AE324A HP StorageWorks EVA iSCSI Connectivity Option

The AE324A is the HP StorageWorks EVA iSCSI Connectivity Option. It carries one mpx100 hardware unit and the components needed to install it in any EVA rack, and it is bought with a new EVA storage system or as an upgrade to an existing one. The mpx100 bridge adds iSCSI access over Gigabit Ethernet to an Enterprise Virtual Array.

The mpx100 is supported on the EVA3000, EVA5000, EVA4000, EVA4100, EVA4400, EVA6000, EVA8000 and the EVA4400 with embedded switch. The spare number is 431906-001, a 1U bi-directional EVA gateway; it is used in both the connectivity option and the connectivity upgrade option.

Software minimums are XCS 6.100 on the EVA4x00, 6x00 and 8x00 arrays and VCS 4.007 on the EVA3000 and EVA5000. HP Command View EVA 6.0.2 or later is required to configure iSCSI LUNs, and Command View EVA 8.0 or later is needed for mpx100 firmware 2.4.0.0 and later. Management uses the mpx Manager GUI.

One mpx100 supports up to 150 iSCSI initiators and 150 LUNs, with 8 targets per initiator, 256 connections per iSCSI port and 16 Fibre Channel targets. An EVA supports at most two mpx100 bridges. Fabric attach needs a B-Series, C-Series or M-Series Fibre Channel switch with optical SFPs and cables, while direct connect uses a dedicated host port on each HSV controller.

The AE352A is the EVA iSCSI Upgrade Option, a second mpx100 for a redundant pair. For the EVA4400, the options are the AJ713A connectivity option and AJ714A upgrade option, both using the mpx100b, which supports 16 initiators and moves to 48 and then 150 with the T5471A upgrade license.