Network and Storage Protocols

Which fiber switch to buy?

vantagemedia
3,159 Views

We currently have two windows hosts using QLogic QLE2460's directly plugged into our NetApp filers. Each host has an active/passive connection to the alternate filer. We are now in the position of adding our 3rd fiber connected host and need to move to a fabric environment. I am looking for advice from users for brand and models of switch to purchase. I think we will perhaps have at most 4 fiber connect hosts. I was hoping to increase the bandwidth from host to filer buy making both FC cards active/multipath and of course increasing the number of connections from switch to filer as well. So from the get go, we would have 3 hosts x two 4gbit each, and 2 filers with two x 4gbit each, thus a total of 10 ports. Any advice appreciated...

1 REPLY 1

BrendonHiggins
3,159 Views

The McData used to be very nice but they were purchased by Brocade in 2006.  I have now learnt the Brocade product lines and have some enterprise and entry level switches which are very nice.  The business is talking about Cisco but I like the Brocades as the network team are afraid of them and will not touch them.  Which has to be a good thing with your storage infrastructure!  NetApp only support specific fabric so be sure you do not make you SAN unsupported.

http://now.netapp.com/NOW/knowledge/docs/san/fcp_iscsi_config/index.shtml

Hope this helps

Brendon

Public