Veritas Flex Appliance Interfaces and Cabling Guide

 This guide provides an overview of the key interfaces and best practices for cabling the Veritas Flex Appliance appliance.

Veritas Flex Appliance is a high-performance, scalable data protection solution designed for modern enterprise environments. Proper understanding of its interfaces and cabling configurations is essential for optimal deployment.

Understanding FLEX Appliance Interfaces

The configuration of PCI cards and network interfaces varies based on the purchased I/O configuration. The images in the official documentation illustrate four different models; this guide focuses on Flex 5260 Model B.

Key Interfaces:

• Remote Management (IPMI) Port:
  Used to connect to the Veritas Remote Management Interface (similar to Dell iDRAC).
• Eth0/Host0:
  The primary interface for Flex Appliance Node and Console management.
• Eth1/NIC0, Eth2/NIC1, Eth3/NIC2:
  These are 1 Gb Ethernet ports, primarily used for Flex Application Instances if required (optional).
• NIC3, NIC4, NIC5, NIC6, NIC7, and NIC8:
  These are 10/25 Gb optical ports, dedicated for Flex Application Instances.
• RAID Adapter Card:
  Provides two SAS interfaces for connecting storage shelves.
• 32Gb Fibre Channel (FC) HBA Interfaces:
  Used for external storage connectivity (optional).

Note: Veritas does not support bonding Host0/Eth0 with other NIC ports.{alertInfo}

Note: Veritas advises using Finisar or JDSU network connectors for compatibility.{alertInfo}

FLEX Appliance SAS Cabling Guide

Proper SAS cabling ensures seamless storage expansion and data integrity. Below is a structured guide for connecting storage shelves to the Flex 5260 appliance.

Configuration Scenarios:

Ensure all cables are installed as per the reference diagrams.

1. Single-Shelf Configuration:
   
   
   
   
   
2. Two-Shelf Configuration:
   
   
   
   
   
3. Three-Shelf Configuration:
   
   
   
   
   
4. Four-Shelf Configuration:
   
   
   
   
   
5. Five-Shelf Configuration:
   
   
   
   
   
6. Six-Shelf Configuration:
   
   
   

Note: A maximum of six storage shelves can be installed with a Flex 5260 appliance.{alertInfo}

Note: When multiple expansion shelves are present, power on the last shelf first, then move backward towards the head unit.{alertInfo}

Warning: Improper power-on sequence may result in the appliance not detecting all storage units.{alertWarning}

Following this structured approach will ensure a seamless installation and configuration process. Once cabling is completed, you can proceed with the Veritas Flex Appliance Initial Configuration, which will be covered in the next post.