Connecting Network Cables - Dell EqualLogic PS6010 Hardware Maintenance

PS6010 Hardware Maintenance
Table 3-4: Network Recommendations (Continued)
Recommendation Description
No STP functionality
on switch ports that
connect end nodes
Flow Control
enabled on switches
and NICs
Unicast storm control
disabled on switches
Jumbo Frames
enabled
VLANs

Connecting Network Cables

The Type 10 control module can support either copper or optical 10GE cables and
modules using the SFP+ interface. Modules and cables are sold separately from
the PS Series array. See Table 2-3 for supported network cable types.
Each control module has two 10GE network interface ports, labeled Ethernet 0
and Ethernet 1. These ports require connector modules that use the SFP+
interface. The control modules also include one 10Mb/100Mb port labeled
Management. The management port cannot carry iSCSI traffic. Use the
management port only if you configure a management network. See the Group
Administration manual for more information.
If possible, do not use Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP) on switch
ports that connect end nodes (iSCSI initiators or array network
interfaces).
However, if you must use STP or RSTP (preferable to STP), you
should enable the port settings (available on some switches) that
let the port immediately transition into STP forwarding state upon
link up. This functionality can reduce network interruptions that
occur when devices restart, and it should only be enabled on
switch ports that connect end nodes.
You can use Spanning-Tree for a single-cable connection between
switches, and you can use trunking for multi-cable connections
between switches.
Enable Flow Control on each switch port and NIC that handles
iSCSI traffic. PS Series arrays will correctly respond to Flow
Control.
Disable unicast storm control on each switch that handles iSCSI
traffic if the switch provides this feature. However, the use of
broadcast and multicast storm control is encouraged on switches.
Enable Jumbo Frames on each switch and each NIC that handles
iSCSI traffic.
Configure switches to use VLANs to separate iSCSI SAN traffic
from other network traffic.
Maintaining Control Modules
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