Hello Team,

We are about to implement a new FS7300, and internally, we have a long-standing discussion about inter-node zoning.

Andrew Martin blogged about this in the past. https://barrywhytestorage.blog/2019/11/05/using-dedicated-ports-for-inter-node-communication-and-replication/

Then it was written:

If you have a Storwize system, All communication between node canisters in the same IO group will occur across the PCI link on the midplane. If the PCI midplane fails, a Fibre Channel network will be used as a backup link.

Should I do something special for this inter-node communication?

If you have a single IO group Storwize system, then you don't need to do anything more. However it is a good idea to create a zone in your fabric that allows any FC ports from node canister 1 to communicate with node canister 2, just in case there is a PCI failure in the midplane link.

The 8.7.0 documentation indicates that for an FS7300 with 12 FC ports, 4 ports dedicated to inter-cluster communication are required (suggested).

Planning for more than four fabric ports per node canister - IBM Documentation

Now I'm curious if what applied to Storwize back then still applies to current Flash systems like the FS7300\FS5300?

We prefer to use the 4 FC ports for host traffic to the SVC and apparently these are only used as a backup because initially everything goes via midplane.

Thanks..

Hi T., (Sometimes I have to resist the urge to call you "Mr. T.")   :)

You can use the four FC ports to host traffic. Andrew's information still applies.