Deployment Guide

SAS protocol
ME4 Series SAS models use 12 Gb/s host interface protocol and qualified cable options for host connection.
12Gb HD mini-SAS host ports
ME4 Series 12 Gb SAS controller enclosures support two controller modules. The 12 Gb/s SAS controller module provides four
SFF-8644 HD mini-SAS host ports. These host ports support data rates up to 12 Gb/s. HD mini-SAS host ports are used for
attachment to SAS hosts directly. The host computer must support SAS and optionally, multipath I/O. Use a qualified cable
option when connecting to a host.
Host connection
ME4 Series controller enclosures support up to eight direct-connect server connections, four per controller module.
Connect appropriate cables from the server HBAs to the controller module host ports as described in the following sections.
16 Gb Fibre Channel host connection
To connect controller modules supporting FC host interface ports to a server HBA or switch, using the controller CNC ports,
select a qualified FC SFP+ transceiver. For information about configuring HBAs, see the Fibre Channel topics under Perform
host setup on page 43.
Use the cabling diagrams to connect the host servers to the switches. See the Dell EMC Storage Support Matrix for supported
Fibre Channel HBAs.
● Install and connect each FC HBA to a switch that is connected to the host ports on the two controllers that are shown in
Connecting hosts: ME4 Series 2U switch-attached – two servers, two switches on page 29 and Connecting hosts: ME4
Series 5U switch-attached – two servers, two switches on page 29.
● In hybrid examples, one server and switch manage FC traffic, and the other server and switch manage iSCSI traffic.
● For FC, each initiator must be zoned with a single host port or multiple host ports only (single initiator, multi-target of the
same kind).
Connecting host servers directly to the storage system is also supported.
Qualified options support cable lengths of 1 m (3.28'), 2 m (6.56'), 5 m (16.40'), 15 m (49.21'), 30 m (98.43'), and 50 m
(164.04') for OM4 multimode optical cables and OM3 multimode FC cables. A 0.5 m (1.64') cable length is also supported for
OM3. In addition to providing host connection, these cables are used for connecting two storage systems through a switch, to
facilitate use of the optional replication feature.
10 GbE iSCSI host connection
To connect controller modules supporting 10 GbE iSCSI host interface ports to a server HBA or switch, using the controller CNC
ports, select a qualified 10 GbE SFP+ transceiver. For information about configuring iSCSI initiators/HBAs, see the iSCSI topics
under Perform host setup on page 43.
Use the cabling diagrams to connect the host servers to the switches.
● Install and connect each Ethernet NIC to a switch that is connected to the host ports on the two controllers that are shown
in Connecting hosts: ME4 Series 2U switch-attached – two servers, two switches on page 29 and Connecting hosts: ME4
Series 5U switch-attached – two servers, two switches on page 29.
● In hybrid examples, one server and switch manage iSCSI traffic, and the other server and switch manage FC traffic.
Connecting host servers directly to the storage system is also supported.
10Gbase-T host connection
To connect controller modules with 10Gbase-T iSCSI host interface ports to a server HBA or switch, select a qualified 10Gbase-
T cable option.
For information about configuring network adapters and iSCSI HBAs, see the iSCSI topics under Perform host setup on page
43. See also, the cabling instructions in 10 GbE iSCSI host connection on page 25.
Cable host servers to the storage system
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