Host connectivity to 2 different Arrays/Fabrics

[Raghavendra Barengala Sripada Rao]

Hello,

I have a UCS environment with 2 vHBAs/Blade connected to EMC CLARiiON, with VSAN 100. We're migrating from CLARiiON to VMAX and at the same time we're migrating from old MDS switches to new MDS switches.

Requirement is I would like to connect 2 FC uplinks connecting to old Fabric talking to EMC CLARiiON and 2 FC uplinks connecting to new Fabric talking to EMC VMAX.

I am retaining same VSAN on both the switches(old and new) (VSAN 100), this is a requirment due to HP-UX server in the environment. So can the same vHBA log on to 2 different Fabrics?

Please let me know.

/Rags               

[Manuel Velasco]

Hi Raqhavendra,

So can the same vHBA log on to 2 different Fabrics?

It is not possible for the same vHBA to log into two different san switches (MDSs) at the same time, every vhba gets attached only to a single uplink or a porchannel depending on your configuration. It is not possible for a vhba be attached to two different fc port channels or uplinks connected to two different san switches at the same time.

In the other hand, it is possible for a SAN switch to be connected to two different storage arrays and zone it in a way that a vhba can see both storage arrays with a single SAN switch (MDS)

Not only that this is not a supported configuration on UCS.

[Raghavendra Barengala Sripada Rao]

Thank you for confirming. Also wanted to know what if I configure 2 new vHBAs to every blades and provision storage from target array and perform migration? Would this work? Adding new vHBAs to blades require a reboot right?

Thanks again!

/Rags 

[Manuel Velasco]

Do you mean using both SAN switches?

if this is the case, It is possible but you would have to make sure that you statically pin the new vhbas to proper uplinks to make sure they use these to send and receive traffic.

Adding new vHBAs to blades require a reboot right?

Yes, it will be require for the blades to reboot for the change to take effect.

Let me know if this answers your questions

[Raghavendra Barengala Sripada Rao]

Perfect. Thank you!

Could you please eloborate about on how statically I can pin new vHBAs to FC uplinks? Lets say currently port 29-32 is connected to old Fabric and I connect ports 25-28 new Fabric, then create 2 new vHBAs/blade.

Thanks again!!

[Manuel Velasco]

Yes you can, take a look at  link below

Configuring San Pin Groups

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/unified_computing/ucs/sw/gui/config/guide/2.1/b_UCSM_GUI_Configuration_Guide_2_1_chapter_011000.html

[Raghavendra Barengala Sripada Rao]

Thanks a lot for quick response. I believe I need to create a FC port channel group, create a San pin group and associate it to a respective vHBA template right?

Thanks again!!

Sent from Cisco Technical Support iPhone App

[Manuel Velasco · Accepted solution]

That is correct.

[Manuel Velasco · Accepted solution]

Let me know if you have any questions or accept the post if you found what you were looking for

[Raghavendra Barengala Sripada Rao]

Thank you! Infact I implemented this today and worked as we discussed above. Thanks a ton.