StoreOnce Catalyst over Fibre Channel functions in the same way as StoreOnce Catalyst over Ethernet. However, some StoreOnce Management Console configuration is required to set up the backup and restore connections between the ports on the StoreOnce System and the ports on the MediaAgents.
When using StoreOnce Catalyst over Fibre Channel:
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Backups are supported on StoreOnce Catalyst over a Fibre Channel interface and over Ethernet networks.
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StoreOnce System to StoreOnce System connectivity through optimized StoreOnce Catalyst copy jobs is supported over both Ethernet and Fibre Channel.
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Administrator permissions are required to run StoreOnce Catalyst over Fibre Channel backups on Windows.
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StoreOnce Catalyst over Fibre Channel presents the device type as a Processor. In Windows Device Manager, these devices are shown as Other Devices. After zoning the devices or changing the Number of Devices per Initiator Port, right-click Other Devices and then select Scan for hardware changes to detect the new devices.
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If backups are run using a non-root or non-administrator user, make sure that the correct access permissions are set on the StoreOnce Catalyst over Fibre Channel client device files.
Catalyst over Fibre Channel - Zoning Considerations
Note
Non-optimal Fibre Channel SAN zoning can lead to a lack of Fibre Channel connectivity.
HPE recommends the following:
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StoreOnce FC World Wide Names are found within the Catalyst Settings > Fibre Channel section of the StoreOnce Management Console. Each StoreOnce port presents 1 CoFC WWN.
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Zone every backup/media server with at least 2 Fibre Channel ports and at least 2 StoreOnce node Fibre Channel ports across different Fibre Channel cards. Ideally, they are also zoned across different SANs. Multiple connections allow for higher availability.
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If a connection is broken, StoreOnce Catalyst over Fibre Channel will automatically attempt to connect on a different path without failing the backup. The backup will fail from a lack of connection only if no paths are available from the media/backup server or to the StoreOnce. Zone StoreOnce Catalyst Copy over Fibre Channel source and destination copy devices the same way.
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StoreOnce Catalyst Copy over Fibre Channel is a two-way protocol. Zone the source Initiator WWN with the destination target WWN, and zone the destination Initiator WWN with the source target WWN. The source and destination must be able to communicate with each other over Fibre Channel.
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Use small Fibre Channel zones limiting the number of Fibre Channel ports in each zone.
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StoreOnce Catalyst over Fibre Channel does not use or rely on any external multi-path drivers. Connections are balanced using StoreOnce Catalyst over Fibre Channel internal algorithms. Catalyst over Fibre Channel ignores installed multi-path drivers.
Configuring Catalyst over Fibre Channel - Prerequisites
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Client HBAs, switches, Fibre Channel driver, and firmware versions are supported. Linux platforms are supported with Fibre Channel.
See the HPE StoreOnce Support Matrix at www.hpe.com/storage/storeoncesupportmatrix.
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Any network segregation, such as zoning, is set up to handle required connectivity between the StoreOnce System and servers.
Catalyst Fibre Channel - Number of Devices Per Login
The Number of Devices per Login determines the number of concurrent backup/restore and copy connections allowed from:
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A single client Fibre Channel port to a single StoreOnce Fibre Channel port.
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A source StoreOnce Fibre Channel port to a destination StoreOnce Fibre Channel port.
The Number of Devices per Login does not relate to how many total sessions can be established over a StoreOnce port. Each client port to StoreOnce port relationship will present the Number of Devices per Login. The setting applies to all StoreOnce Catalyst supported client operating systems and to StoreOnce Catalyst Copy over Fibre Channel.
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The default number is 20 on StoreOnce version 4.x and 1 on StoreOnce version 3.x. If you need multiple concurrent backup/copy streams, increase the Number of Devices per Login.
The maximum allowed is 256 devices per client Fibre Channel port login.
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After increasing, you must run a device file rescan on the client for the change to be recognized. If you decrease the number, client operating systems will not delete StoreOnce Catalyst over Fibre Channel device files after a rescan. Operating systems only clear outdated device files on a reboot.
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Calculate the number of paths available from one particular client or source StoreOnce node to a destination StoreOnce System using the following formula:
number of a client's ports zoned to a StoreOnce System * number of StoreOnce System ports zoned to that client * devices per initiator count
Supplying the Fibre Channel Address to Commvault
After zoning the StoreOnce to the Commvault MediaAgent and after configuring the StoreOnce, Catalyst over Fibre Channel can be used with Commvault software. The COFC identifier must be provided as the StoreOnce Host address during library configuration. (For more information on configuring the library, see HPE StoreOnce Catalyst Library - Configuring a Catalyst Store as a Commvault HPE Catalyst Library.) To find the COFC identifier, navigate to Catalyst Settings > Fibre Channel in the StoreOnce Management Console.