SPARC: Installing and Configuring Interconnect, Storage, and Fibre-Channel Hardware

Generally, using interconnect, storage, and FC hardware does not differ markedly from noncampus cluster configurations.

The steps for installing Ethernet-based campus cluster interconnect hardware are the same as the steps for noncampus clusters. Refer to Installing Ethernet or InfiniBand Cluster Interconnect Hardware. When installing the media converters, consult the accompanying documentation, including requirements for fiber connections.

The guidelines for installing virtual local area networks interconnect networks are the same as the guidelines for noncampus clusters. See Configuring VLANs as Private Interconnect Networks.

The steps for installing Sun StorEdge A5x00 and Sun StorEdge T3 or T3+ arrays are the same as the steps for noncampus clusters. Refer to the Sun Cluster Hardware Administration Collection for Solaris OS for those steps.

However, when installing Sun StorEdge A5x00 arrays at distances greater than 500m, install the Sun Long Wave GBICs as indicated in the Sun StorEdge Long Wave GBIC Interface Converter Guide. This manual also includes single-mode fiber specifications.

Campus clusters require FC switches to mediate between multimode and single-mode fibers. The steps for configuring the settings on the FC switches are very similar to the steps for noncampus clusters.

If your switch supports flexibility in the buffer allocation mechanism, (for example the QLogic switch with donor ports), then make certain to allocation a sufficient number of buffers to the ports which are dedicated to ISLs. If your switch has a fixed number of frame buffers (or buffer credits) per port, you do not have this flexibility.

Use the following rules of thumb for determining the number of buffers you might need:

• For 1 Gbps, calculate buffer credits as:

  (length-in-km) x (0.6)

  Round the result up to the next whole number. For example, a 10 km connection requires 6 buffer credits and a 7 km connection requires 5 buffer credits.

• For 2 Gbps, calculate buffer credits as:

  (length-in-km) x (1.2)

  Round the result up to the next whole number. For example, a 10 km connection requires 12 buffer credits while a 7 km connection requires 9 buffer credits.

Refer to your switch documentation for details about computing buffer credits.