Is it possible to connect 2 servers with dual port controllers to two storage controllers without using an FC switch?

Question

System administration

Until now, there was no experience with FC. At the same time, despite the spread of this method, it has not yet been possible to find comprehensive information. In general, a two-controller disk shelf with FC controllers is bought. Can I connect my 2 servers with dual port controllers to two storage controllers without using an FC switch? Everywhere where the connection is described, it is written about the use of 2 FC switches. But for our two servers, I want to do without them, if possible.

Answer 1

If you have two controllers on both servers and storage systems, then you can connect. It is possible even if one controller is on either side. I will describe the situation for two controllers.
On each device, one controller is selected and marked as ring1 and all 3 (two servers and storage) are connected according to the principle of a closed ring, that is, the FC output of the first server is connected to the FC input of the second server, the FC output of the second server is connected to the FC storage system input, the FC output The storage system is connected to the FC input of the first server. We do the same with the second controllers, combining them into a second ring. As a result, we have two independent rings, then at the OS level we connect volumes to the storage system using multipath. We get fault tolerance without using a switch. Of course, it is clear that if one of the servers is turned off, then both rings will be inoperative. But that's the cost of savings.
To make it easier to search for information
TX(1 server)-RX(2 server)
TX(2 servr)->RX(storage)
TX(storage)->RX(1 server)

Answer 2

Maybe all the same it is necessary to describe what we have and what we buy

Answer 3

Not all storage systems can "talk" to hosts without a factory. For example, storwize cannot do this, it needs to be connected to f-ports, not n-ports.