RAID and Subsystem Architectures
Subsystem Architectures
Disk Subsystems
Shelf No4 : 16x SATA disks
FC or iSCSI can be
?
used to connect the
SAN
storage array to the
FC
SAN while the internal
FC
connections may be
Typically 4-64
Shelf No1 : 16x FC disks FC, SAS or SATA.
FC or iSCSI
interfaces to
FC
the SAN
The internal
Shelf No2 : 16x FC disks
architecture is
(some have transparent to the SAN.
200+ ports)
Shelf No3 : 16x FC disks
A collection of disks with a controller that provides mirroring or striping
functionality.
A Disk Subsystem typically isolates the internal architecture from the outside
connectivity.
For open systems connectivity the host ports will support either Fibre Channel
or iSCSI, but the subsystem can also support mainframe connectivity via
ESCON or FICON.
The host will see its storage presented as a Logical Unit and the physical data
layout will be hidden inside the subsystem.