Configuring disaster recovery using MetroCluster

MetroCluster configuration for distances up to 10 kilometers

Configuration overview

The cluster configuration for distances between 500 meters and 10 kilometers uses a pair of Brocade 3800 switches to connect the two cluster nodes.

See the installation and configuration information in Appendix A and the Data Protection Guide for detailed information about configuring clusters in a MetroCluster configuration and using SyncMirror to mirror volumes, respectively.

The following figure illustrates the cluster configuration.

Configuration requirements for distances between 500 meters and 10 kilometers

The MetroCluster configurations require the following:

F825 or F880 cluster pair configured for mirrored volume use
The following licenses:
- Cluster--Enables the two nodes to communicate and take over each other's functions in the event of a failure.
- Syncmirror_local--Enables mirrored volumes.
- Cluster_remote--Enables mirrored volumes over long distances.
Two Brocade Silkworm 3200 or 3800 switches that have the following:
- Firmware version 3.0.2f or later
- QuickLoop license
- Long distance Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) transceivers
  Note
  You cannot use a 3800 switch and a 3200 switch in the same MetroCluster configuration. That is, both switches you use must be 3800 switches or 3200 switches.

Configuration limitations for distances between 500 meters and 10 kilometers

The MetroCluster configurations have the following limitations:

The maximum total capacity is limited to 8 TB.
The switches used in a MetroCluster configuration cannot be used by Fibre Channel tape devices. Only filers and disk shelves can be connected to the switches in a MetroCluster configuration.
A tape storage area network (SAN) cannot be connected to either of the filers in a MetroCluster configuration.