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HP OpenVMS Systemsask the wizard |
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The Question is: Hello, My name is Nir Levy, I live in Israel and I'm an OpenVMS system manager. I would like to ask you why does OpenVMS 7.2-1, and I heard the even future versions, do not supprot HUBS for implementing a fibre channel net? Only SWITCHES is currently supported. Switches are very expensinve and I have many HUBS from my NT network why can't I use them ? Thank You The Answer is : While it appeared possible to extend OpenVMS to provide a functioning, robust, multi-host Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) hub-based configuration, several issues around the technical feasibility arose given the (lack of) maturity of the FC hub components initially available. Accordingly, a decision was made to concentrate the OpenVMS Fibre Channel (FC) environment around a switch-based Fabric architecture. This decision was made in conjunction with a similar decision made within the Compaq Tru64 UNIX engineering team. During the two years since that decision, there have been various improvements in FC-AL capabilities. However, even with these changes, the limit of a two-host environment for shared storage still exists. For customers that currently require these smaller StorageWorks configurations, multi-host UltraSCSI (and HSZ-series controllers, as required) appear to be the StorageWorks technology that will be more desirable (and more economical) for (most) smaller OpenVMS cluster configurations -- and the same StorageWorks components used for the UltraSCSI storage can typically be (re)used, should future migration to FC StorageWorks solutions become interesting. The OpenVMS Wizard expects OpenVMS Engineering will continue to revisit the feasibility of the extension of support to smaller FC-AL configurations, particularly as the maturity of the FC-AL and Hub technology continues and as the expected improvements within FC-based storage occur.
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