Dot Hill Systems II 200 FC service manual Establishing Communications With An Array

Figure 4-23Typical SFP Connector Used to Connect Cables to Chassis SFP Ports

4.9Establishing Communications With An Array

Before you can configure an array, you must establish one or more communication links between at least one host and an array. You can use any combination of the array’s RS-232 COM (serial) port, the Ethernet port, and the in-band data connection between the host and the array.

■A direct RS-232 port connection guarantees that a host can communicate with a RAID array even if the array’s IP address changes or is unknown, or if the TCP/IP network suffers a temporary outage. See “Configuring a Host COM Port to Connect to a RAID Array” on page 4-26for more information.

■SANnet II 200 FC, SATA, and SATA SE arrays ship with the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) TCP/IP network support protocol enabled. If your network uses a DHCP server to dynamically and automatically allocate IP addresses to attached devices, as soon as the RAID array is powered up an IP address is assigned to it. You can use this IP address to monitor and manage the array’s firmware through telnet sessions. See “Setting Up Out-of-Band Management Over Ethernet” on page 4-28for information about setting up a telnet session.

■A fixed IP address enables you to use telnet or other out-of-band management sessions to manage the array with no risk of a DHCP server changing its IP address. See “Setting Up Out-of-Band Management Over Ethernet” on page 4-28for information.

When the array is first powered up, the default IP address setting uses the IP address assigned by a DHCP server. If the RAID array is connected to a network with an active DHCP server, you can determine the IP address assigned to the array in several ways:

■If you have access to the controller firmware, from the Main Menu choose Configuration Parameters →Communication Parameters →Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). If the RAID controller is not on a network connected to an active DHCP server, “DHCP Client” is displayed rather than a DHCP-assigned IP address. Refer to the “Configuration Parameters” chapter in the SANnet II Family RAID Firmware User's Guide for more information.

Chapter 4 Connecting Your Array 4-25