Deployment Guide

• Host server — On a host server system, MDSM and the storage array communicate management requests and event information
using in-band or out-of band-connections.
• Management station — On a management station, MDSM communicates with the storage array either through an Ethernet
connection to the storage array management port or through an Ethernet connection to a host server. The Ethernet connection passes
management information between the management station and the storage array connectivity.
Using MDSM, you can congure the physical disks in the storage array into logical components called disk groups or dynamic disk group
and then divide the disk groups into virtual disks. Disk groups are created in the uncongured capacity of a storage array. Virtual disks are
created in the free capacity of a disk group.
Uncongured capacity comprises physical disks not already assigned to a disk group. When a virtual disk is created using uncongured
capacity, a disk group or dynamic disk group is automatically created. If the only virtual disk in a disk group is deleted, the disk group is also
deleted. Free capacity is space in a disk group that is not assigned to any virtual disk.
Data is written to the physical disks in the storage array using RAID technology. RAID levels dene how data is written to physical disks.
Dierent RAID levels oer dierent levels of accessibility, redundancy, and capacity. You can set a specied RAID level for each disk group
and virtual disk on your storage array.
For more information about using RAID and managing data in your storage solution, see the Owner’s Manual at Dell.com/support/
manuals.
Related documentation
NOTE: For all PowerVault documentation, go to Dell.com/powervaultmanuals and enter the system Service Tag to get your
system documentation.
NOTE: For all Dell EMC OpenManage documents, go to Dell.com/openmanagemanuals.
NOTE: For all storage controller documents, go to Dell.com/storagecontrollermanuals.
Your product documentation includes:
• Dell EMC PowerVault MD3400/3420/3800i/3820i/3800f/3820f Storage Arrays Getting Started Guide — Provides an overview of
system features, setting up your system, and technical specications. This document is also shipped with your system.
• Dell EMC PowerVault MD3400 and 3420 Storage Arrays Owner’s Manual — Provides information about system features and
describes how to troubleshoot the system and install or replace system components.
• Rack Installation Instructions — Describes how to install your system into a rack. This document is also shipped with your rack solution.
• Dell EMC PowerVault MD Series Storage Arrays Administrator's Guide — Provides information about conguring and managing the
system using the MDSM GUI.
• Dell EMC PowerVault MD 34XX/38XX Series Storage Arrays CLI Guide — Provides information about conguring and managing the
system using the MDSM CLI.
• Dell EMC PowerVault MD3400 and 3420 Storage Arrays Deployment Guide — Provides information about deploying the storage
system in the SAN architecture.
• Dell EMC PowerVault MD34xx/38xx Series Support Matrix — Provides information about the software and hardware compatibility
matrices for the storage array.
Introduction
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