A few days ago I had a chance to configure a Dell EqualLogic PS4000XV iSCSI SAN connected through two Dell PowerConnect 6224 switches during a virtualization project at one of our customers. Although the configuration of the switch is quite straightforward, there are some configuration settings that should be considered.
- Enable the Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol on the switch as well as the “spanning-tree portfast” feature on all ports connected to the SAN
- Enable Jumbo Frame support on ports connected to the SAN
- Disable the “storm control” feature on ports connected to the SAN
- Enable Flow Control on the switch
Follow these steps to configure the settings mentioned above:
- Enable RSTP and “spanning-tree portfast”. Login to the switch, enter the enable mode and then the configure mode.
- Configure the RSTP spanning tree: Switch(config)# spanning-tree mode rstp
- Enter the port configuration mode. In this case I’ll use port 1 to 12: Switch(config)# interface range ethernet 1/g1-1/g12
- Configure the “portfast” feature on the ports: Switch(config-if)# spanning-tree portfast
- Enable Jumbo Frames: Switch(config-if)# mtu 9216
- Disable storm control: Switch(config-if)# no storm-control unicast
- Return to the config mode by typing: Switch(config-if)# exit
- Enable Flow Control: Switch(config)# flowcontrol (you might be disconnected if you telneted to the switch, if so you can reconnect right away)
- Save the settings: Switch# copy running-config startup-config
- Log off the switch
And you’re done! 🙂
Cheers!
– Marek.Z