Two Sangfor HCI with FC SAN Storage

How can one work with Fiber Channel SAN storage without a local data store

Sangfor aServer HCI is not design direct boot from SAN

To work with Fiber Channel SAN storage without a local data store, you connect your servers directly to the SAN using Fiber Channel switches and host bus adapters (HBAs). This setup allows the servers to access and use the SAN storage as if it were local, even though there is no local storage on the servers themselves. The SAN storage is managed and accessed through the network, providing centralized storage that can be shared among multiple servers. This setup is often used for high-performance and high-availability environments where centralized storage management is needed.

In your SAN storage array, use "Data Replication" or "Host-Based Replication." Without keeping a local copy on the host, this functionality enables data replication from SAN storage to a distant destination (cloud or secondary site). The replication process is started by the host, which then transfers data to the remote site via the network and stores it on a remote device.

Use "Host-Based Replication" or "Data Replication" in your SAN storage array. This feature allows data replication from SAN storage to a remote location (secondary site or cloud) without storing a local copy on the host. The host initiates the replication process, sending data over the network to the remote location, and storing it on a remote device

Hi,

You can have an host or vm that is connected to the SAN storage, and then share it to another hosts or vms, like NFS ou SAMBA.

To work with Fibre Channel (FC) SAN storage without a local data store, you can use a remote NAS (Network-Attached Storage) or a Storage Virtualization Solution. A remote NAS can connect to the FC SAN via Fibre Channel protocol and present the storage to the application as a network share, allowing the application to access the storage without requiring a local data store. Alternatively, a Storage Virtualization Solution can virtualize the FC SAN storage, presenting it as a local storage device to the application, without requiring any local disk space. This allows the application to access the FC SAN storage as if it were a local disk, without the need for a local data store.

Hi, i personally don't recommend to rely only on a fiber channel storage without having a virtual datastore. Could you share us more information about your idea?

Hi,

Working with Fiber Channel (FC) SAN storage without a local data store typically involves setting up your servers or hosts to directly access and utilize storage resources from the SAN.

Working with Fibre Channel SAN storage without a local data store is indeed possible. The Fibre Channel protocols are embedded with small computer system interface (SCSI) commands that provide block-level control, allowing users to transfer data directly from the SAN’s storage to the server without intermediaries.

Here are some key points to consider:

SAN and Server Connection: The SAN eliminates the connection between a server and storage, and the concept that the server effectively owns and manages the storage devices. This means that the restriction on the amount of data that a server can access is limited only by the number of storage devices that can be attached to the individual server.
Fibre Channel Switch: To make a SAN work, you must purchase a Fibre Channel switch to allow your SAN devices to connect to each other. Don’t forget the Fibre Channel controllers for your servers.
Redundancy and Scalability: It’s important to consider redundancy and scalability when setting up your SAN. For example, using a dual-fabric topology can provide redundancy, and considering network shape can aid in scalability.
SAN vs NAS: A SAN takes SCSI commands off the wire and talks directly to the disk. In contrast, a NAS utilizes file level protocols such as CIFS and NFS. This means that with a SAN, filesystem maintenance is offloaded to the client.