Deployment Guide

Introduction

This document provides information about deploying Dell PowerVault MD3400 and Dell PowerVault MD3420 storage arrays. The

deployment process includes:

• Hardware installation

• Modular Disk Storage Manager (MDSM) software installation

• Initial system conguration

Other information includes system requirements, storage array organization, and utilities.

NOTE: For more information on product documentation, see the Related Documentation section.

MDSM enables an administrator to congure and monitor storage arrays for optimum usability. The version of MDSM included on the

PowerVault MD series resource media can be used to manage both the Dell PowerVault MD3400 and Dell PowerVault MD3420 systems

and the earlier PowerVault MD series storage arrays. MDSM is compatible with both Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems.

Topics:

• System requirements

• Introduction to storage arrays

• Related documentation

System requirements

Before installing and conguring the PowerVault MD3400 and MD3420 series hardware and software, ensure that the minimum system

requirements are met, and the supported operating system is installed. For more information, see the Dell EMC PowerVault MD34xx/38xx

Series Support Matrix at Dell.com/powervaultmanuals..

Management station requirements

A management station uses MDSM to congure and manage storage arrays across the network. For management station requirements,

see Dell EMC PowerVault MD34xx/38xx Series Support Matrix at Dell.com/powervaultmanuals.

Introduction to storage arrays

A storage array includes various hardware components, such as physical disks, RAID controller modules, fans, and power supplies, gathered

into enclosures. The physical disks are accessed through the RAID controller modules.

One or more host servers attached to the storage array can access the data on the storage array. You can also establish multiple physical

paths between the hosts and the storage array so that loss of any single path (for example, through failure of a host server port) does not

result in loss of access to data on the storage array.

The storage array is managed by MDSM running on a:

4 Introduction