Fibre Channel Switches, Fibers, and Host Adapters

Fibre Channel switches. Sun StorEdge T3/T3+ disk arrays do not connect directly to single-mode fiber, so a cluster using these devices requires Fibre Channel switches with long-wave GBICs installed in order to connect single-mode fibers to multimode fibers coming from disk arrays, hosts, and host bus adapters. (See Figure A-1.)

Storage fiber connections. For long-distance connections (up to 10km) between rooms, use 9/125-micron single-mode fiber.

When connecting Sun StorEdge T3/T3+ disk trays to Fibre Channel switches, use 50/125-micron multimode fibers at distances not exceeding 500m.

Host adapters. Connect Sun StorEdge A5x00 disk arrays using SOC+-based SBus host adapters.

With Sun StorEdge T3/T3+ disk trays, use a SAN-capable host adapter. Examples include the Sun StorEdge SBus Dual Fibre Channel Network Adapter, the Sun StorEdge PCI Single Fibre Channel Network Adapter, the Sun StorEdge PCI Dual Fibre Channel Network Adapter+, and the Sun StorEdge cPCI Dual Fibre Channel Network Adapter.