI NIC 2: 192.168.133.202
In the combination of examples I gave if 1 switch were to die, both servers will still have access to their storage, but using different iSCSI ports. This also lets you spread the total IO across more ports if you don't have enough NICs to let each server use 4 NICs for iSCSI.
Hopefully this helps some.
Akther
19 Posts
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September 20th, 2012 07:00
Thanks Dev Mgr, In my case we have only one switch and 2 servers. And more servers will come in future. i am planning to connect like below.
Controller 0 --> 1 ports-> switch 1 port 1
Controller 1 --> 1 ports -> switch 1 port 1
Server A - NIC 1, NIC2 --> Switch 1 port 3 and 4
Server B - NIC 1, NIC2 --> Switch 1 port 5 and 6
Create a VLAN and add switch port 1 - 6 in to iSCSI VLAN. All the ip address will be from same VLAN subnet.
Here i know that there is no redundancy in switch level because we dont have two switch. but in server level ( MPIO) will i have redundancy?
Server A and B alraedy connected to switch by using 3 rd NIC. For iSCSI purpose we will use other two NIC's from each server to create a seperate VLAN.
is this will give redundancy in storage and server NIC level failiure?
Akther
19 Posts
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September 21st, 2012 00:00
Ok, i got it. Then i will use 1 cable from each server and one cable from controller 0 port1 and another cable from controller1 port 1. And add all these ports in to one vlan.
second switch currently will not possible.
why i thought to lay 2 cable from each server to configure MPIO.