DMX-4 950 and clustered DB server

Question

I am new to the DMX 4 family. I have a customer that is planning to put a pair clustered DB servers. Each DB server (unix) has 4 HBAs installed. Their old system (DMX 1000) had 4 Front End FA ports, with a fiber run to each Front End FA port.

The customer recently ordered a DMX4-950 with 2 x DMX4-6-4-FCB installed. I belive this to be 2 x 8 front end FA ports. the problem being that each card will contain 2 fiber runs and they will lose redundancy if they lose one of these cards. I asked to order two more cards (while having a total of 32 ports is over kill) it does ensure the same redundancy they had before.
However, in looking for through all the documentation on the 4-950, it's confusing on how these are set up.

If some one could point me to the correct documents it would be greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance.

jim

xe2sdc · Answer

Right now I can't point you to a document .. however a DMX4 950 usually have 2 FEBEs .. a FEBE is a board that behaves as both a front end and a back end board (FE BE)... Thus your 2 cards gives you 4 FE processors and 4 BE processors. Having 2 more FEBE cards means having 8 FE processors but as you noted each processor have 2 available ports.

If your concerns are performances, go straight to a 4-FEBE DMX4 950.. If economy is your goal, buy a 2-FEBE DMX4 950 and use all "zero" ports for an host and all "1" ports for the other host ..

jccoder · Answer

thx for the help - I requested they purchase another set of febe boards - it is more a matter of redundancy than cost.

xe2sdc · Answer

I can't see problems with redundancy .. Should a FEBE card be replaced, both your hosts will see 2 paths via 'alternate' FEBE ...

Symmetrix

DMX-4 950 and clustered DB server

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