Volume-Level Data Protection; Volume Access; Systems Running Managers; Network Bonding - HP StoreVirtual 4000 User Manual

Volume-level data protection

Use a data protection level greater than Network RAID-0 to ensure optimum data availability if a
storage system fails. For information about data protection, see
(page 142).

Volume access

Use iSCSI load balancing to ensure better performance and better utilization of cluster resources.
For more information about iSCSI load balancing, see

Systems running managers

Use the recommended number and type of managers to ensure optimum availability of your
management group and volumes. Configurations with 3 or 5 managers are recommended for most
single site installations. Three or five storage systems running managers is optimum. For fewer
storage systems, use a Failover Manager as the third manager if possible. The Virtual Manager is
also available for specific configurations. For a detailed discussion of managers and quorum, see
"Managers and quorum" (page
NOTE: This Best Practice appears in the Best Practice Summary for releases 9.5 and earlier.
Beginning with release 10.0, managers and quorum configuration issues are tracked using alarms
and events notifications.

Network bonding

Bonding the available NIC cards in each storage system improves SAN performance and reliability.
In most instances, Adaptive Load Balancing is the recommended bond. See
(page 52).

Network bond consistency

To ensure consistent failover characteristics and traffic distribution, use the same network bond
type in all the storage systems in a cluster. Inconsistent network bonds in storage systems in the
same cluster may cause inconsistent traffic across NICs, and unexpected failover behavior depending
on which system in the cluster fails. For more information, see
bonds" (page

Network flow control consistency

Set the network flow control settings the same on every storage system in the cluster. Inconsistent
network flow control settings in storage systems in the same cluster may impact the connectivity
between the systems. For more information, see

Network frame size consistency

Network frame size affects management data traffic and replication. Use the same network frame
size in all storage systems in a cluster to ensure consistent data traffic and replication. Inconsistent
network frame size may impact data traffic and replication in the cluster. For more information,
see "Changing NIC frame size" (page

Management group maintenance tasks

When you have an established management group, you may need to perform maintenance activities
on the group.

Logging in to a management group

You must log in to a management group to administer the functions of that group.
119).
51).
"iSCSI load balancing" (page
"Changing NIC flow control" (page
48).
Management group maintenance tasks
"Planning data protection"
"Best practices"
"Configuring network interface
233).
49).
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