2 Hardware Installation...................8 ....................8 Planning The Storage Configuration ......................8 Connecting The Storage Array ............9 Configuring Fibre Channel With Dell MD Series Storage Arrays .............9 Configuring Fibre Channel On SAN Attached Storage Arrays ......................9 Configuring Fibre Channel ...................... 10 Other Information You May Need ..................
Page 4
....................25 Enabling Premium Features (Optional) ..................25 Upgrading PowerVault MD Storage Manager 4 Post Installation Tasks..................26 ...................... 26 Verifying Storage Array Discovery ..........................27 Initial Setup Tasks 5 Uninstalling MD Storage Manager..............28 ................28 Uninstalling MD Storage Manager From Windows ..........28 Uninstall MD Storage Manager From Windows Server GUI Version ..........
The version of MD Storage Manager included on the PowerVault MD Series resource media can be used to manage both the PowerVault MD3860f Series and other PowerVault MD Series storage arrays. MD Storage Manager is compatible with both Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems.
Dell PowerVault MD Series Storage Arrays Administrator's Guide — Provides information about configuring and managing the system using the MDSM GUI. • Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Arrays CLI Guide — Provides information about configuring and managing the system using the MDSM CLI. •...
Go to dell.com/contactdell. Documentation feedback If you have feedback for this document, write to documentation_feedback@dell.com. Alternatively, you can click on the Feedback link in any of the Dell documentation pages, fill out the form, and click Submit to send your feedback.
Started Guide that is shipped with the storage array provides information to configure the initial setup of the system. • Dell PowerVault MD Series Storage Arrays Administrator's Guide — The Administrator's Guide provides information about important concepts you must know before setting up your storage solution. For more information, see dell.com/powervaultmanuals.
SAN-Attached Cabling Example Remote Replication Cabling Example. Install the required HBA drivers and firmware versions listed in the Dell PowerVault MD Series Support Matrix available at dell.com/powervaultmanuals. Install and configure the MD Storage Manager software (included with your storage array) on your host server.
HBAs. If an HBA is already installed on your host server, verify that it is supported in the Dell PowerVault MD Series Support Matrix. If the HBA is not listed, it should not be used to connect to the storage array.
Figure 1. Example of Switch Zoning on SAN on an MD38xxf-series Fibre-Channel Storage Array World Wide Name Zoning There are several different switch zoning techniques used across various SANs. When configuring zoning with your storage array, using a 64 bit World Wide Name (WWN) to uniquely identify each component in your Fibre Channel switch fabric is recommended.
If the Remote Replication premium feature is activated, a separate zone for each replication port is required. Only data traffic related to Remote Replication can move through that zone. For more details and requirements regarding Remote Replication, see the Dell PowerVault MD Series Storage Arrays Administrator's Guide at dell.com/powervaultmanuals.
the host server(s) from losing access to data in the event of a path failure since both RAID controller modules can independently access all the physical disks in the storage array. SAN-Attached Cabling SAN-attached cabling configurations provide the highest level of redundancy and alternate-path connectivity between the host server and storage array.
Page 14
Figure 2. Three SAN-Attached Host Servers Connected to a Storage Array Using Multiple Paths Switch Fabric A Switch Fabric B Zone1_Server1_HBA_0 Zone4_Server1_HBA_1 Server1_HBA_0 Server1_HBA_1 Array1_Ctrl-0-0 Array1_Ctrl-0-1 Array1_Ctrl-0-3 Array1_Ctrl-0-2 Array1_Ctrl-1-0 Array1_Ctrl-1-1 Array1_Ctrl-1-2 Array1_Ctrl-1-3 Zone2_Server2_HBA_0 Zone5_Server2_HBA_1...
Switch Fabric A Switch Fabric B Array1_Ctrl-0-0 Array1_Ctrl-0-1 Array1_Ctrl-1-0 Array1_Ctrl-0-2 Array1_Ctrl-1-2 Array1_Ctrl-1-1 Zone4_Server3_HBA_0_1 Zone9_Server3_HBA_0_0 Server3_HBA_0_1 Server3_HBA_0_0 Array2_Ctrl-0-1 Array2_Ctrl-0-0 Array2_Ctrl-0-2 Array2_Ctrl-1-0 Array2_Ctrl-1-1 Array2_Ctrl-1-2 Zone5_Server3_HBA_1_1 Zone10_Server3_HBA_1_0 Server3_HBA_1_1 Server3_HBA_1_0 Array2_Ctrl-0-1 Array2_Ctrl-0-0 Array2_Ctrl-0-2 Array2_Ctrl-1-0 Array2_Ctrl-1-1 Array2_Ctrl-1-2 Replication_Zone_1 Replication_Zone_2 Array1_Ctrl-0-3 Array1_Ctrl-1-3 Array2_Ctrl-0-3 Array2_Ctrl-1-3 Mixed Environment The following figure shows mixed configuration, that is SAS direct attached and host connectivity via the SAN (that is FC/Ethernet switch).
