HP StorageWorks HP-UX Kit V3.0B for Enterprise Virtual Array Installation and Configuration Guide (AA-RUHKB-TE, October 2003)

Understanding the Enterprise Virtual Array
15HP-UX Kit V3.0B for Enterprise Virtual Array Installation and Configuration Guide
About the Enterprise Virtual Array
Storage system level virtualization is a concept in the storage industry that allows
you to focus on higher-level concerns regarding your specific storage needs.
With the Enterprise Virtual Array, you no longer need to manually present storage
pools to the host servers. That is, you do not choose specific disks and sets of
disks to create levels of redundancy. No decisions need to be made as to which
physical disks are involved in each storage unit. When you create virtual disks, the
entire set of disks in the cabinet are used for load balancing and sparing, which
sets aside extra disk space for failure protection. The Enterprise Virtual Array
improves performance because the data is written across many disks and not
directed toward a single or specific set of disks.
Setup and management of virtualization is achieved with software and hardware
resources. You have greater freedom and control with the following benefits:
■ Faster performance with improved system response time
■ All SAN and storage management done from a Web browser
■ Simplified load balanced storage
■ Simplified decisions about physical disk setup and partitioning
■ Increased bandwidth—use of striping algorithms across many disks accessed
with multiple spindles
■ Simplified high-availability storage techniques
■ Recovery from disk failures includes automatic load balancing
EVA3000 versus EVA5000
There are two Enterprise Virtual Array storage system models: EVA3000 and
EVA5000. EVA3000 is an entry-level model that supports up to 56 disks in four
enclosures and has one back-end Fibre Channel loop. The EVA5000 has two
back-end Fibre Channel loops and supports up to 252 disks in 18 enclosures. The
EVA5000 uses fiber optic FC cables on the back-end; EVA3000 uses copper FC
cables. EVA3000 runs on HSV100 controllers while EVA5000 runs on HSV110
controllers.
HP StorageWorks Kits V3.0B for Enterprise Virtual Array include support for
both EVA3000 and EVA5000.