INSPEED™ SAN STORAGE SWITCH MODEL 355

CHAPTER 3 SWITCH MANAGEMENT

USERS GUIDE

 

Figure 3-25: Load Balancing page

The page is arranged as a grid of check boxes for assigning ports to cascades ("Trunk Groups").

Load Indicators

The Load Balancing page incorporates two sets of visual indicators for measuring traffic:

Port Load Indicators–the horizontal bars on the right side of the page that display the current load for each port.

Trunk Load Indicators–the vertical bars at the bottom of the page that display the current load for each trunk group.

These bars indicate the amount of traffic across a trunk or port. The size of the bars increase in correlation to the amount of traffic and, as a bar’s size increases, can identify a specific trunk or port that is overloaded. If overloading occurs, move one or more ports to a different trunk in the group.

To change the load balancing settings:

1.Click a Trunk Group option to place a port into a specific trunk group.

2.Continue to assign ports to trunk groups as necessary.

3.When finished, click Submit.

Fairness and Prioritization

The concept of "fairness" is based on the principle of ensuring fair device access and communication across all devices in a storage system. The switch incorporates fairness and prioritization through InSpeed technology and Automatic Trunking and Load Balancing functionality. In cooperation with each other, these features ensure even and equal access through multiple links fairly–effectively multiplying bandwidth.

Device prioritization can be achieved using Load Balancing and assigning only a specific device port to a particular cascade. This ensures a specific device will always have a dedicated trunk.

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Emulex 355 manual Load Indicators, Fairness and Prioritization, To change the load balancing settings

355 specifications

The Emulex 355 is a high-performance network interface card (NIC) designed specifically for data centers requiring advanced connectivity, reliability, and speed. With the rapid evolution of data transmission technology, the Emulex 355 stands out due to its robust features and capabilities that cater to the demands of modern IT infrastructures.

One of the key features of the Emulex 355 is its support for 10 Gigabit Ethernet, which allows for significantly faster data transfer rates compared to standard Gigabit connections. This increased bandwidth is essential for handling large volumes of data traffic, particularly in virtualized environments and cloud computing applications. Its high throughput ensures that data can be transmitted rapidly across networks, minimizing latency and improving overall performance.

The Emulex 355 employs advanced technologies such as iSCSI Offload and FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet), which help enhance data processing efficiency. These technologies allow the card to offload processing tasks from the host system's CPU, reducing the load on server resources and optimizing performance. The result is a more efficient system that can handle more concurrent connections and processes without being overwhelmed.

In addition to speed and efficiency, reliability is paramount in data center operations. The Emulex 355 includes features like error detection and correction, ensuring data integrity during transmission. Built-in redundancy and failover capabilities safeguard against potential network disruptions, allowing for continuous availability of services—a crucial aspect in mission-critical environments.

The Emulex 355 also offers support for various robust networking protocols, enabling seamless integration into existing network infrastructures. Its compatibility with multiple operating systems and virtualization platforms, such as VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V, further enhances its versatility.

Another notable characteristic of the Emulex 355 is its energy-efficient design. It is optimized for lower power consumption without sacrificing performance, aligning with contemporary efforts to reduce the carbon footprint in data centers.

In conclusion, the Emulex 355 NIC is a powerful solution equipped with features that address the complex demands of modern data centers. Its combination of speed, reliability, and efficiency, along with advanced technologies, makes it a preferred choice for organizations looking to enhance their network capabilities and ensure smooth, uninterrupted operations.