CompactPCI® Storage Blades Support Page

INTRODUCTION

PT's CPC5564 is a dual-core, 64-bit single slot CompactPCI® single board computer designed for high-performance embedded applications. When an application's storage needs exceed the capabilities of the optional on-board 2.5" disk, PT's CPC5900 High Performance IP Storage Blade and CPC5910 High-Performance SATA Storage Expansion Blades provide users with a wide range of storage options. This Support Guide will introduce the most common storage configurations, incorporating the CPC5900, the CPC5910, and the CPC5564.

OBJECTIVE

This document is intended to be a high level overview of the CPC5564, the CPC5900, and the CPC5910 functionality and possible configuration options. The information provided in this document in no way covers all possible configuration options, nor is it intended to take the place of the hardware or software manuals for any of these products. For more detailed information on these products or if you desire a configuration not described here, please reference these products' respective manuals or contact Technical Support. Contact information for Technical Support is available at the end of this document or on our web site at www.pt.com/support.

CONFIGURATION 1 − CPC5564 and CPC5910

This is a direct-connect "local" storage model, and will be higher performance than going over the 2.16 interface. Generally, this configuration is best suited for applications in which:

1) The system in which the boards are installed has a non-2.16 midplane
2) Performance over 2.16 midplane is not sufficient
3) It is preferred not to consume 2.16 Ethernet bandwidth with storage traffic
4) Direct access to local storage is required and the 2.5" drive on the CPC5564 is not sufficient In this configuration, there is only one SBC that has access to the storage. This is due to the fact that it is a direct point to point SATA connection.

This configuration can support RAID0 or RAID1 using a software-based RAID solution or can be used to maximize available storage. PT does not provide the RAID software to run on the CPC5564. Depending on your OS, there are various options available to you in the form of software packages for purchase or free download.

The CPC5564 and CPC5910 are connected via the SATA channel interface − through the RTMs and SATA cable. If desired, the serial cable connects to the Zircon IPMC on the CPC5910 to provide monitoring of some functions of the CPC5910 in cases where a CPC7301 Intelligent Shelf Manager is not installed. See the CPC5900 Hardware Manual for more detail on IPMC connection.

For a graphical representation of this configuration see Figure 1.

CompactPCI Storage Blades Figure 1

FIGURE 1

Required hardware components:

(1) CPC5564 in desired configuration
(1) CPC5910-12157
(2) RTM4810 in desired configuration
(1) SATA cable, included with the CPC5910

Optional hardware components:

(1) ACC5911-12162 serial cable

Required software components: OS-specific RAID software.

CONFIGURATION 2 − CPC5564 and CPC5900

In this configuration, the CPC5564 and CPC5900 communicate over the 2.16 midplane. This requires a 2.16-compliant midplane and at least one Ethernet switch to be installed in the system. Depending on your application, this configuration can be implemented such that it uses no RAID, RAID0, RAID1, RAID5, RAID6 or RAID 0 + 1. See configurations 2a through 2f for more detail on RAID options. For a graphical representation of this configuration, see Figure 2.

CompactPCI Storage Blades Figure 2

Figure 2

Assuming a 2.16 environment, you would choose this configuration if:

1) More than one CPC5564 requires access to the storage
2) A "simpler" configuration is desired (no RTMs or external cabling)
3) Separate storage and processor domains are required

Required Hardware Components:

(1) CPC5564 in desired configuration
(1) CPC5900
(1) CPC660x or 441x and associated RTM

Optional Hardware Components:

(1) RTM4810 for the CPC5564, if desired
(1) RTM4810 for the CPC5900, if desired
(1) Additional CPC660x or 441x and associated RTM, if installed in a dual fabric chassis

CONFIGURATION 2a − CPC5564 and CPC5900 with no RAID

Although this solution provides no storage redundancy, it maximizes available storage. The drives on the CPC5900s can be shared using either iSCSI or NFS and redundant access is provided by the two network channels on the 2.16 midplane. NFS or Samba allows the nodes in the system direct access to the storage. There are no additional software requirements for this configuration, other than the integrated RAID software on the CPC5900. See the CPC5900 Software Manual for more details.

CONFIGURATION 2b − CPC5564 and CPC5900 with RAID0

Although this solution also provides no storage redundancy, it maximizes available storage, and the use of RAID0 also provides improved performance. The drives on the CPC5900s can be shared using either iSCSI or NFS and redundant access is provided by the two network channels on the 2.16 midplane. NFS or Samba allows the nodes in the system direct access to the storage.

There are no additional software requirements for this configuration, other than the integrated RAID software on the CPC5900. See the CPC5900 Software Manual for more details.

CONFIGURATION 2c − CPC5564 and CPC5900 with RAID1

In this configuration each CPC5900 mirrors its own drives, which tolerates the failure of a single drive on each CPC5900. The drives can be shared via either iSCSI or NFS, have redundant access via the dual 2.16 channels. Nodes can access them directly using NFS or Samba.

There are no additional software requirements for this configuration, other than the integrated RAID software on the CPC5900. See the CPC5900 Software Manual for more details.

CONFIGURATION 2d − CPC5564 and two CPC5900s with RAID5

This solution maximizes storage, while providing the added fault tolerance of parity. The disks on the CPC5900 have redundant access to the CPC5564 via the dual 2.16 channels. The CPC5564 can then share the storage volume as an iSCSI target, or as a file system for other nodes to access through the CPC5564. Other nodes in the system should not directly access the CPC5900 in this configuration. For a graphical representation, see Figure 3.

Figure 3

In this configuration the RAID software included on the CPC5900 is not used, but RAID software is needed to run on the CPC5564. As previously mentioned, PT does not offer RAID software for the CPC5564. However, depending on the OS, there are many options available.

Additional Required Hardware:
(1) CPC5900

Additional Optional Hardware:
(1) RTM4810, if desired

In addition to the hardware requirements previously outlined, OS-specific, third-party RAID software is required.

CONFIGURATION 2e − CPC5564 and two CPC5900s with RAID6

This solution provides maximum reliability using RAID6. It can tolerate the failure of two drives, or even the failure of a single CPC5900. Similar to configuration 2d, the drives are shared as iSCSI target volumes with the CPC5564 acting as the iSCSI initiator and the RAID software resides on the CPC5564. Because of this, nodes must access the storage through the CPC5564. As with all the configurations, there is redundant storage access via the dual 2.16 channels on the midplane. For a graphical representation of this configuration, see Figure 3.

Additional Required Hardware:
(1) CPC5900

Additional Optional Hardware:
(1) RTM4810, if desired

For a graphical representation of this configuration, see Figure 3.

In addition to the hardware requirements previously outlined, OS-specific, third-party RAID software is required.

CONFIGURATION 2f − CPC5564 with Two CPC5900s Using RAID 0 + 1

This solution provides increased reliability and improved performance using RAID0+1. It can tolerate the failure of an entire CPC5900. Similar to configuration 2d, the drives are shared as iSCSI target volumes with the CPC5564 acting as the iSCSI initiator and the RAID software resides on the CPC5564. Because of this, nodes must access the storage through the CPC5564. As with all the configurations, there is redundant storage access via the dual 2.16 channels on the midplane. For more detail on this configuration, see the related App Note, Configuring RAID 0 + 1 on the CPC5564 and CPC5900.

CONCLUSION

When used together, the CPC5564, CPC5900 and CPC5910 can be configured to meet the needs of a wide variety of storage applications.

Please direct any questions concerning this document to or other technical questions to PT at (585)256-0248 or via email to support@pt.com.