Evaluating proposed SAN configurations - Part I

I am evaluating several proposed SAN configurations from various vendors. All of the vendors except EMC are proposing a single fabric solution (fabric switching at the local site, arbitrated loop at the remote site). However, EMC is telling me they do not support arbitrated loop and are proposing a full fabric solution. What are your thoughts on these types of configurations?

    Requires Free Membership to View

    Login

I would really have to see the Visio diagrams and know a bit more information before commenting on this. There is a lot to take into consideration when doing a SAN design:

  • How many servers?
  • What kind of servers?
  • What OS types?
  • What is the current backup method?
  • What is the current backup software?
  • Are there multiple backup engines in the environment?
  • What type of tapes are used?
  • Are you using libraries or direct connect SCSI tapes?
  • What does the network look like?
  • Do you want LAN free or Server free backup?
  • What is the backup window?
  • What applications are running?
  • Are you using clusters of any type?
  • What OS versions are running?
  • What types of RAID are needed?
  • How much storage is currently in place?
  • How much storage is currently in USE?
  • Will you be booting into the SAN?
  • What to do with the current disks?
  • Do you need high availability access or load balancing (more than one HBA per server)?
  • How many servers REALLY need SAN based storage and what can use NAS?
  • Is any SAN based storage currently in place? If so, from whom and what method of connection?
  • What management framework is being used for server and storage management?
  • Do you need any replication for DR?
  • What type of replication, SYNC or ASYNC (what's the distance)?
  • Will you use software or hardware based replication?
  • Will you use IP or Fibre based connections to the remote site?
  • What is the network bandwidth to the remote site?
  • Can you provide QOS for replication traffic to the remote site?
  • Do you need snapshots for online backups or instant restore?
  • What HBA vendor do you prefer?
  • What switch vendor do you prefer?
  • Do you need Director class switches, or would a modular approach be better?
  • How many IOPS do you need from the array?
  • Will you be doing any streaming media from the storage array or is this just File/Print?
  • Any real time applications like Dynamic Database web updates?
  • If Web apps are used, is there a DMZ or firewall and what kind of security is needed?

For Part II, go to: http://www.searchStorage.com/ateQuestionNResponse/0,289625,sid5_cid427527_tax286192,00.html


This was first published in December 2001

Join the conversationComment

Share
Comments

    Results

    Contribute to the conversation

    All fields are required. Comments will appear at the bottom of the article.
    Back to top