Figure 4. Mixed Environment Cabling PowerVault MD3060e Expansion Enclosures You can expand the capacity of your PowerVault MD3860f Series storage array by adding PowerVault MD3060e expansion enclosures. You can expand the physical disk drive pool to a maximum of 120 (or 180, if enabled using Premium Feature activation) physical disk drives using a maximum of two expansion enclosures.
NOTE: Hot plug of MD3060e expansion enclosure is not recommended. Power on all MD3060e expansion enclosures before you power on the array enclosure. For helpful videos and other resources on PowerVault MD series, see dell.com/PVresources. Perform the following steps to attach new PowerVault MD3060e expansion enclosures to a PowerVault...
Page 21
For more information, see the Support Matrix at dell.com/powervaultmanuals. Install the software and driver package included on the PowerVault MD Series resource media. For information about installing the software, see Installing MD Storage Manager. Using MD Storage Manager, update the RAID controller module firmware and NVSRAM to the latest versions available on dell.com/support.
For more information on supported hardware and software for Dell PowerVault systems, see the Support Matrix at dell.com/powervaultmanuals. NOTE: As a first step towards managing the array, always use MD Storage Resource DVD media to update and install MD Storage Manager.
The PowerVault MD Series resource media offers the following installation methods: • Graphical Installation (Recommended) — This is the recommended installation procedure. The installer presents a graphical wizard-driven interface that allows customization of components installed. • Console Installation — This installation procedure is useful for Linux users who do not desire to install an X-Window environment on their supported Linux platform.
NOTE: The MD Storage Manager installer automatically installs the required drivers, firmware, and operating system patches/hotfixes to operate your storage array. These drivers and firmware are also available at dell.com/support. In addition, see the Support Matrix at dell.com/ powervaultmanuals for any additional settings and/or software required for your specific storage array.
NOTE: On Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 operating systems, run the following script from the root directory to install prerequisite packages: # md_prereq_install.sh Copy the custom_silent.properties file in the /linux directory of the installation media or image to a writable location on the host server. Modify the custom_silent.properties file to reflect the features, models and installation options to be used.
Post Installation Tasks Before using the Dell PowerVault storage array for the first time, complete these initial configuration tasks in the order shown. These tasks are performed using the MD Storage Manager. For out-of-band management, you must set the network configuration for each RAID controller module, including its Internet Protocol (IP) address, subnetwork mask (subnet mask), and gateway.
To see a list of all storage arrays found on the local network, expand Discovered Storage Arrays in the Devices tab of the EMW. The default name for a newly installed PowerVault MD3860f series storage array is Unnamed. If another name is displayed in MD Storage Manager, click the down arrow next to the name and click Unnamed in the drop-down list and rename the array.
To uninstall PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager on Windows Server Core versions: Navigate to the Dell\MD Storage Software\Uninstall Dell MD Storage Software directory. NOTE: By default, MD Storage Manager is installed in the \Program Files(x86)\Dell\MD Storage Software directory. If another directory was used during installation, navigate to that directory before beginning the uninstallation procedure.
Uninstalling MD Storage Manager From Linux By default, PowerVault MD Storage Manager is installed in the /opt/dell/mdstoragemanager directory. If another directory was used during installation, navigate to that directory before beginning the uninstallation procedure. From the installation directory, open the Uninstall Dell MD Storage Software directory.
Load Balancing Load Balance Policy Multi-path drivers select the I/O path to a virtual disk through a specific RAID controller module. When the multi-path driver receives a new I/O to process, the driver tries to find a path to the current RAID controller module that owns the virtual disk.
If more than one data path to the virtual disk has the same weight value, the round robin with subset path selection policy is used to route I/O requests between the paths with the same weight value. The least path weight load balance policy is not supported on Linux operating systems. Setting Load Balance Policies in Linux Linux only supports round robin based load balancing.
FC devices. Before installing SFP modules and fiber optic cables, read the following information: • Use only Dell supported SFPs with the Dell PowerVault MD3860f series storage arrays. Other generic SFPs are not supported and may not work with the storage arrays. •...
Connect an FC cable. See Installing Fibre Channel Cables. Figure 7. Installing and Removing an SFP Module FC IN slot (4) SFP+ transceiver fibre optic cable gate Removing SFP Modules To remove SFP modules: Remove the FC cable from the SFP module. See Removing Fibre Channel Cables.
Installing Fibre Channel Cables WARNING: Data processing environments can contain equipment transmitting on system links with laser modules that operate at greater than Class 1 power levels. Never look into the end of an optical fiber cable or open receptacle. Before installing an FC cable, see Guidelines For Using Fibre Optic Cables.
Appendix — Hardware Cabling Best Practices Handling Static Sensitive Components Static electricity can damage memory modules, system boards, and other static-sensitive components. To prevent damaging the system, follow these precautions: • Move and store all components in the static-protective packaging. •...
Labeling Cables Cabling is an important part of creating a robust storage array. Labeling the cables identifies system components and drive channels. System maintenance is easier when the cables are correctly identified. Label both ends of each cable. You can use adhesive office labels that are folded in half over the ends of each cable.