10GB SAN with 1GB switch?

Question

Hi there,

I've been asked to install the below :-

EQL Ps4210x
2x Dell r430 (with 1GB NICs)
2x N2024 switches (iscsi)

My concern is that we would be using a 10GB SAN with a 1GB switch (and 1GB NICs on the server).

My colleague said the Equallogic can connect to the 10GB uplink ports on the switch but the servers will only be able to connect to the server at 1GB,

I'd be interested to hear if this is considered good practise - I don't like the sound of it!

-Huw

Origin3k · Accepted Answer

The PS4210 have 2x SFP+, 2x 10G BaseT and one single MGMT Port. The BaseT are downwards compatible to 1G. So your PS would be connectet by 2x BaseT per Controller where one controller is active and the 2nd. is on standy. So you may able to see 200mb/s depeding of how good MPIO will works.

Thats not a problem because the current PS line doesnt contains specific 1G models any more like in good old day with the PS6010<->6000, 6110<->6100. So you doesnt have to made a decision when you buy the unit. You get both option in one box and can change it when ever you like.

Regards

Joerg

huwy · Answer

thanks both for your replies. So just to confirm are there 2x copper interfaces on each controller (i.e. 4 in total)?

huwy · Answer

Thanks for coming back Donald.

If we connect the PS4210x to a 1GB port I assume this means that the maximum throughput to the SAN will only be 1GB (as there is only 1 copper interface on the SAN controller).

Therefore the performance of the (10GB) PS4210x will be lower than a 1GB SAN which has 2 copper ports.

Am I correct?

EqualLogic

10GB SAN with 1GB switch?

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