Modifying VLAN for priority flow control

You can change Virtual local area network (VLAN) settings to separate network traffic for Ethernet transport.

The system supports VLAN configuration for system, host attachment, storage virtualization, and IP replication traffic. VLAN is a prerequisite for using priority flow control (PFC). VLAN tags msvc_chnodeipust be assigned to IP versions for which you want to use PFC capabilities and VLAN should be configured end to end including all the switches. PFC creates different classes for all types of traffic that improves network performance during times of congestion. To ensure that PFC operates as expected, the network and its components must be configured correctly. For example, if a single port is used for multiple types of traffic ( host attachment, and storage) then the performance of these traffic types can be affected. The system supports setting system-wide PFC-setting on traffic for host attachment traffic and storage virtualization traffic. PFC capabilities are not supported on IP replication traffic.

Configuring VLAN for host attachment

When you configure VLAN tagging for host connections, follow these guidelines:
  • To configure VLAN tagging without disrupting I/O from hosts, all hosts need multiple ports and multipath drivers. In addition, each host must be configured with multiple sessions to each node on the system.
  • Each session needs to be stopped one at a time to ensure that I/O can continue on alternative paths to the system.

If you are running previous versions of the system, configuring VLAN tags for host sessions is a disruptive process.

Complete these steps to configure VLAN tags on existing host sessions:
  1. On the hosts, configure VLAN on the host ports that are used for Ethernet-based connections. Consult the appropriate host documentation to complete this step.
  2. On all intervening switches, configure the switches with the VLAN tags per port connectivity. Consult the appropriate switch documentation to complete this step.
  3. Verify that the port on which you are configuring VLAN tags is used for host attachment. In the management GUI, select Settings > Network > Ethernet Ports. Ensure that Yes is displayed in the host attach column for the selected port. If No is displayed, right-click the port and select Modify iSCSI hosts and select Enabled.
  4. Configure ports on the system with appropriate VLAN tags by completing these steps:
    1. In the management GUI, select Settings > Network > Ethernet Ports.
    2. Right-click the port on which to configure VLAN and select Manage IP Addresses.
    3. On Manage IP Addresses page, select Add IP Address. Enter the following information for the IP address that you are adding to the selected port:
      IP address
      Enter the IP address to associate with the selected port.
      Type
      Select the IP protocol version of the IP address.
      Subnet Mask or Prefix
      Enter the subnet mask for the IPv4 addresses or enter the prefix for IPv6 addresses.
      VLAN
      Enter the corresponding VLAN tag that this IP address belongs to.
      Portset
      Select the name or ID of the portset where the portset type is Host Attachment.
    4. Click Save.
    5. If you are updating an existing IP address, select the IP address and select Edit from the overflow menu. Enter the new VLAN tag in the VLAN field. Click Save.
  5. After you configure VLAN settings for host attachment, ensure that you set the priority flow control (PFC) setting for the host attachment traffic.
    Note: If you are sharing the same port for different types of traffic, then PFC and Enhanced Transmission Selection (ETS) settings must be configured.

Configuring VLAN for storage virtualization

VLAN tagging of the IP addresses configured for external storage systems is supported. For the systems and external storage systems to access each other, the same VLAN ID must be configured for ports on nodes on the system and the ports on the external storage system. In addition, VLAN settings must be configured on the Ethernet network to prevent any connection issues. When more than two ports are available, configure different ports for iSCSI hosts and storage systems.

Complete these steps to configure VLAN tags on storage systems:
  1. On the storage systems, configure VLAN on the ports that are used for Ethernet connections. Consult the appropriate storage documentation to complete this step.
  2. On all intervening switches, configure the switches with the VLAN tags per port connectivity. Consult the appropriate switch documentation to complete this step.
  3. Verify that the port on which you are configuring VLAN tags is used for storage system attachment. In the management GUI, select Settings > Network > Ethernet Ports. Ensure that Enabled is displayed in the Storage Port column for the selected port. If Disabled is displayed, right-click the port and select Modify Storage Ports to enable the port for iSCSI connections to storage systems.
  4. Configure ports on the system with appropriate VLAN tags by completing these steps:
    1. In the management GUI, select Settings > Network > Ethernet Ports.
    2. Right-click the port on which to configure VLAN and select Manage IP Addresses.
    3. On Manage IP Addresses page, select Add IP Address. Enter the following information for the IP address that you are adding to the selected port:
      IP address
      Enter the IP address to associate with the selected port.
      Type
      Select the IP protocol version of the IP address.
      Subnet Mask or Prefix
      Enter the subnet mask for the IPv4 addresses or enter the prefix for IPv6 addresses.
      VLAN
      Enter the corresponding VLAN tag that this IP address belongs to.
      Portset
      Select the name or ID of the portset where the portset type is Storage.
      Note: Portset3 (ID=3) is created by default and is reserved for storage traffic. Portset3 (ID =3) is the only portset of type Storage.
    4. Click Save.
    5. If you are updating an existing IP address, select the IP address and select Edit from the overflow menu. Enter the new VLAN tag in the VLAN field. Click Save.
  5. After you configure VLAN settings for storage virtualization, ensure that you set PFC settings for the system-to-storage traffic.
    Note: If you are sharing the same port for different types of traffic, then PFC and Enhanced Transmission Selection (ETS) settings must be configured.
    For more information on PFC settings for storage virtualization, see Priority flow control.