Specifications

DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES

SAN Design and Best Practices 29 of 84

fig20_SAN_Design

Edge fabric

Core-edge

backbone A

Core-edge

backbone B

Edge fabric

Figure 19. Example of an edge-core-edge backbone in a redundant routed fabric topology.

Backbone Considerations

There are many factors to consider when designing backbone fabrics. As mentioned above, the general SAN

topology recommendations are applicable to backbone fabrics. There should be redundant fabrics, switches,

and paths between the end-points (source and destination). Consider the following factors when identifying the

best switch platforms and backbone topology, including switch interconnections:

•The number of edge fabrics impacts the backbone topology, as well as the manner in which edge fabrics are

attached to the backbone. Brocade 8- and 16 Gbps platforms can support FCR functionality on all standard

FC ports, and they provide a much more exible solution when compared to legacy FCR platforms.

•Composition of edge fabrics:

– Legacy switches: The presence of legacy Brocade switches anywhere in the SAN environment impacts

the features that are supported and, depending on the platform and rmware version, may have other

impacts as well.