Compaq Parallel Database Cluster Model PDC/O2000 for Oracle8i and Windows 2000 Administrator Guide

Cluster Architecture 2-17
Table 2-2 identifies the features of the active/standby and active/active
configurations for redundant Fibre Channel Fabrics.
Table 2-2
Features of Active/Standby and Active/Active Configurations for Redundant Fibre
Channel Fabrics
I/O Path Configuration Advantage Disadvantage
Active/standby with one
RA4000/RA4100 Array
Active/standby is the only I/O
path configuration you can use
in a redundant Fibre Channel
Fabric that contains just one
RA4000/RA4100 Array.
Active/standby with two or more
RA4000/RA4100 Arrays
Provides true cabling symmetry
between the Fibre Channel SAN
Switches and array controllers.
A Fibre Channel SAN Switch
connects to the same array
controller slot (top or bottom) in
every RA4000/RA4100 Array.
Load balancing between the two
Fibre Channel SAN Switches is
less than ideal because the
connection to the active array
controller in every
RA4000/RA4100 Array is routed
through the same Fibre Channel
SAN Switch. The second Fibre
Channel SAN Switch provides no
active I/O pathway unless an
active array controller or its
cable connection to the first
Fibre Channel SAN Switch fails.
continued