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Dell PowerVault ME4 Series Storage System Deployment Guide

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Dual-controller module configuration for replication

Cabling two ME4 Series controller enclosures that are equipped with dual-controller modules for replication.

Multiple servers, one switch, one network

The following diagrams show connections for two enclosures with I/O and replication occurring on the same physical network.

In the configuration, Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) and zoning could be employed to provide separate networks for iSCSI and FC. Create a VLAN or zone for I/O and a VLAN or zone for replication to isolate I/O traffic from replication traffic. Either configuration would be displayed physically as a single network, while logically, either configuration would function as multiple networks.

Figure 1. Connecting two ME4 Series 2U storage systems for replication – multiple servers, one switch, and one network
Multiple servers, one switch, and one network
  1. 2U controller enclosures
  2. Switch (I/O, replication)
  3. Connection to host servers
Figure 2. Connecting two ME4 Series 5U storage systems for replication – multiple servers, one switch, and one network
Multiple servers, one switch, and one network
  1. 5U controller enclosures
  2. Switch (I/O, replication)
  3. Connection to host servers

Multiple servers, multiple switches, and one network

The following diagrams show connections for two enclosures with I/O and replication occurring on the same network using multiple switches.

For optimal protection, use multiple switches for host I/O and replication.

  • Connect two ports from each controller module in the left storage enclosure to the left switch.
  • Connect two ports from each controller module in the right storage enclosure to the right switch.
  • Connect two ports from the controller modules in each enclosure to the middle switch.

Use multiple switches to avoid a single point of failure inherent to using a single switch, and to physically isolate replication traffic from I/O traffic.

Figure 3. Connecting two ME4 Series 2U storage systems for replication – multiple servers, multiple switches, one network
Multiple servers, multiple switches, and one network
  1. 2U controller enclosures
  2. Two switches (I/O)
  3. Connection to host servers
  4. Switch (Replication)
Figure 4. Connecting two ME4 Series 5U storage systems for replication – multiple servers, multiple switches, one network
Multiple servers, multiple switches, and one network
  1. 5U controller enclosures
  2. Two switches (I/O)
  3. Connection to host servers
  4. Switch (Replication)

Multiple servers, multiple switches, and two networks

The following diagrams show connections for two enclosures with I/O and replication occurring on different networks.

  • The switch that is on the left supports I/O traffic to local network A.
  • The switch that is on the right supports I/O traffic to remote network B.
  • The Ethernet WAN in the middle supports replication traffic.

If there is a failure at either the local network or the remote network, you can fail over to the available network.

The following figures represent two branch offices that are cabled for disaster recovery and backup:

Figure 5. Connecting two ME4 Series 2U storage systems for replication– multiple servers, multiple switches, two networks
Multiple servers, multiple switches, and two networks
  1. 2U controller enclosures
  2. Two switches (I/O)
  3. Connection to host servers (network A)
  4. Connection to host servers (network B)
  5. Ethernet WAN
Figure 6. Connecting two ME4 Series 5U storage systems for replication – multiple servers, multiple switches, two networks
Multiple servers, multiple switches, and two networks
  1. 5U controller enclosures
  2. Two switches (I/O)
  3. Connection to host servers (network A)
  4. Connection to host servers (network B)
  5. Ethernet WAN

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