Implementation: Dell PowerVault SAN

Hardware

Dell PowerVault SANs are composed of several hardware and software components that work together to provide a highly reliable and scalable storage solution. The following are the key Dell PowerVault SAN hardware components:

QLogic HBAs

HBA The QLogic QLA 2200/2200F cards feature a 64-bit PCI 2.1 interface (fully backward compatible with 32-bit PCI systems), a RISC processor, a Fibre protocol module (FPM) with gigabit transceivers, and a PCI interface. A 64-bit/66MHz version of this card is available.

The QLA2200 adapter supports copper Fibre Channel media; the QLA2200F supports short wave fiber optic Fibre Channel media. Two HBAs per server are needed for a fully redundant SAN.

PowerVault Switch

The PowerVault 51F or 56F is an 8-port or 16-port Fibre Channel switch.

The switch is the key component of a SAN that enables true Fibre Channel fabrics. Two switches are needed to provide two fabrics for a fully redundant SAN.

GBICs

GBIC Any devices connecting to the switch will require a GBIC module. They must remain consistent, meaning if a copper HBA is used, then a copper GBIC must be used to connect it to the switch.
Note that a short-wave optical GBIC is required when connecting a bridge to the switch.

PowerVault 660F

The PowerVault 660F is a rack-optimized storage array designed specifically to meet the storage needs of critical enterprise business systems that require high availability.

The PowerVault 660F supports up to 14 disk drives in 3U of rack space. It is can easily be expanded by adding a PowerVault 224F.

PowerVault 650F

The PowerVault 650F disk processor enclosure utilizes one or two high-performance storage processors supporting up to 10 disk drives. The PowerVault 650F also has a disk expansion unit, the PowerVault 630F.

Bridge

The PowerVault 35F is a Fibre Channel-to-SCSI bridge that allows SCSI based tape drives to attach to the Fibre Channel fabric and be shared between multiple servers on the SAN.

Tape Backup

PowerVault 136T The PowerVault 130T and 136T tape libraries can be used as a central resource that can be shared between each server on the SAN. Because data throughput is significantly greater than the speed of network backup, downtimes caused by backups will be significantly shorter, allowing users more time to run production applications. With SAN backup it is possible to back up multiple devices at a time.

The PV130T requires a Dell PowerVault 35F to connect to a SAN, while the 136T can connect via an optional integrated bridge.