Communicator e3000 MPE/iX Release 6.0 Express 1 (C.60.01) (30216-90286)

60 Chapter3

Technical Articles

HP SureStore E Disk Array MC256

by Rich Bassett--CSY Lab

Alex Early--CSY Product Marketing

The Hewlett-Packard SureStore E Disk Array MC256 provides high-capacity, high-speed

mass storage, with continuous data availability, ease of service, scalability, and

connectivity. The disk array can be connected to multiple server systems. The HP 3000

supports the MC256 through Fast-wide SCSI connections. The disk array can have up to

32 SCSI ports. It can be directly connected to the HP 3000 or connected via the SCSI-Fibre

Channel Router for distances up to 10km.

The disk array is the ﬁrst RAID disk array to truly provide continuous data availability. It

is designed for nonstop operation and continuous access to all user data. The disk array

has no active single point of component failure. It is not expected to fail in anyway that

would interrupt user access to data. The MC256 is easily conﬁgured on the HP 3000.

Announcing Support of the HP SureStore E Disk Array MC256

The following is a summary of site, software and hardware requirements for support of the

HP SureStore E Disk Array MC256. Device installation and support is to be provided by

HP. For detail information on the support and conﬁguration of MC256, refer customers to

the Operating System Conﬁguration Guide (A5701-90910). Support of MC256 product will

have the following general restrictions:

• Support will only be allowed on a dedicated SCSI bus, with no other types of devices

(homogeneous bus environment).

• Daisy-chaining of two or more MC256 units are not supported.

• Maximum of 15 LDEVs per SCSI bus (Maximum of 8 LDEVs for performance)

NOTE

Having 9 or more LDEVs conﬁgured will cause performance degeneration

under high I/O loads.

• No support for shared SCSI busses.

• F/W SCSI Device Adapter Card (28696A, known as “Wizard”) ﬁrmware MUST be at

level 3728 or greater.

• 9x9 Core I/O card (A2372-60004 or A3453-60010, known as “Mustang”) will be

conditionally supported with the following restrictions:

— Must disconnect all internal F/W SCSI drives.

— Must have ﬁrmware level of 3636.

— Up to 8 LDEVs will be supported (Tested limit).

• LDEV 1 boot will have the following conditions:

— ONLINE HOT replacement of FRUs is supported with the exception of microcode

downloading, online memory replacements, disk adapter replacements.