topic Re: 4 onboard FC ports to 2 SAN Switches in ONTAP Discussions

4 onboard FC ports to 2 SAN Switches

heightsnj — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 21:31:41 GMT

2 8060 filers with 4 FC ports on each node. what the connections to 2 SAN switches should look like? pls see the attached.

2 ports on each filer to 2 different switches should be good enough? then there will be 2 empty ports left on each filer, correct?

thanks for your help!

Re: 4 onboard FC ports to 2 SAN Switches

Sahana — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 02:59:58 GMT

Refer the image attached. Reference SAN Configuration Guide, Multifabric HA configurations on page 24

Re: 4 onboard FC ports to 2 SAN Switches

heightsnj — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 10:51:06 GMT

Hi , Thank you!

Could you please help me to explain what is the difference on the diagram I drew and the one you provided in which all 4 FC ports on the node will be used? What issues would it caused by using my diagram?

Looking forward to hear you again.

Re: 4 onboard FC ports to 2 SAN Switches

Sahana — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 12:14:16 GMT

In the recommended configuration, there are 2 connections from each controller to each switch. So it utilizes all 4 ports=2 connection x2 switches on a single controller. So you will have redundant connection to the switch also.

Re: 4 onboard FC ports to 2 SAN Switches

heightsnj — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 21:22:09 GMT

Yeah, I noticed that.

In my diagram, if the connection to the switch got failed, the data could be alternated to the other fabric (switch), correct?

If yes, why would I need to have two connetions from the same node to the same switch? where would the single point failure be in my diagram? Or what is the disadvantage is with it?

Thank you!

Re: 4 onboard FC ports to 2 SAN Switches

heightsnj — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 11:05:42 GMT

Can somebody please help to answer my previous questions. Thank you!

Re: 4 onboard FC ports to 2 SAN Switches

Sahana — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 08:48:19 GMT

Your design does not have single point of failure. However with 2 connections to the same switch has higher redundancy.