The number and rules for disk HBAs in fabric metrocluster

[aborzenkov]

All documentation I have seen (standard DataONTAP set, TR3548 etc) describe configuration with 4 disk HBA ports (usually 2 x dual-port HBAs or onboard ports). I could not find any description about how many HBAs are possible/allowed/recommended and rulses to connect them.

E.g. I now have configuration with FAS3140 in fabric MC with 2 X2054A-R6 each. The rules in documentation are - never connect two ports from the same HBA to the same switch; but it is obviously not possible in case of 4 port HBA. Does it mean I am allowed to connect only 4 ports out of 8 available? How should head-to-switch connection look in this case?

Thank you!

[lausberg · Accepted solution]

The rule is min 2 max 4 per head/controller/node whatever you want to call it.

Normally we take the four onboard or two onboard and 2 in an add on hba.

The four onboard are considered as two different hbas

[aborzenkov]

Thank you!