Multiple UCSMs to MDS

[Shea Lambert]

I have a request concerning the recommended configuration of multiple UCSM's into two MDS 9148s.  

My current production UCSM (two chassis') is connected, via port channel groups, to the MDS 9148s; which are connected to one EMC VNX SAN.

What I'd like to do is connect an older USCM (only one chassis) to the EMC VNX SAN via the MDS 9148s.  

I'm a storage networking neophyte, so I'd like recommendations on how to accomplish this task.

[Walter Dey]

It's easy and straightforward, however, we need your specific requirements:

- UCS domains share VNX

- UCS are configured in Fibrechannel end host mode (NPV) ?

- do you need shared access to the same lun's from both UCS ?

- do you want a complete storage (lun) isolation between UCS

[Shea Lambert]

- UCS domains share VNX ? Yes
- UCS are configured in Fibrechannel end host mode (NPV) ? Yes
- do you need shared access to the same lun's from both UCS ? Yes
- do you want a complete storage (lun) isolation between UCS ? No (The hosts are all ESXi servers, so they need access to all the LUNs)

[Walter Dey · Accepted solution]

OK, should be very easy !

- You create the same VSAN's on the new UCS domain, as you did in the first UCS domain (I assume / hope you have different VSAN's for fabric A resp B).

- Be careful defining the pwwn and nwwn pools; they should be unique and different for the 2 UCS domains. (as a matter of fact, all pools, including UUID, MAC as well) should be unique.

[Shea Lambert]

I have a separate Port-Channel on each Fabric.  They both use Fabric dual/vsan default (1)

[Walter Dey]

you mean FC F-port-trunking-channeling ?

Using default VSAN is not recommended ! same caveats as the use of Vlan 1 !

Please use separate vsan for A and B, e.g. 10 and 20 !

[Shea Lambert]

Changing the prod to using separate vsans sounds like it could be disruptive.

Can you point me to some documentation that details this configuration?

[Walter Dey]

Yes, it is disruptive ! you need a maintenance window.

I would also advice to use device alias for FC zoning. see eg.

A similar use case is Cisco Validated Design; ok its for Netapp and N5k not MDS; but the VSAN part, device alias and zoning is identical.

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/solutions/Enterprise/Data_Center/Virtualization/flexpod_deploy.html#wp569152