Integrating 4x1GB SAN into 10G network

[dwright1542]

So we've converted our back end to 10G. I've got a very servicable MD3220i that I'd love to use. anyone have an idea on how to integrate? just attach all 4 1G ports to the 10G switch with 4 IP's, like normal, and then on the 10G NIC on esxi, just create 4 vmkernel ports?

Would that work?

 

[whitey]

Any way to get a 10G add-on module/card on that array...ya know, make life easier? Otherwise depending on the array (active/passive), vendor best practices, and IP SAN network topology if keeping legacy 1G on the SAN in the mix you could go two interfaces off of 'hopefully' a pair of redundant switches, other two to the other switch, setup iSCSI port binding on ESXi vSwitch/iSCSI config, enable RR multipathing...BOOM bobs your uncle.

MANY ways to do this, 10G is easiest/sledge hammer (but also most effective) while the 1GbE options could be endless, more info needed but I always aim for resiliency/redundancy/fault tolerance/risk mitigation in my designs but also try to stick to the KISS design principle. Every vendor 'would/should' have a implementation/architecture 'best practices' guide as well. May wanna hunt that baby down and delve into that as well.

 

[dwright1542]

No 10G for this array. This was more a logical question on the ESXi side. Will 4 VMkernels going thru one 10G NIC actually perform like 4x1GB NIC's? This isn't going to be for production. Just raw storage...so I'm hoping to do RR across 4 vmk's with 1 10G nic.

 

[whitey]

Should work if iSCSI port binding is setup right, that is one vmknic per iSCSI port bind and RR enabled, as long as your backend array can deliver 4Gbps of I/O throughput I don't see any reason the network could not keep dang near in lockstep with it.