"Nizzardini, Al" wrote:

> I will be installing a VA7100 on an N-class and I am looking for any best
> practice configuration parameters. The VA7100 has dual controllers (1048MB
> cache), 15 36GB disk drives and 4 port SCSI fiber channel router.

cool!  we installed the basically same thing in september.  i bumped the cache
up to 2gb.  we're running 15 73gb drives.  (that's a heckofa lot of storage,
btw!  and considering the foot print, it's amazing!)  oh -- i'm guessing a
brocade is in the mix?

i'm sure you know by now that the dual controllers won't be of much help.
'tis a pity but what can you do.....?  fwiw, the 7.5 communicator makes it
almost sound like a mpe box can take advantage of the dual paths for
failover....but maybe for a price (if you know what i mean....).  10 minutes
of staring it at the communicator should not be interpretted as a statement of
fact, however  :-)

*do* get help getting this thing configured.  it's quite a learning
experience.  we sat down with a hp storage specialist for at least an hour
mapping out lun and volume sizes.  i believe 'the guidance from above' says no
more than 8 devices on a controller (or performance gets real bad) -- so
there's a fair amount of 'homework' involved.  also, do hook a pc up to the
disc array.  the pc will need a fibre adapter (to connect to the array) and
will also need to be connected to your network.  the pain is worth it though,
imo.  same goes for the brocade switch -- you want it connected to the
network.  the on-board tools on both pieces of equipment are needful,
worthwhile and just plain ol' cool :-)

take great pains to *not* power cycle those fibre routers!  while they're good
at what they do (converting scsi into fibre) -- they're not terribly bright.
if they lose their internal mappings you *will* be down and it *will* be a
mess to get it straightened out.     hth          - d

--
Donna Garverick     Sr. System Programmer
925-210-6631        [log in to unmask]

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are.
"Ulysses", A. Tennyson

>>>MY opinions, not Longs Drug Stores'<<<

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