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#1
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SAN devices & OS compatibility
Hello.
I'm wondering if someone could explain to me why a particular SAN storage solution, like say a Sun Storedge 6920, wouldn't work with a Novell file server, assuming that all the hardware is compatible. It seems that all of the SAN stuff should be hidden from the operating system. As long as my hardware lines up, and I have a driver for my HBA, isn't the 6920 just offering to the operating system a LUN representing unformatted disk space? I don't get why the 6920 would have to 'certified' to work with Netware. Thanks. Steve Adams |
#2
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SAN devices & OS compatibility
On 28 Feb 2007 16:46:20 -0800, "Steve Adams"
wrote: Hello. I'm wondering if someone could explain to me why a particular SAN storage solution, like say a Sun Storedge 6920, wouldn't work with a Novell file server, assuming that all the hardware is compatible. It seems that all of the SAN stuff should be hidden from the operating system. As long as my hardware lines up, and I have a driver for my HBA, isn't the 6920 just offering to the operating system a LUN representing unformatted disk space? I don't get why the 6920 would have to 'certified' to work with Netware. Thanks. Steve Adams I can;t recall what the official term for it is but I believe it has to do with low level SCSI reservations for things like failover. For arrays like STK, you have to specify what type of OS you are using on specific ports. For the HDS they do port virtualization so you can run any OS on any port and still get those low level functions. If the array has not been tested with Netware it may still work but if you try and use the cool clustering feature I bet it will barf. ~F |
#3
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SAN devices & OS compatibility
So the HBA and the driver are approved for the OS and by the storage
vendor? On Feb 28, 7:46 pm, "Steve Adams" wrote: Hello. I'm wondering if someone could explain to me why a particular SAN storage solution, like say a Sun Storedge 6920, wouldn't work with a Novell file server, assuming that all the hardware is compatible. It seems that all of the SAN stuff should be hidden from the operating system. As long as my hardware lines up, and I have a driver for my HBA, isn't the 6920 just offering to the operating system a LUN representing unformatted disk space? I don't get why the 6920 would have to 'certified' to work with Netware. Thanks. Steve Adams |
#4
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SAN devices & OS compatibility
On Mar 1, 5:16 am, "Gunhaver05" wrote:
So the HBA and the driver are approved for the OS and by the storage vendor? The HBA is approved. It's a QLogic board. The Netware driver for the HBA is also from QLogic, though I don't think it's certified by Sun. Sun hasn't certified Netware, so I don't imagine they certify the HBA driver for that OS. On Feb 28, 7:46 pm, "Steve Adams" wrote: Hello. I'm wondering if someone could explain to me why a particular SAN storage solution, like say a Sun Storedge 6920, wouldn't work with a Novell file server, assuming that all the hardware is compatible. It seems that all of the SAN stuff should be hidden from the operating system. As long as my hardware lines up, and I have a driver for my HBA, isn't the 6920 just offering to the operating system a LUN representing unformatted disk space? I don't get why the 6920 would have to 'certified' to work with Netware. Thanks. Steve Adams |
#5
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SAN devices & OS compatibility
Hello!
Steve Adams wrote: On Mar 1, 5:16 am, "Gunhaver05" wrote: So the HBA and the driver are approved for the OS and by the storage vendor? The HBA is approved. It's a QLogic board. The Netware driver for the HBA is also from QLogic, though I don't think it's certified by Sun. Sun hasn't certified Netware, so I don't imagine they certify the HBA driver for that OS. You may also need multipath SW and (sometimes) management agent. You can do it without them, but management si much easier and multipathing can be a big issue (I don't know how Netware handles it). On the other hand, if they say "it is not supported" it does not directly says "it is not working". Best regards, Iggy |
#6
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SAN devices & OS compatibility
Steve Adams wrote:
Hello. I'm wondering if someone could explain to me why a particular SAN storage solution, like say a Sun Storedge 6920, wouldn't work with a Novell file server, assuming that all the hardware is compatible. Has anyone said it won't work or just that they don't know that it will work? It seems that all of the SAN stuff should be hidden from the operating system. As long as my hardware lines up, and I have a driver for my HBA, isn't the 6920 just offering to the operating system a LUN representing unformatted disk space? I don't get why the 6920 would have to 'certified' to work with Netware. It more likely needs to be certified if you want it to be supported. It may well work fine but that does not mean Sun know enough about Netware to be able to offer you support. Guy -- -------------------------------------------------------------------- Guy Dawson I.T. Manager Crossflight Ltd |
#7
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SAN devices & OS compatibility
Steve Adams wrote:
Hello. I'm wondering if someone could explain to me why a particular SAN storage solution, like say a Sun Storedge 6920, wouldn't work with a Novell file server, assuming that all the hardware is compatible. Depends what you call compatible. Fibrechannel SAN storage has at least two distinct layers. The first one is the fibrechannel network layer itself, the second one is the SCSI layer on top of that. Even if you have the latest drivers and the latest firmware for your HBA in your system, that doesn't mean it is compatible with just any kind of SAN storage. You may try it, and the storage may seem to work correctly. However you can't tell if it will work correctly in any given situation. For instance when you look at all the different settings that are possible on a EMC DMX in order to make it compatible for the different types of O.S., then that may give you a clue that things are not so simple. In fact many system manufacturers have their own firmware for standard SCSI drives. One and the same Seagate SCSI drive will have different firmware when used in a SUN Solaris environment or when it is used in a HP environment. Depending on the manufacturer there may be regular firmware updates for these drives. So if even a normal SCSI drives isn't "standard" enough to be used in any system, then you will understand that SAN storage isn't "standard" enough either. These certifications are by no means just a paper thing. Some storage manufacturers (HDS for instance) are very strict on the precise driver that is used in conjunction with their storage. Your driver is a couple of versions too new? No support! It seems that all of the SAN stuff should be hidden from the operating system. As long as my hardware lines up, and I have a driver for my HBA, isn't the 6920 just offering to the operating system a LUN representing unformatted disk space? I don't get why the 6920 would have to 'certified' to work with Netware. Thanks. Steve Adams |
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