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scerazy
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Multipath Equallogic PS / QLE4060C / Powerconnect 5424

How this should be setup?

3 x PE 2950 each with dual QLE4060C connecting to a separate PC5424 dedicated to iSCSI network

PS5000X has 3 NICs on each controller, it is recommended that all NICs on each controller connect to a switch & switches are "stacked" together

Then each QLE on both servers connects to separate switch

But the 5424 do not have stack option, can they be connected just by coper/fibre?

Also if the PowerConnect network is iSCSI dedicated then it is separate from main LAN & that means I have no route to manage the PS box via IP (or I have to have separate workstation connecting to this switches only, right?)

Also PS has Storage Processor transparent failover, so the setup should require nothing else?

Anybody running similar config?

Thanks

Seb

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AndreTheGiant
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You can use also 8 ports Smiley Wink

See LAC or LACP under switches documentation.

Is a way to aggregate more link to one "bigger".

Be also sure to use RSTP, flow control, storm control as suggested in Equallogic documentation.

Jumbo Frame could be useful in VS4.

And DISABLE iSCSI optimization (on switches) cause is not compatible with Eql multipath.

Andre

Andrew | http://about.me/amauro | http://vinfrastructure.it/ | @Andrea_Mauro

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AndreTheGiant
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But the 5424 do not have stack option, can they be connected just by coper/fibre?

You can use a LAG with 4 ports.

Also if the PowerConnect network is iSCSI dedicated then it is separate from main LAN & that means I have no route to manage the PS box via IP

In this case I use the VCB/Backup Server or a dedicated management VM with a NIC on iSCSI.

You need also to trap Eql alarm!

Also PS has Storage Processor transparent failover, so the setup should require nothing else?

Right, follow only the network cabling topology also for the NIC of Eql.

Andre

Andrew | http://about.me/amauro | http://vinfrastructure.it/ | @Andrea_Mauro
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scerazy
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Can I use 4 ports to interconnect the two 5424 switches?

Copper?

Seb

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AndreTheGiant
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You can use also 8 ports Smiley Wink

See LAC or LACP under switches documentation.

Is a way to aggregate more link to one "bigger".

Be also sure to use RSTP, flow control, storm control as suggested in Equallogic documentation.

Jumbo Frame could be useful in VS4.

And DISABLE iSCSI optimization (on switches) cause is not compatible with Eql multipath.

Andre

Andrew | http://about.me/amauro | http://vinfrastructure.it/ | @Andrea_Mauro
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scerazy
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Thanks a lot Andre

Seb

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AndreTheGiant
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You're welcome.

Andre

Andrew | http://about.me/amauro | http://vinfrastructure.it/ | @Andrea_Mauro
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IRIX201110141
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How this should be setup?

PS5000X has 3 NICs on each controller, it is recommended that all NICs on each controller connect to a switch & switches are "stacked" together

Equallogic Best Practices says that you have to connect 2 Ports to one and the last Port to the 2nd Switch and vice versa with the 2 controller. The Switches can be connected together through a trunk based on multipled copper ports.The trunk have at least 80% of the bandwidth of all arrays.

We run 2xPS5000E, 3xR900 on 2 PC5048 switches.

Regards

Joerg

'Remember if you found this or others answers helpful do not forget to award points by marking an answer as helpful or correct'

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scerazy
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Hhad info from Dell that the trunk can also be done on fibre ports

Will try that

Seb

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IRIX201110141
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Hhad info from Dell that the trunk can also be done on fibre ports

Will try that

Seb

Sure you can.. .but 4 are not enough when having 3 or more arrays. Also the fibre Ports are more usefull for other things.

Regards

Joerg

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scerazy
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I have only single array at the moment & it is completely isolated network, so in my case they are not used for anything..

Seb

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IRIX201110141
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Keep in mind that using 4 patch cables saving money compared to 4 GBICs and multimode cables.

Regards

Joerg

'Remember if you found this or others answers helpful do not forget to award points by marking an answer as helpful or correct'

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