Each LUN on OceanStor Dorado is owned by a specific controller.

Unlike traditional storage architectures that use an Asymmetric Logical Unit Access (ALUA) model where a LUN is "owned" by a primary controller, Huawei OceanStor Dorado utilizes a Symmetric Active-Active architecture. In this design, LUNs do not have a specific owner. Instead, all controllers in a cluster can simultaneously receive and process I/O requests for the same LUN.

This is made possible by theSmartMatrix full-mesh interconnect, which allows any interface module to communicate with any controller, and any controller to access any disk. Because there is no concept of "LUN ownership," there is no need for time-consuming "LUN handovers" if a controller fails. This symmetry eliminates performance bottlenecks, ensures balanced load distribution across all hardware resources, and provides a smoother experience for host-side multipathing software. This architectural shift is a key differentiator for the Dorado series, enabling it to deliver consistent, high-speed performance even during controller maintenance or failure.