HP VMA-series Memory Arrays - Manual (Page 65)

AM456-9007B Rev 02 HP VMA SAN Gateway Installation and User Guide 65
CHAPTER 4
Configuring vSHARE
HP VMA SAN Gateways running vSHARE can be deployed in a High Availability
configuration, where a pair of HP VMA SAN Gateways provide redundant access
to a VMA Array. See Deploying vSHARE in a High Availability Configuration on
page 82.
Understanding vSHARE
vSHARE is a solution for block storage management. vSHARE runs as software
on a HP VMA SAN Gateway enabling host systems (for example, database
servers) to use and Fibre Channel (FCP) transport protocols to access logical units
of data (LUNs) stored within VMA Arrays.
On the host system, the LUN appears as a local SCSI disk. The host formats and
partitions the LUN. The storage system sees the contents of a LUN as a set of
blocks of arbitrary data.
Administrators may use vSHARE to define rules for controlling access to LUNs
based on the containers, initiators and initiator groups, and target ports configured
within the system.
• Storage Containers: A storage container is an addressable partition within a
VMA Array. Every LUN created and managed by vSHARE is created within
a storage container.
• Initiators and Initiator groups: An initiator is a host or client I/O port that
requires access to the LUNs stored in the containers. Multiple initiators may
be grouped together in an initiator group (igroup). Access to the LUNs in a
container may be restricted to specific initiators or initiator groups.