3

Configuring an EMC Boot Device

Known Issues

Be aware of these issues:

QLogic BIOS 1.26 and later for QLA23xx and BIOS 1.79 and later for QLA22xx HBAs allow for multiple Boot Port Name entries to be configured for high-availability booting after path failures.

Previous BIOS versions do not support this functionality, will boot only from a single storage array port, and cannot provide boot capability with path failures.

NTOSKNL BSOD (blue screen) during a link down event can cause filesystem corruption to mounted filesystems.

HBA boot BIOS does not support high availability while the OS is booting. It can handle path failures at boot initialization time, and after the OS has loaded. Path failures while the OS is loading will require the host to reboot before successfully completing the boot process. Refer to How a Server Responds to Failure in the Boot LUN Path on page 3-37 for additional information.

Degraded response time as the I/O load approaches storage system capacity can make the OS appear hung or result in a

NTOSKNL BSOD.

Boot files, Windows system files, and swap space should all be on the boot LUN. With certain server models, you can use an internal disk for the page file for stability; however, this might not increase fault tolerance and might reduce system recovery options.

Swap space must be available on %SYSTEMROOT% or core dump will fail.

For Windows 2003 on 64-bit IA64-2 servers, the system no longer uses an x86-compatible BIOS; therefore, enabling boot-from-array support with the HBA requires a separate firmware EFI download.

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EMC Fibre Channel with QLogic HBAs in the Windows Environment

 

 

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EMC QLogic manual Known Issues, Ntosknl Bsod

QLogic specifications

EMC QLogic is a leading provider of advanced networking solutions, primarily known for its high-performance storage area network (SAN) technologies. It specializes in Fibre Channel and Ethernet networking products, offering robust solutions that are essential for modern data center environments.

One of the key features of EMC QLogic is its exceptional performance in high-speed data transfer. QLogic's Fibre Channel products, such as switches and host bus adapters (HBAs), support speeds of up to 32 Gbps, ensuring ultra-fast communication between storage devices and servers. This high throughput is crucial for applications demanding high IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second), particularly in virtualized environments and databases.

Another prominent aspect of EMC QLogic's technology is its support for advanced features like Data Center Bridging (DCB). DCB enables the convergence of storage and traditional Ethernet traffic on a single network, streamlining data center management and reducing costs. By allowing both storage and data networking to coexist on the same infrastructure, EMC QLogic enhances efficiency and simplifies network architecture.

Scalability is another characteristic that sets EMC QLogic apart. The architecture is designed to support a wide range of deployment sizes, from small businesses to large enterprise data centers. This scalability ensures that organizations can grow their IT infrastructure without needing to overhaul their existing deployment.

EMC QLogic also places a strong emphasis on reliability and security. Their products are built with redundancy and failover mechanisms, which minimize downtime and ensure continuous operation even in the event of hardware failure. Additionally, security features such as encryption and access controls are integrated to protect sensitive data as it travels across the network.

Management and monitoring capabilities are also integral to EMC QLogic's offerings. The company provides advanced software tools for managing network resources, allowing administrators to monitor performance, diagnose issues, and optimize configurations efficiently. This helps organizations maintain peak performance and reduces operational complexity.

In summary, EMC QLogic combines high-speed performance, advanced features, and robust reliability in its networking solutions. With a focus on scalability and security, it provides organizations with the tools necessary to build and manage efficient, modern data centers that can adapt to evolving technological demands. Its commitment to innovation positions EMC QLogic as a trusted partner in the storage networking landscape.