Heterogeneous Hosts Example

Note – IMPORTANT Heterogeneous host settings are only available with SANshare Storage Partitioning enabled. In Figure 3-32 on page 3-76,the SANshare Storage Partitioning feature is enabled.

In a heterogeneous environment, you must set each host type to the appropriate operating system during host port definition (Figure 3-31 on page 3-75). By doing this, the firmware on each controller can respond correctly for that host's operating system.

FIGURE 3-31Host Port Definitions Dialog

In the example shown in Figure 3-32 on page 3-76,four hosts (Omaha A and B, and KC-A and B) are connected to Storage Array Midwest. Three storage partitions have been created, allowing these hosts to share access to the volumes on the storage array.

Hosts Omaha A and Omaha B share access to Volumes Marketing and HResources. Host KC-A has exclusive access to Volumes Legal and Engineering, and Host KC-B has exclusive access to Volume Financial. Because there are four hosts running three different operating systems, the appropriate host types must be defined for each host port to support these heterogeneous hosts.

After you define the host type for each host port, you can display the host port's host type in the Topology View by placing your cursor over the specific host port; a tooltip will display the associated host type.

Chapter 3 Storage Arrays 3-75

Page 275
Image 275
Sun Microsystems 5310 NAS manual Heterogeneous Hosts Example, 31Host Port Definitions Dialog

5310 NAS specifications

Sun Microsystems, known for its innovative computing solutions, launched the Sun 5310 Network Attached Storage (NAS) system, which marked a significant advancement in the realm of storage solutions in the early 2000s. The 5310 NAS was designed to provide high-performance, reliable, and scalable storage tailored for enterprise environments.

One of the standout features of the Sun 5310 NAS is its file-serving capabilities, which support multiple protocols, notably NFS (Network File System) and CIFS (Common Internet File System). This dual-protocol support allowed organizations to seamlessly integrate the NAS into diverse IT ecosystems, facilitating interoperability between UNIX, Linux, and Windows systems. The enhanced file-sharing capabilities made it an ideal solution for businesses with mixed operating environments.

The Sun 5310 NAS incorporates cutting-edge technologies to ensure high availability and data integrity. The system utilized a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology, providing various RAID levels to protect against data loss while optimizing performance. Additionally, the device featured hot-swappable drives, enabling maintenance and upgrades with minimal downtime, a crucial factor for business continuity.

Equipped with advanced management software, the Sun 5310 NAS offered users an intuitive interface for monitoring storage health and performance. This software included comprehensive reporting functionalities that allowed IT administrators to oversee usage patterns and capacity planning efficiently.

Scalability was another defining characteristic of the Sun 5310 NAS. The system could easily expand with additional storage modules, accommodating the growing needs of an organization without the necessity for complete system overhauls. This flexibility ensured that businesses could adapt their storage solutions to meet evolving data storage needs without incurring significant costs or disruptions.

In terms of performance, the Sun 5310 NAS featured high I/O throughput achieved through its robust hardware architecture and optimized file serving capabilities. This performance baseline was crucial for organizations that relied on heavy data workloads and required rapid access to information.

In summary, the Sun 5310 NAS from Sun Microsystems embodied a forward-thinking approach to network storage, blending reliability, scalability, and multi-protocol support. Its user-friendly management software, combined with the robustness of RAID technology and hot-swappable drives, made it a preferred choice for enterprises looking to streamline their storage infrastructure while safeguarding critical data.