Technical information

June 2012 Dell EqualLogic Configuration Guide v13.2 42
Figure 15 Using a LAG to Interconnect Switch Stacks
4.3.2 Sizing Inter-Switch Connections
Use the guidelines in Table 17 as a starting point for estimating Inter-switch connection sizes.
Table 17 Switch Interconnect Design Guidelines
Connection Speeds Interconnection Guidelines
1GbE switches attached to
1GbE array controllers
1-5 arrays: 1Gb of IST bandwidth per active array
controller port (up to the aggregated
maximum bandwidth of the IST.
6+ arrays: Use 1-5 array rule, then add 1Gb of additional
bandwidth for each array added
10GbE switches attached to
10GbE array controllers
PS6010/PS6510 or PS4110/6110 (Random Small Block
Workloads):
1-5 arrays: 20 – 30Gb of IST bandwidth between each
switch
6+ arrays: At least 6Gb of IST bandwidth per array
between each switch
PS4110/PS6110 (Large Block Sequential Workloads):
1-5 arrays: 10Gb of bandwidth per active array
controller port (up to the aggregated
maximum bandwidth of the IST).
6+ arrays: Use 1-5 array rule, then add 10Gb of
additional bandwidth for each array
added
1GbE switches connecting to
10GbE switches in a mixed speed SAN
Actual requirements will vary. For more details see Section
4.6,
Integrating 1GbE and 10GbE SANs
4.3.3 Comparing Inter-Switch Connection Types
Table 18 provides details and recommendations for selecting interconnect options.