Tag: Visio by DPTPB

Visio by DPTPB: NetApp AFF A700s

Feb 10, 2017 update notes for Visio by DPTPB stencil collection, part 1

This is became quite lengthy post or in fact series of posts due to new NetApp AFF A700s platform, which is very different “beast” than any other NetApp AFF / FAS platform:

  • First platform with internal disks which is not sharing chassis with existing disk shelf
  • Only 40GbE & 32G Fiber Channel ports and adapters
  • 10GbE connectivity is only available with 40GbE to 4x10GbE breakout cables.

This in turn required additional new shapes for 40GbE / 32G FC switches (part 2) and 40GbE to 4x10GbE breakout cables (part 3). Sample drawings for NetApp AFF A700s are available in the last post of this series, (part4).

Continue reading “Visio by DPTPB: NetApp AFF A700s” →

Visio by DPTPB: NetApp DS460C + Quad Path SAS cabling + AFF A200 shapes

Feb 2, 2017 update notes for Visio by DBTPB Stencil collection

NetApp DS460C front shapes and DS460 SAS stack shapes

NetApp released a new dense disk shelf a while ago, DS460C, following the same naming convention as previous shelves, this shelf can accommodate up to 60 (LFF) disk drives in 4U form factor.

I’ve always thought that “C” in new shelf names stood for “Cluster”, since there is now four SAS ports per shelf IOM module and you could in theory connect four-node cluster into one shelf, but I read somewhere that “C” stands for 12 Gbps SAS speed , ( C = 12 in HEX). Very geeky, made my inner nerd smile:)

Continue reading “Visio by DPTPB: NetApp DS460C + Quad Path SAS cabling + AFF A200 shapes” →

Visio by DPTPB: Not Running Cables in Drawings?

screen-shot-2016-11-16-at-08-27-58

Screenshot: Cabling for NetApp FAS8080EX HA-pair with eight SAS-stacks, multiple links to different networks

As seen in example above running and routing cabling can be quite complex and is definitely the most time-consuming part of drawing process. Additionally in big drawings some areas can get really “busy” with lots of cabling and make the drawing to hard read.

Examples of such busy areas would be switches, like Cluster Interconnect and/or Front-End 10GbE switches. Other example would be High-End Storage controllers with many PCI slots filled with even more ports.

So how about leaving the cables out?

For documentation purposes you could use just port assignment boxes. Fill in correct port information into the boxes, skip cabling all together and you are done.

Or are you?

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Visio by DPTPB: Transitional SAS cables, QSFP to Mini-SAS HD

 

Older generation SAS 6Gbps ports use QSFP form factor connector  while newer generation SAS 12Gbps ports use smaller Mini-SAS HD form factor connector (at least with NetApp gear). These form factors are not compatible, i.e you cannot cable QSFP connector to Mini-SAS HD port or vice-versa.

To make things more confusing, there are also 12Gbps capable ports that are using QSFP form factor connector. In case of NetApp, X2069-R6 adapter is example of such combination.

Continue reading “Visio by DPTPB: Transitional SAS cables, QSFP to Mini-SAS HD” →