SUMMARY: Setting up a mini FC config with 3 servers?

Hi,

Just one reply received for this one, so my thanks go to Kawin Treesuwan
who said :-

> Hi,
> 
> You can't do that. Because limit number of initiator (HBAs) in FC-AL are 2. 
> So, you can have only 2 host connected to A5200.
> 
> You can have more host per disk device over SAN (Fabric device not FCAL 
> device)
> 
> Regards,
> Kawin.

Can anyone else confirm this? I guess what I will have to do is move one
HBA from the E4500 and put it in the E420R or E450. A direct connection
thru FC rather than NFS would be the main benefit in this regard. Those
hubs and cables will still lie idle though :-(

My Original message was :-
> >Hey folks,
> >
> >We are wanting to set up a mini fibre channel 'network' config with
> >our E450, E4500 and E420R connected to a StorEdge A5200.
> >
> >Currently the A5200 (2 GBIC modules on the back) is connected to the E4500
> >via 2 SBUS FC-100 Host Adapters (dual-path).  Well, actually, the internal
> >ports are used and 1 HA is not used. Each HA has 2 GBIC modules inserted.
> >So, 2 each on the 2 HA's and also 2 internal ones, 6 total.
> >
> >We have 2 StorEdge FC-100 Hubs lying idle, and plenty of FC cable is
> >available. There are currently no FC-100 HA's in the E420R or E450.
> >
> >So my question is what would be the best way to configure everything so
> >all 3 of our servers have a direct connection and use of the
> >A5200? Any extra equipment needed? What will need to be done on the
> >software side?
> >
> >The A5200 is hooked up as a concatenated set under VVM, write performance
> >is very important to us.
> >
> >Will summarise any feedback of course, but the implementation is
> >currently only a medium-term plan.
> >
> >Any comments, experiences, suggested plans/diagrams would be VERY welcome.
> >
> >Best regards,
> >Mark
> >
> >----
> >Mark .I. Mahabir (XMM SSC Computer Operator)
> >Dept of Physics & Astronomy,
> >University of Leicester,            Phone  +44 116 252 5652
> >Leicester, LE1 7RH,  U.K.           Fax    +44 116 252 3311