5.2 Connecting Exalytics to a Storage Area Network

Starting with Oracle Exalytics Release 1 Patchset 1 (1.0.0.1), the Storage Area Network (SAN) feature is supported. This section describes the procedure for connecting Exalytics to a Storage Area Network.

Connecting Exalytics to a Storage Area Network involves the following steps:

Parent topic: Storage Configuration

5.2.1 Before You Begin

Before connecting the Oracle Exalytics In-Memory Machine to your data center's existing network, ensure that the following prerequisites are satisfied:

5.2.1.1 Cable Requirements

Fiber-optic media, short-wave, multimode fiber (400-M5- SN-S)

5.2.1.2 Host Bus Adapter Features and Specifications

For more information, see "HBA Features and Specifications" in the StorageTek 8 Gb FC PCI-Express HBA Installation Guide Installation Guide For HBA Models SG-XPCIE1FC-QF8-Z, SG-PCIE1FC-QF8-Z, SG-XPCIE1FC-QF8-N, SG-PCIE1FC-QF8-NandSG-XPCIE2-QF8-Z, SG-PCIE2FC-QF8-Z, SG-XPCIE2-QF8-N, SG-PCIE2FC-QF8-N.

5.2.2 Preparing for Storage Area Network (SAN) Configuration

To prepare Oracle Exalytics In-Memory Machine for SAN Configuration, complete the following steps:

  1. Configure the system to enable loading of the following kernal module at boot:

    • qla2xxx.ko

    • dm-multipath.ko

  2. Initialize the /etc/multipath.conf file by running the following command:

    /sbin/mpathconf

  3. Enable multipath startup during an operating system boot, by running the following commands as the root user:

    chkconfig multipathd on
chkconfig --level 345 multipathd on
service multipathd start

5.2.3 Connecting the Optical Cable

To connect the optical cable, complete the following steps:

Note:

The HBA does not allow normal data transmission on an optical link unless it is connected to another similar or compatible Fibre Channel product (that is, multimode to multimode).

  1. Connect the fiber-optic cable to an LC connector on the HBA.

    Figure 5-1 Connecting the Optical Cable: Dual Port HBA in Oracle Exalytics In-Memory Machine X2-4

    Description of Figure 5-1 follows
    Description of "Figure 5-1 Connecting the Optical Cable: Dual Port HBA in Oracle Exalytics In-Memory Machine X2-4"

    Figure 5-2 Connecting the Optical Cable: Dual Port HBA in Oracle Exalytics In-Memory Machine X3-4

    Description of Figure 5-2 follows
    Description of "Figure 5-2 Connecting the Optical Cable: Dual Port HBA in Oracle Exalytics In-Memory Machine X3-4"

  2. Connect the other end of the cable to the FC device.

After the optical cable is connected to the HBA, you can power on the system.

5.2.4 Installing Diagnostic Support for the Red Hat/SUSE Linux OS (Optional)

For more information, see "Diagnostic Support for the Red Hat/SUSE OS" in the StorageTek 8 Gb FC PCI-Express HBA Installation Guide Installation Guide For HBA Models SG-XPCIE1FC-QF8-Z, SG-PCIE1FC-QF8-Z, SG-XPCIE1FC-QF8-N, SG-PCIE1FC-QF8-NandSG-XPCIE2-QF8-Z, SG-PCIE2FC-QF8-Z, SG-XPCIE2-QF8-N, SG-PCIE2FC-QF8-N.

5.2.5 Verifying the Connectivity

To verify the connectivity, complete the following steps:

  1. Check the status of the multipath device as follows:

    [root@node1 ~]# service multipathd status 
multipathd (pid  xxxx) is running...

  2. Run multipath -ll command to view the detailed information of the multipath devices as shown in the following example:

    # multipath -ll
mpath2 (3600144f0d153d65600004f90462c0003) dm-3 SUN,Sun Storage 7410
[size=100G][features=0][hwhandler=0][rw]
\_ round-robin 0 [prio=1][active]
 \_ 7:0:0:0 sdc 8:32  [active][ready]
\_ round-robin 0 [prio=1][enabled]
 \_ 8:0:0:0 sde 8:64  [active][ready]
mpath3 (3600144f0d153d65600004f90464f0004) dm-4 SUN,Sun Storage 7410
[size=200G][features=0][hwhandler=0][rw]
\_ round-robin 0 [prio=1][active]
 \_ 7:0:0:2 sdd 8:48  [active][ready]
\_ round-robin 0 [prio=1][enabled]
 \_ 8:0:0:2 sdf 8:80  [active][ready]

    In the above example, mpath2 and mpath3 are the two LUNs configured in the storage device.

5.2.6 Completing the Setup

Complete the following steps:

  1. Mount the LUNs to a mount point:

    # mount /dev/mapper/mpathXX <mount_point>

    Note:

    The multipath LUNs are available as block devices at: /dev/mapper/mpathXX.

  2. Add the mount point to /etc/fstab to auto mount during an operating system boot.