Properly setting up my Storage Area Network: (Zoning & VSANs)

[WhiskeyHughes]

Guys, 

I need some help figuring out the best way to properly set up our FC Storage Area Network. We are about to order 2 MDS 9148s, 2 EMC VNX 5200s, and we have 5 dell blade servers. I just want to make sure that I am setting up my VSANs and Zoning properly. Essentially both VNX5200's need to be able to talk to each other and all of the Servers, but the DMZ Servers should be separated from the Blade Servers. Would this be a good set up? If it is, would I even need to connect the switches together? Thanks in advance for all of your wisdom and guidance!

MDS_1

fcalias name SAN_A_CONTROLLER_1 vsan 10
    member pwwn 50:0a:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 50:0a:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

fcalias name SAN_A_CONTROLLER_2 vsan 10
    member pwwn 50:0a:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 50:0a:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

fcalias name SAN_B_CONTROLLER_1 vsan 10
    member pwwn 50:0b:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 50:0b:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

fcalias name SAN_B_CONTROLLER_2 vsan 10
    member pwwn 50:0b:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 50:0b:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    
fcalias name BLADE_SERVERS vsan 10
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

fcalias name DMZ_SERVERS vsan 10
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

zone name BLADE_SERVERS_TO_STORAGE vsan 10
    member fcalias SAN_A_CONTROLLER_1
    member fcalias SAN_A_CONTROLLER_2
    member fcalias SAN_B_CONTROLLER_1
    member fcalias SAN_B_CONTROLLER_2
    member fcalias BLADE_SERVERS

zone name BLADE_SERVERS_TO_STORAGE vsan 10
    member fcalias SAN_A_CONTROLLER_1
    member fcalias SAN_A_CONTROLLER_2
    member fcalias SAN_B_CONTROLLER_1
    member fcalias SAN_B_CONTROLLER_2
    member fcalias DMZ_SERVERS

MDS_2

fcalias name STORAGE_A vsan 20
    member pwwn 50:0a:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 50:0a:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 50:0a:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 50:0a:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

fcalias name STORAGE_B vsan 20
    member pwwn 50:0b:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 50:0b:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 50:0b:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 50:0b:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    
fcalias name BLADE_SERVERS vsan 20
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

fcalias name DMZ_SERVERS vsan 20
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    member pwwn 20:00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

zone name BLADE_SERVERS_TO_STORAGE vsan 20
    member fcalias SAN_A_CONTROLLER_1
    member fcalias SAN_A_CONTROLLER_2
    member fcalias SAN_B_CONTROLLER_1
    member fcalias SAN_B_CONTROLLER_2
    member fcalias BLADE_SERVERS

zone name DMZ_SERVERS_TO_STORAGE vsan 20
    member fcalias SAN_A_CONTROLLER_1
    member fcalias SAN_A_CONTROLLER_2
    member fcalias SAN_B_CONTROLLER_1
    member fcalias SAN_B_CONTROLLER_2
    member fcalias DMZ_SERVERS

[Walter Dey]

I would use device alias, not fcalias, see eg

https://supportforums.cisco.com/discussion/10643056/device-alias-vs-fcalias

https://supportforums.cisco.com/discussion/10425736/what-difference-between-fcalias-device-alias

https://supportforums.cisco.com/discussion/11195066/fcalias-or-device-alias

https://supportforums.cisco.com/discussion/12006781/removing-fcalias-and-replacing-it-device-alias-disruptive

and then just do single initiator - single target zones

[WhiskeyHughes]

Wdey, 

The Device Alias makes a ton of sense, I will definitely be configuring that over Fcalias. The question that I still have, is why would I use single initiator - single target zones? Do you mean that each of my HBA ports would have multiple zones? (EX. Zone 1 Host A -> Controller A, Zone 2 Host A --> Controller B, etc)

Thanks again for the help!

[Walter Dey · Accepted solution]

Hi

My experience: most (all) storage vendors (EMC, Netapp, IBM,....) ask /recommend single initiator - single target zoning; this means more work for the admin for sure, as he has to create multiple zones per hba.

Walter.

[WhiskeyHughes]

Walter, 

Thanks for all your help! 

[dynamoxxx]

enable smartzoning on your VSAN and zone multiple targets and /or multiple initiators if you like. We cut down our zone numbers 3 fold by switching to smartzoning.

[WhiskeyHughes]

Dynamoxx, 

That sounds awesome! I will definitely look into that. I still have one more question. In my current set up, would there be any reason to connect the switches together? 

[Walter Dey]

FC networking network design always mandates a separate fabric A and B; in your case, the fabric just consists of one switch. No link between the 2 switches !