Administrator Guide
○ iSCSI does not require dedicated ports for replication data traffic
○ iSCSI array-to-array communication must use a host-connected port (not the Ethernet management port).
○ The first port that successfully establishes an iSCSI connection is used for all subsequent communication with that remote storage
array. If that connection subsequently fails, a new session is attempted using any available ports.
Restrictions on using Remote Replication
• RAID level, caching parameters, and segment size can differ between replicated virtual disks.
• The secondary virtual disk must be at least as large as the primary virtual disk.
• Only standard virtual disks can be included in a replication relationship.
• A primary virtual disk can be a source virtual disk or a target virtual disk in a virtual disk copy. A secondary virtual disk cannot be a
source virtual disk or a target virtual disk unless a role reversal is initiated after the copy has completed. If a role reversal is initiated
during a Copy in Progress status, the copy fails and cannot be restarted.
• A virtual disk can be included in only one replication relationship.
• A virtual disk participating in a copy request cannot be a replicated secondary virtual disk.
Setting up Remote Replication
Setting up Remote Replication between local and remote storage arrays using MD Storage Manager consists of the following:
• Activating the Remote Replication premium feature on both the local and remote storage arrays
• Creating a remote Replication group on the local storage array
• Adding a replicated pair of virtual disks to the Remote Replication group
Activating Remote Replication premium features
Activating Remote Replication automatically reserves specific ports on each RAID controller module for data replication. After the port is
reserved, any nonreplication related I/O request to that port is rejected. Only RAID controller modules configured for Remote Replication
can communicate with the reserved ports.
The Remote Replication premium feature must be activated on both the local and storage arrays.
NOTE:
Perform the activation steps below on the local storage array first and then repeat them on the remote storage
array.
1. In the AMW of the local storage array, select the Storage & Copy Services tab.
2. Select Copy Services > Remote Replication > Activate.
3. If both Remote Replication and Remote Replication (Legacy) premium features are supported on your storage array, select Remote
Replication.
4. If you had selected standard Remote Replication, click Finish.
The Premium feature activation is complete.
5. If you had selected Remote Replication (Legacy), in the Create Repositories window, select where the replication repository virtual
disks for the Remote Replication (Legacy) feature must reside. Select one of the following:
• Free capacity on existing disk pool or disk group—If this option is selected, a corresponding disk pool or disk group must be
selected.
• Unconfigured capacity on a new disk pool or disk group—If this option is selected, choose either Disk Pool or Disk Group.
• Click Next.
The Create Disk Pool wizard or the Create Disk Group wizard is displayed.
6. Click OK.
The Remote Replication Activated window is displayed. The system performs when the Remote Replication premium feature is
activated:
• Logs out all hosts currently using the highest numbered Fibre Channel host port on the RAID controller modules.
• Reserves the highest numbered Fibre Channel host port on the RAID controller modules for replication data transmissions.
• Rejects all host communication to this RAID controller module host port as long as the replication feature is active.
• If the Remote Replication (Legacy) feature has been activated, the two replication repositories are created.
NOTE: Repeat these steps to activate the remote replication premium features on the remote storage array.
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