Release Notes
9 Analyzing Dell PS Series Storage with SAN Headquarters | TR1050
Element
Description
To obtain a data point, the Monitor Service averages the data from consecutive polling operations.
After a year (by default), the SAN HQ Server overwrites the oldest data.
3
Each computer running a Monitor Client accesses the log files maintained by the Monitor Service and
displays the group data in the SAN HQ GUI.
Note: The computer running the Monitor Service also has a Monitor Client installed.
1.2 SupportAssist architecture
SupportAssist is an optional component of SAN HQ that enables you to collect and optionally upload PS Series group
configuration diagnostic data to Dell Support for analysis and diagnosis. SupportAssist is bundled with every SAN HQ
Server and configured from the SAN HQ Client. In order for SupportAssist to be enabled all groups need at least PS
Series Firmware 6 and SAN HQ 2.5.
1.2.1 How SupportAssist Works
SupportAssist communicates directly with a PS Series group to collect diagnostic data. When the data collection
completes, SupportAssist automatically uploads the data to the Dell Support data center.
Data transmission occurs in any of the following ways:
• Weekly: This is according to a user-specified day and time.
• Event driven: This occurs whenever SAN HQ receives a critical event notification through the syslog
mechanism from a PS Series group. Event-driven data collections occur once every 24 hours. If multiple critical
events occur during the 24-hour period, events are reported but no additional data collection occurs.
• On-demand: This is user-driven on an as-needed basis. You can run an on-demand data collection from the
SAN HQ Client.
Diagnostic data uploaded by the SAN HQ Server enables Dell Support personnel to easily view the data when working
on a support case. Dell Support contacts you only regarding issues discovered when analyzing the data collected by
SupportAssist or when you specifically request support.
SupportAssist does not fully replace the E-Mail Home feature or the pssdiag script for diagnostic reporting to Dell
Support. Instead, it reduces the need to use these reporting methods on a frequent basis.