MetroCluster configuration for distances up to 30 kilometers

Configuration overview

The cluster configuration for distances between 500 meters and 30 kilometers uses four Brocade switches in a fabric configuration to connect the two cluster nodes.

See the installation and configuration information in the cluster guide for your filers and Mirrored Volume Management Using SyncMirror for detailed information about configuring clusters in a MetroCluster configuration using switches in a fabric configuration and using SyncMirror to mirror volumes, respectively.

Configuration requirements for distances between 500 meters and 30 kilometers

The MetroCluster configuration using switches in a fabric configuration requires the following:

F825, F880, or FAS900 series cluster pair configured for mirrored volume use
All cluster pairs require a QLA2352 VI-MC cluster adapter.
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.
Four Brocade Silkworm 3200 or 3800 switches, or a combination of both, that have the following:
- Firmware version 3.0.2p
  Note
  You can download Brocade switch firmware and obtain details about configuring switches at now.netapp.com.
- Long distance Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) transceivers
  Note
  You can use a combination of two 3200 switches and two 3800 switches; however, the two switches at one site must be the same type. For example, at one site you might use two 3200 switches, and at the other site you might use two 3800 switches.

MetroCluster upgrade from QuickLoop to fabric

If you are upgrading an existing cluster to a MetroCluster configuration, you must upgrade disk firmware to the latest version. After upgrading disk firmware, you must power-cycle the affected disk drives before they work correctly in a MetroCluster fabric configuration. You can download the latest disk firmware from now.netapp.com.

Configuration limitations for distances between 500 meters and 30 kilometers

The MetroCluster configurations have the following limitations:

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) can be connected to either of the filers in a MetroCluster configuration, but the tape SAN must not use the switches used in the MetroCluster configuration.