10.5 HP StoreVirtual Storage User Guide (AX696-96269, March 2013)

4 Managing the network
Correctly setting up the network for HP StoreVirtual Storage ensures data availability and reliability.
IMPORTANT: The network settings must be the same for the switches, clients, and storage systems.
Set up the end-to-end network before creating storage volumes.
Network best practices
• Isolate the SAN, including CMC traffic, on a separate network. If the SAN must run on a
public network, use a VPN to secure data and CMC traffic.
• Configure all the network characteristics on a storage system before creating a management
group, or before adding the storage system to a management group and cluster.
• Use static IP addresses, or reserved addresses if using DHCP.
• Have flow control enabled.
• Configure storage system settings for speed and duplex, frame size, and flow control BEFORE
bonding NICs and before putting the storage system into a management group and cluster.
• If adding a second IP address to a storage system, the second IP address must be on a separate
subnet. If the two IP addresses are on the same subnet, they must be bonded.
Split network configurations
Implement a split network configuration to use the CMC on a management network separate from
the storage network. HP recommends that you only configure a management network when the
storage systems are equipped with a sufficient number of network adapters so that the storage
systems can support both bonded NICs for optimal redundancy and performance on the storage
network, along with a separate management interface. Keep in mind the following requirements
when considering the creation of a management network.
• Configure a management network only if your storage systems have more than two NICs.
Two NICs are the minimum number required to create a bonded interface for the storage
network to provide maximum redundancy and performance.
• Use only available HP StoreVirtual upgrade kits to alter the hardware configuration of an HP
StoreVirtual Storage system. Alterations using any other hardware are not supported.
• Be aware that the CMC can manage storage systems via a routed network or by installation
of a second NIC on the storage network on the CMC host. This is the most common method
for CMC management.
• When configuring a management interface on an HP StoreVirtual Storage system, make sure
that interface is on a separate network. Also make sure there is not a route between the
management and data networks. Configuring two separate interfaces on the same IP network
is not supported and will result in communication problems in the cluster.
• When configuring a management interface on an HP StoreVirtual Storage system, be aware
that only one interface can be configured with a default gateway, and that interface should
be the management interface. Configuring two default gateways will result in communication
problems in the cluster.
• When configuring a management interface on an HP StoreVirtual Storage system, you must
designate the storage interface as the LeftHand OS interface for that storage system in the
CMC. This is done on the Communications tab in the Network configuration category for that
storage system.
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