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The
SureStore Fibre Channel Bridge assists the logical migration
from existing fixed or server attached legacy storage systems
to a centralised storage environment. In a Storage Area
Network, the centralisation of data into a single logical
data farm - where data storage devices are logically located
- can be used to introduce a single physical location with
multiple access points, or form a physical distribution
of the storage devices themselves. It is important to note
- and understand - the difference between a logical and
physical data location.
In a logical location, the data appears in a consistent
place to the user - we are used to this concept in conventional
server systems operating under a standard NOS (network operating
system). Volumes are made available to users through simple
access points, with security and authorisation carried out
by the NOS and authentication servers. The physical location
of the device where the volume is stored is of no consequence
or interest to the user.
The
HP SureStore E Bridge FC 4/1 HV and 2/1 LV make it possible
to share HP SureStore E Tape Libraries among multiple servers
in a heterogeneous environment. These bridges take up only
one EIA rack space and have increased memory for faster
data transfers between Fibre Channel Storage Area Networks
(FC SANs)and SCSI devices. These bridges have a single Gigabit
Fibre Channel port to connect point-to-point, arbitrated
loop or switched fabric topologies.
The
HP SureStore E Bridge FC 4/1 HV bridges one fibre-port to
four HVD SCSI ports and includes all of the accessories
necessary to plug and play fibre with up to four DLT8000
drives or three HP 9840 drives in the HP SureStore E 10/180
or 20/700 tape libraries. The HP SureStore E Bridge FC 2/1
LV has one fibre-port to two LVD SCSI ports and includes
all of the accessories necessary to plug and play fibre
with up to two HP Ultrium drives in the HP SureStore E 10/180
or 20/700 tape libraries.
The
user simply accesses the required volume through its logical
location. This logical location may be apparent to the user
by simple methods such a drive number such as 'H:\'
in an NT environment, a volume name that appears in the
directory listings such as 'accounts' in systems
such as NetWare, or NFS volumes in UNIX based environments,
etc, etc.
In other words data may be mounted manually or automatically,
as local, network, or remote volumes, by path names, letters,
or volume names, and in as many different ways as administrators
have imagination.
One thing in all this remains constant though: the physical
location of the data storage devices. All are universally
attached directly to a server that acts as a host for the
data storage sub-system.
The concept of a SAN is to simply take the idea of a logical
location that is always constant and unchanging, and apply
it to the physical location and connection. By applying
the same technique to data devices, all data storage becomes
one large independent data farm with everyone having equal
physical access to the data that resides on it. Note that
physical access is distinct to logical access. Authentication
and authorisation requirments are not affected.
The Hewlett-Packard SureStore Bridge is a means of beginning
your migration into this data storage world of the future.
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