Q-Logic 4000 SERIES manual Introduction, How to Use this Guide, General Description

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Section 1

Introduction

1.1

How to Use this Guide

The SANblade QLogic host bus adapters (HBAs) supported in this document are described in the following paragraphs; they are collectively referred to as the QLA40xx HBA unless otherwise noted.

QLA4000 (single channel, full-height bracket, optical media)

QLA4000C (single channel, full-height bracket, copper media)

The QLA4000 HBA is 32/64-bit, 33/66-MHz iSCSI to Fibre Channel to optical media. The QLA4000C HBA is 32/64-bit, 33/66-MHz iSCSI to Fibre Channel to copper media.

This guide contains installation instructions for the hardware (QLA40xx HBA), supported software drivers, and the SANblade Control iX GUI. Install these components in the following order:

1.Install the QLA40xx HBA in your PC.

2.Install the software driver according to the directions in the appropriate section.

3.Install the SANblade Control iX GUI.

NOTE: If you are installing the QLA40xx HBA in Solaris SPARC system, install the Solaris driver before installing the QLA40xx HBA.

1.2

General Description

The QLA40xx is an iSCSI HBA that provides PCI connectivity to SCSI using iSCSI protocol. This release of the QLA40xx HBA implements draft 0.20 of the IETF iSCSI standard, which creates a new industry standard SAN technology based on internet protocols: TCP/IP. Updates to later iSCSI drafts will be available for downloads to the HBA. iSCSI enables new IP-based SANs, which are similar to Fibre Channel SANs, as well as a new set of storage applications, for example, remote storage.

The QLA40xx HBA implements the complete protocol stack, including TCP/IP, on the HBA and off-loads the host of any I/O protocol processing. Off-loading the host frees the system to perform other tasks and deliver optimum total system performance. The QLA40xx HBA handles complete SCSI transactions, iSCSI, TCP/IP, and Ethernet.

IS0053301-00 D

1-1

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Contents SANblade 4000 Series User’s Guide Page Table of Contents Section Red Hat Linux Driver Installation Figures Tables Introduction How to Use this GuideGeneral Description Features Hardware Hardware IS0053301-00 D QLA40xx HBA Components QLA4000/4000CQLA4000C HBA Layout LEDsInstallation in the Computer QLA40xx HBA Operating Environment SpecificationsAgency Certification LabelEMI and EMC Requirements Product Safety Requirements Software II Software II-2 IS0053301-00 D Creating the Driver Disk Optional Windows 2000 Driver Installation QL4000.SYSSupported Features Driver FilesInstalling the Driver Adding the QLA40xx HBA to the Existing OS Start Device Driver Installation dialog box, click NextSelect specify a location. Click Next Removing the Driver Updating the Existing DriverMaximumSGList System Registry ParametersDouble-clickMaximumSGListREGDWORD0x41 NumberofRequests Windows NT Driver Installation QL4000.SYS Select the QLogic QLA4000 PCI iSCSI Adapter and press Enter Adding the QL4000.SYS Driver to the Existing OSSelect QLogic QLA4000 PCI iSCSI Adapter, then click OK Double-clickMaximumSGListREGDWORD0x21 Additional Notes LargeLunsPage Introduction Red Hat Linux Driver InstallationCreating the Driver Disk Building a Custom Kernel to Load the Driver Automatically Edit Makefile under the kernel scsi directory. For example For Red Hat Linux 8.0, locate the following lines Building a Driver from the Source Code Building a Uniprocessor UP Version of the Driver Enter Building a Ramdisk Image to Load the Driver Automatically Loading the Driver ManuallyFor example System Driver Parameter maxscsilunsProc Filesystem Support LimitationsPre-installation Requirements Solaris Driver Installation QLA4000You are prompted to select a driver package. For example Target and LUN Support for Disk Devices Installing QLogic QLA4000 driver as QLA4000-0Target and LUN Support Tape Devices You are prompted to remove the driver Uninstalling the Solaris Sparc DriverPage SANblade Control III-2 Windows NT and Windows Installation ProcedureInstallation Introduction Dialog Box Choose Shortcut Folder Dialog Box Red Hat Linux and Solaris Sparc Install Complete Dialog BoxGetting Started Uninstalling SANblade ControlWindows NT/Windows Red Hat Linux or Solaris SparcHost Information Tabbed Page Main Window Main Window and Window NavigationView FileHelp Target Information Tabbed LUN List Tabbed Host Information Tabbed Host TabbedFirmware Network HBA Tabbed Pages11. HBA Options Tabbed Page Network 12. Target Settings Tabbed Target Settings Tabbed13. Target Information Tabbed Target Information TabbedHBA Information Tabbed Configuring the QLA40xx HBAFrom the Select Options list, click Network see figure 15. HBA Tabbed Page Network Select Options box, select Firmware Changing the Firmware Configuration Parameters18. Save Firmware Parameters Message IS0053301-00 D Configuring Specific Targets Configuring TargetsConfiguring Using Discovery Click the Target Settings tab Changing the Target Configuration ParametersClick the Select File to Download button Firmware Upgrade20. Update Firmware Dialog Boxes SANblade Control iX Firmware Upgrade IS0053301-00 D SANblade Control iX Firmware Upgrade IS0053301-00 D

4000 SERIES specifications

The Q-Logic 4000 Series represents a significant advancement in storage networking solutions, particularly designed to meet the high demands of modern data centers. As businesses continue to accumulate vast amounts of data, the need for efficient, high-performance storage solutions becomes more pronounced. This series shines in delivering flexibility, scalability, and high availability.

One of the standout features of the Q-Logic 4000 Series is its support for advanced protocols such as Fibre Channel and Ethernet. This versatile capability enables seamless integration within diverse environments, whether organizations are operating on traditional storage area networks (SANs) or transitioning to more cost-effective, high-speed Ethernet-based storage solutions. The flexibility in protocol support allows businesses to tailor their infrastructure to their specific needs without being tied to a single technology.

The Q-Logic 4000 Series also boasts a robust performance, featuring high IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) capabilities that cater to I/O-intensive applications and large-scale virtualized environments. This efficiency is crucial for workloads such as database management, big data analytics, and mission-critical applications. Additionally, the series employs advanced technologies such as hardware offload and flow control mechanisms, resulting in reduced CPU usage and improved overall system performance.

High availability is another critical characteristic of the Q-Logic 4000 Series. The products are engineered with redundancy and failover mechanisms that ensure continuous operation, thereby reducing downtime and bolstering business continuity. Built-in features such as link aggregation and adaptive load balancing further enhance reliability and performance, allowing organizations to maintain optimal operations even amidst traffic fluctuations.

Scalability is a central theme in the design of the Q-Logic 4000 Series. The architecture supports linear scaling, enabling users to grow their networking capabilities in alignment with their expanding data needs. This characteristic is particularly beneficial for companies anticipating growth, as it allows them to invest in the system incrementally.

Security features within the Q-Logic 4000 Series also receive significant attention. The implementation of encryption technologies and secure access protocols ensures that sensitive data remains protected from unauthorized access and cyber threats.

In summary, the Q-Logic 4000 Series positions itself as a cutting-edge solution in the storage networking landscape, combining advanced technologies, high performance, and robust security features. Whether for a growing enterprise or an established data center, these products deliver a compelling solution for modern storage challenges.