HP StorageWorks Scalable File Share System Installation and Upgrade Guide Version 2.2

Overview1–16
• A client node connects to the HP SFS system using one and only one of the available protocols (that
is, there is no capability to fall back to a Gigabit Ethernet interconnect from a fast interconnect and
continue operation without interruption). However, a client node can unmount a file system and then
remount it using a different protocol.
• Client nodes cannot mount the same file system more than once at any one time using different
protocols.
• Client nodes can mount different file systems from the same HP SFS system using different protocols.
Figure 1-12 shows server and client node connections to the interconnect.
Figure 1-12 Server and client connections to the interconnect
All file data transfer and interaction with Object Storage Servers and the MDS server takes place using the
chosen interconnect, with the following two exceptions:
• Depending on how the file system is mounted, client nodes may also require a Gigabit Ethernet
connection to the administration server (and MDS server). This Gigabit Ethernet connection is
required only at the time that the file system is mounted using the sfsmount command with the
http: or ldap: protocols. The sfsmount command service relies on a TCP/IP connection to
deliver HTTP or LDAP connectivity to client nodes so that they can access the file system configuration
information as they start to mount the file system.
If a client node uses the zeroconf mount method, a TCP/IP connection is not required. Refer to
Chapter 4 of the HP StorageWorks Scalable File Share Client Installation and User Guide for a
description of the mount methods (including an explanation of which methods are preferred) and how
to configure them on the client nodes.
• Where a Voltaire InfiniBand interconnect is used, you must configure each server with an IP address
on the InfiniBand interconnect. The connection establishment protocol uses this address to connect the
client node to the HP SFS system.
1.5.1 Interconnect configurations
Network configurations using Myrinet and Quadrics interconnects are relatively simple: all client nodes on
the interconnect can connect to all nodes of the HP SFS server and to each other. Where a Myrinet or
Quadrics interconnect is used, there may also be client nodes that can connect to the HP SFS system using
a Gigabit Ethernet interconnect; these client nodes can connect to all of the servers in the HP SFS system,
but cannot connect to the client nodes using the fast interconnect.
Configurations using dual or bonded Gigabit Ethernet interconnects, or Voltaire InfiniBand interconnects,
are permitted to be more complex—more information is provided in Section 1.5.1.1 and Section 1.5.1.2.
LNET Network e InfiniBand(.g. )
Admin
MDS
OSS OSSn
Client Client Client Client
Gigabit Ethernet (for mount, optional)
Legend
Admin: Administration Server
MDS: Meta-data Server
OSS: Object Storage Server