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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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