HP 3PAR Operating System Software - Manual (Page 37)

9 Hosts
The HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage system sees a host as a set of Fibre Channel WWN s (World Wide
Names) or iSCSI names: in other words, a set of host I/O paths. The host system uses these I/O
paths to perform read/write operations on exported virtual volumes on the storage system.
•
The HP 3PAR storage system automatically detects hosts that are physically connected to ports
on the storage system. You can also add new WWNs or iSCSI names for unestablished host
paths and assign these WWNs or iSCSI names to a host before hosts are physically connected.
•
These WWNs or iSCSI names do not need to be associated with target ports on the HP 3PAR
storage system controller nodes. Therefore, you do not need to manually reconfigure a host
path after connecting new hosts.
•
A virtual volume can be exported (presented or made accessible) to one or more hosts. The
host sees the exported virtual volume as a LUN (logical unit number) connected to one or more
ports. After the virtual volume is exported to a host, the host can send requests (reads/writes)
to the LUN.
To modify system ports and host configurations, use the HP 3PAR Management Console. For more
information, see the HP 3PAR Management Console Online Help.
NOTE: For recommended practices and detailed configuration information regarding using your
host devices with your HP 3PAR storage system, see the relevant HP 3PAR Implementation Guide.
Creating and Removing Hosts
You can create, modify, and remove Fibre Channel and iSCSI hosts and their properties.
•
When you create a new host, you can either assign WWNs or iSCSI names right away or
add those paths later.
•
A virtual volume that is exported to a host is exported to all the WWNs or iSCSI names that
make up the host.
To export virtual volumes to specific WWNs or iSCSI names on a host system, you can create
separate hosts (host paths) on the host system and assign each WWN or iSCSI name to its
own host.
•
If you have multiple hosts that require the same administrative procedures, you can group
those hosts into a host set and manage them together, as one host.
To manage hosts, use the HP 3PAR Management Console. For more information, see the HP 3PAR
Management Console Online Help.
Host Personas
Host personas are settings that enable hosts connected to Fibre Channel or iSCSI ports on the HP
3PAR StoreServ Storage system to deviate from the default host behavior. The system automatically
assigns a host persona based on your operating system.
For more information on managing host personas, see the HP 3PAR Management Console Online
Help.
The Host Explorer Software Agent
The HP 3PAR Host Explorer Software agent is a program that runs on a host connected to an HP
3PAR StoreServ Storage system. On Windows, the Host Explorer agent runs as a service.
Using the HP 3PAR Host Explorer Software agent does not require a separate license.
The Host Explorer agent communicates with the HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage system over a Fibre
Channel or iSCSI connection and enables the host to send detailed host-configuration information
Creating and Removing Hosts 37