Connecting disk shelves to a storage appliance

1 copper adapter

A single loop is the supported configuration for an unclustered storage appliance. LRC B must be terminated.

Unsupported

2 copper adapters

A dual loop is a supported configuration for an unclustered storage appliance. LRCs B must be terminated.

A dual loop is the preferred configuration for an unclustered storage appliance because it provides for load balancing on the shelf.

Unsupported

4 copper adapters

For a clustered or mirrored storage appliance, a dual loop is the supported configuration. Mirroring requires Data ONTAP^TM 6.1 software or later.

Unsupported

1 dual optical adapter

A single loop is the supported configuration for an unclustered storage appliance.

2 to 4 dual optical adapters

A multiple loop is the supported configuration for a clustered or mirrored storage appliance.

LRC

• Can only connect to another LRC.
• Uses HSSDC to DB-9 cables when connecting to copper FC-AL adapters and SC-to-LC cables when connecting to optical FC-AL adapters.
• Uses DB-9 to DB-9 cables for connections between disk shelves.

ESH

• Uses LC to LC cables when connecting to optical FC-AL adapters.

  Note
  Connecting to copper adapters is not supported.

• Can only connect to another ESH or ESH2.
• Uses HSSDC2-to-HSSDC2 cables for connections between disk shelves with ESH.
• Uses HSSDC2-to-SFP cables for connections between a disk shelf with ESH and a disk shelf with ESH2.

ESH2

• Requires an optical SFP in the input port and an LC to LC cable when connecting to optical FC-AL adapters.

  Note
  Connecting to copper adapters is not supported.

• Can only connect to another ESH or ESH2.
• Uses SFP-to-SFP cables for connections between disk shelves with ESH2.
• Uses HSSDC2-to-SFP cables for connections between a disk shelf with ESH2 and a disk shelf with ESH.