Deployment Guide
Hardware installation
Before using this guide, ensure that you review the instructions in the documents:
• Getting Started Guide — The Getting Started Guide shipped with the storage array provides information to congure the initial setup
of the system.
• Owner’s Manual — The Owner’s Manual provides information about important concepts to set up your storage solution. See the
Owner’s Manual at Dell.com/support/manuals.
Topics:
• Planning the storage conguration
• Connecting the storage array
• Cabling storage array
• Cabling PowerVault MD1200 series expansion enclosures
Planning the storage conguration
Consider the following before installing your storage array:
• Evaluate data storage needs and administrative requirements.
• Calculate availability requirements.
• Decide the frequency and level of backups, such as weekly full backups with daily partial backups.
• Consider storage array options, such as password protection and email alert notications for error conditions.
• Design the conguration of virtual disks, disk groups, or dynamic disk groups according to a data organization plan. For example, use
one virtual disk for inventory, a second for nancial and tax information, and a third for customer information.
• Decide whether to allow space for hot spares, which automatically replace failed physical disks.
Connecting the storage array
Figure 1. RAID controller module ports
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6 Hardware installation