Building an Extended Distance Cluster Using Serviceguard and Software RAID

Types of Data Link for Storage and NetworkingTypes of Data Link for Storage andNetworking

Fibre Channel technology lets you increase the distance between the components in an Serviceguard cluster, thus making it possible to design a disaster tolerant architecture. The following table shows some of the distances possible with a few of the available technologies, including some of the Fiber Optic alternatives.

Table 2-1

 

Link Technologies and Distances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Type of LinkMaximum Distance

 

 

Supported

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gigabit Ethernet Twisted Pair

50 meters

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short Wave Fiber

500 meters

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long Wave Fiber

10 kilometers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dense Wave Division Multiplexing

100 kilometers

 

 

(DWDM)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The development of DWDM technology allows designers to use dark fiber

 

 

(high speed communication lines provided by common carriers) to extend

 

 

the distances that were formerly subject to limits imposed by Fibre

 

 

Channel for storage and Ethernet for network links.

 

 

 

 

NOTE

 

Increased distance often means increased cost and reduced speed of

 

 

connection. Not all combinations of links are supported in all cluster

 

 

types. For a current list of supported configurations and supported

 

 

distances, see the HP Configuration Guide, available through your HP

 

 

representative.

 

 

 

 

 

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Chapter 2