Dell PowerVault 775N (Rackmount NAS Appliance) - Manual (Page 53)

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Installing Your Cluster in a SAN Environment
Dell™ PowerVault™ NAS Fibre Channel Cluster Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide
SAN Overview
Connecting the Storage Systems to Your Cluster
Implementing Zoning on a Fibre Channel Switched Fabric
SAN-Attached Cluster Configurations
SAN Overview
A SAN is a high-performance network that is used to move data between server and storage resources, providing scalable
storage in a networked environment. Using Fibre Channel technology and fiber optic cabling, a SAN provides the high-speed
connection between the cluster nodes and the external storage systems.
Table 5-1 lists the key components in a SAN.
Table 5-1. Key SAN Components
Component Description
Cluster nodes Dell™ PowerVault™ systems used as cluster nodes in the cluster. Each system must have dual HBAs installed
in the server to manage the I/O data transfer from the server's internal bus to the storage system.
Interconnects The connections between the cluster nodes and the storage systems. These connections include switches
and cabling.
Storage
system
Provides external data storage for the host systems (cluster nodes). Supported storage systems include tape
libraries, DAEs, DPE, and SPEs.
Fabrics Private connections of one or more Fibre Channel switches that provide connections between the cluster
nodes and storage systems.
SAN
management
software
Provides centralized control of the SAN for easier management. NAS cluster solutions use EMC® storage
management software utilities, which include:
EMC ControlCenter™ Navisphere® Agent
EMC ControlCenter Navisphere Manager™
EMC PowerPath®
EMC Access Logix™ (optional)
EMC MirrorView™ (optional)
EMC SnapView™ (optional)
EMC SAN Copy™ (optional)
See " Storage Management Software " for more information on the storage management software tools.
Connecting the Storage Systems to Your Cluster
This section provides information for connecting your cluster to one or more storage systems using a SAN (Fibre Channel
switch fabric).
SAN-Attached Cluster