Does anyone know of a decent FC howto? I have to help configure some FC setups for a project we are working on. One end is a Dell PowerVault NX3200 (Windows Storage Server 2012 R2) with a two port HBA and the other end is one or two Dell server(s) (Server 2008 R2) with a single port HBA. No one at my office has ever used FC and had I been involved earlier in the project I would have picked something else.
Fiber Channel Howto?
- Thread starter smccloud
- Start date
Notice: Page may contain affiliate links for which we may earn a small commission through services like Amazon Affiliates or Skimlinks.
Documentation I have shows no switch. Direct connection from one port on the NX3200 to each server connected to it.
What are you trying to do? The NX3200 runs server 2012 R2. You would serve storage up via SMB, iSCSI or NFS.
PowerVault NX family of NAS appliances details | Dell
PowerVault NX Windows NAS series configuration guide | Dell
I happen to be a Dell Partner. :0)
PowerVault NX family of NAS appliances details | Dell
PowerVault NX Windows NAS series configuration guide | Dell
I happen to be a Dell Partner. :0)
Yep, I have connected to it. I think we are stuck using FC because they don't want the data going over a standard network (in the end, the system will plot E9-1-1 calls for an entire state).
We were told by our partner in the project that we have to use FC for the traffic from the NX3200 to the web servers, so we will.
I'm reasonably certain that windows 2012 R2 can't be a FiberChannel target (at least without some extra software). I suspect that you are perhaps just running regular ethernet over direct-attached optical NICs in which case the configuration part is exactly the same as if it was over Cat5/6 cabling.
I know back in the day you could set the QLE246x's to target mode in Windows. If I remember right it was an option in the "Driver" tab in the properties of the device, located in the system manager.
I'm not sure the QLE256x's support it. I've never heard of anyone using the QLE256x's for target mode.
Even if you did get it in target mode I'm not sure how you would go about sharing an array. I would imagine it would be similar to sharing a iSCSI LUN, but you would be entering the WWN's of the other FC HBA into the host list.
I'm not sure the QLE256x's support it. I've never heard of anyone using the QLE256x's for target mode.
Even if you did get it in target mode I'm not sure how you would go about sharing an array. I would imagine it would be similar to sharing a iSCSI LUN, but you would be entering the WWN's of the other FC HBA into the host list.
The NX3200 isn't designed to be used with fiber. Sorry.. You'll need 10GB ethernet to get any good speeds. But i'll be honest, I would almost never sell that unit unless it's a backup target for tape.
I didn't specify it. I wish I had specified the storage device because it would have been something else.
Right. Well, it's going to be standard Ethernet for you. What are you going to use this for?
sigh... To bad a budet wasn't wrapped around the project. I would like to see something like that on a Highly Available system. Well the storage servers are nothing but a windows server with a storage server ( customized ) version of windows server loaded. Treat it like any other windows server. PM me if you need PS, and I'll get you a reduced rate.
I have in the past loaded ESXi on those boxes, in a two node config with vCenter at least you would have mobility, etc. Not on HCL, but it's basically a Dell R720.