[luau] Linux Fibre Channel Server?

[Brian Chee]

ok....basically the gist as I understand is that an FC array once configured
with the HBA utilities looks like a SCSI drive....VERY similar to a SCSI
RAID array. The key is the HBA utilities that it lets you carve up the array
into LUNs (logical units) that then can be assigned to drive pointers or
multiple hosts over an FC network...but FC switches cost a kings ransom and
you really don't want to use a hub for anything other than a single system.
FC comes both copper and fiber with the copper using a DB-9 varient that is
WELL shielded.

Now if you want to export arrays, take a look at the iscsi stuff....very
cool and it doesn't matter what kind of drives you use....the
Networld+Interop iLabs guys did a raid5 array of thumb drives exported via
iscsi over 802.11a to a win2k laptop that mounted them as dynamic drives....

Since you didn't include which HBA you're trying to use, nor the drive array
type, nor the type of FC hub/switch...I just picked an HBA at random and
assume you're using a reasonable array. I attached the readme file from a
qlogic (my only experience driving an install alone) HBA. Such readme's are
typically found with the card and are VERY specific to the HBA, since there
is quite a bit more to an FC array than just the driver. You MUST have
access to some sort of utility that can setup the FC array, or you're going
nowhere. Opensource hasn't quite caught up on FC yet, and this is why I've
stuck to qlogic so far...it's also why I'm leaning away from FC and more
towards SATA.

/brian chee


University of Hawaii ICS Dept
Advanced Network Computing Lab
1680 East West Road, POST rm 311
Honolulu, HI  96822
808-956-5797 voice, 877-284-1934 fax

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dustin Cross" <dusty at sandust.com>
To: <luau at videl.ics.hawaii.edu>
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 2:23 PM
Subject: Re: [luau] Linux Fibre Channel Server?


> Brian,
>
> I understand how Fibre Channel works and the cost involved with buying the
> HBAs and switch.  What I am trying to get information on is can I use my
> existing Linux file server, put a Fibre Channel HBA in it and share disks
> out to other systems on the Fibre Channel SAN?
>
> It sounds like this Mayastor software
> (http://www.pavitrasoft.com/mayastor/) does exactly what I am looking for.
>
> I don't want to invest thousands of dollars in something like an Apple
> Xraid if I can accomplish the same thing with my existing Linux File
> Server.
>
>
> Mahalo,
> Dusty
>
>
> >
> > Hi Dusty,
> >
> > I have setup many systems with FiberChannel and GigE networks (mainly
> > FreeBSD).
> > There is really not much to it other than installing the Fiber/GigE NIC
in
> > your server. Before you buy
> > a NIC it would be a good idea to make sure the drivers for the NIC exist
> > for
> > Linux. I don't know what type of file server software you are using but
> > installing FiberChannel NIC may or may not help you. If all the hosts on
> > your network are connected via 100Mbps connections to the file server
and
> > the current NIC on your file server isn't maxing out on throughput at
any
> > given time, then you will not notice much of a performance difference.
> > Fiber
> > Channel can also be expensive, remember you will need a FiberChannel
> > switch
> > too. I have no idea what type of data you share over your network, but
if
> > it
> > isn't extremely brandwidth intensive you may want to look at a GigE
> > (10/100/1000 Mbps) solution instead. This route may save you quite a bit
> > of
> > cash.
> >
> > --Brian
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Dustin Cross" <dusty at sandust.com>
> > To: <luau at videl.ics.hawaii.edu>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 12:55 PM
> > Subject: [luau] Linux Fibre Channel Server?
> >
> >
> >> Aloha,
> >>
> >> I am trying to find out if it is possible to put a Fibre Channel card
in
> >> my Linux File Server and start sharing disk space over 2Gb fibre
> >> Channel.
> >> Does anyone have any knowledge of doing this?
> >>
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Dusty
> >>
> >>
> >>
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> >>
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>
>
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