Implementing HP Virtual Connect Direct-Attach Fibre Channel with HP 3PAR StoreServ Systems

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HP Virtual Connect Direct-Attach Fibre Channel
HP Virtual Connect now allows you to eliminate dedicated FC switches entirely by communicating with HP 3PAR
StoreServ systems through direct-attach Fibre Channel. With HP Virtual Connect Direct-Attach Fibre Channel for HP
3PAR StoreServ systems, you can build a storage solution with just a pair of VC FlexFabric modulesand the HP 3PAR
StoreServ storage system. A direct-attach configuration offers the following key benefits:
 Does not require additional port licenses
 Uses the same Fibre Channel protocol as a fabric-attach system
 Runs lightweight Fibre Channel SAN services (name server, zoning) with the uplink ports set as F-Ports.
Supported transceivers are the same for both fabric-attach and direct-attach. The latest direct-attach support
information is listed in the VC connectivity matrix at the HP Single Point Of Connectivity Knowledge (SPOCK) website at
www.hp.com/storage/spock.
Figure 3 shows a typical HP 3PAR Storage system with direct-attach FC connections to a server with VC FlexFabric
modules.The direct-attach solution brings the FC SAN fabric inside the server blade enclosure for efficient fabric
manageability.
Figure 3: Direct-attach FC for HP 3PAR StoreServ storage creates an efficient storage solution.
Required components
You will need the following components to implement the Virtual Connect direct-attach Fibre Channel solution:
 HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosure with either of the following HP ProLiant Server Blades series:
– Select HP ProLiant G7 Server Blades
– Any HP ProLiant Gen8 Server Blade
HP 3PAR StoreServ
storage system
NOTES:
vN-port: virtual Node port on a server HBA that connects to the fabric.
vF-port: virtual Fabric port on a FC switch that connects to a vN-Port.
c-Class enclosure