Dell EMC PowerVault ME4 Series Storage System Support Matrix July 2021 Rev.
Notes, cautions, and warnings NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your product. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death. © 2018 – 2021 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell, EMC, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Contents Chapter 1: Introduction................................................................................................................. 4 Changes to revision A16 of the Support Matrix........................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2: Supported data protocols............................................................................................ 5 Chapter 3: ME4 Series storage system rules.....................................
1 Introduction This document provides information about supported software and hardware for Dell EMC PowerVault ME4012, ME4024, and ME4084 storage systems, and usage considerations, recommendations, and rules. The Support Matrix contains the latest compatibility and interoperability information. If you observe inconsistencies between this information and other documentation, consider this document superseding.
2 Supported data protocols This section lists the supported data protocols for ME4 Series storage systems. NOTE: ME4 Series storage systems do not support changing or converting from one data protocol to another data protocol. Table 1. ME4 Series storage systems and supported data protocols ME4 Series storage system Data protocol and drives ME4012 (SAS) 12 Gbps direct attached SAS storage system with 12 drives (3.5 inch) ME4024 (SAS) 12 Gbps direct attached SAS storage system with 24 drives (2.
3 ME4 Series storage system rules This section contains both general and model-specific connectivity and consideration rules for ME4 Series storage systems. The rules that are listed in the following table apply to all ME4 Series storage system models. For rules applying to specific ME4 storage system models, see Rules for ME4012 and ME4024 storage systems on page 9 and Rules for ME4084 storage systems on page 10. NOTE: The ME4084 storage system is supported in dual-controller module configurations only.
Table 2. Rules for all ME4 Series storage systems (continued) Rule SAS 10GBase-T CNC iSCSI ● If you do not enable the flow control, your iSCSI storage may experience degradation of the I/O performance ● In addition to enabling the Ethernet IEEE 802.3x flow control, Dell recommends that you disable unicast broadcast storm control on the switch ports that are connected to the iSCSI initiators and target storage systems.
Table 2.
Table 2.
Table 3.
4 Default IPv4 Settings for management ports NOTE: No default gateway is set. By default, the management ports on the storage system are set to DHCP. If DHCP fails, the following IPv4 settings are used: Table 5. Default IPv4 Management Port Addresses Controller/Port IPv4 Address Subnet Mask Controller 0 10.0.0.2 255.255.255.0 Controller 1 10.0.0.3 255.255.255.
5 Default IPv4 settings for iSCSI ports By default, the iSCSI ports on the storage system are set to 0.0.0.0 static IP address.
6 Supported RAID controller firmware NOTE: ● Dell EMC recommends gathering support information before performing any firmware update. ● Only drivers and firmware released by Dell are supported. For the latest driver and firmware releases, see the Drivers & Downloads section at https://www.dell.com/support. Table 6.
7 Supported iSCSI software initiators Table 7.
8 Supported protocol offload (TOE/iSCSI) adapters Standard Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet adapters are supported when used with supported software iSCSI initiators. Hosts must have a standards compliant iSCSI initiator to access ME4 Series storage. Initiator support is provided by the initiator or operating system vendor. However, ME4 Series storage systems do not support Converged Network Adapters (CNA) in Converged mode.
9 Supported Fibre Channel and iSCSI SFP+ transceivers This following table lists the Fibre Channel and iSCSI transceivers that have been tested for use with ME4 Series storage systems: Table 8.
10 Supported SAS and Twinax direct-attach cables The following tables list the SAS and Twinax direct-attach cables that have been tested for use with ME4 Series storage systems: Table 9. Supported 12 Gbps SAS cables Vendor Model Dell Part Number Dell 12 Gb HD-Mini to HD-Mini SAS Cable, 0.5 M WTCFX Dell 12 Gb HD-Mini to HD-Mini SAS Cable, 2 M GYK61 Dell 12 Gb HD-Mini to HD-Mini SAS Cable, 4 M 85W3R CAUTION: ME4 Series storage systems only support passive Twinax direct-attach cables.
11 Supported hard drives ME4 Series storage systems support the hard drives that are listed in the following table: To use self-encrypting drive (SED) functionality, all the hard drives in the storage system must be SEDs. NOTE: ME4 Series Storage Systems do not support 4Kn sector size hard drives. CAUTION: ME4 Series storage systems only support hard drives with the Dell part numbers that are listed in Supported hard drives on page 18.
Table 11. Supported hard drives (continued) Dell Part Number Form Factor Model Capacity Speed Vendor SED Firmware G2G54 2.5” ST1200MM0099 1.2 TB 10K Seagate No ST34 JY57X 2.5” DL1800MM0159 1.8 TB 10K Seagate No ST58 RWR8F 2.5” DL2400MM0159 2.4 TB 10K Seagate No ST58 8YWH3 2.5” ST2400MM0149 2.4 TB 10K Seagate Yes SSE8 TMVN7 2.5" ST2000NX0463 2 TB 7.2K Seagate No NT32 Y6W8N 2.5" ST2000NX0453 2 TB 7.2K Seagate Yes NSF2 YKT0W 2.
12 Supported expansion enclosures ME4 Series storage systems can support a maximum of 336 drive slots depending on the base system and the additional expansion enclosures. ME4012 and ME4024 storage systems support up to nine additional 2U (non-dense) ME412/ME424 expansion enclosures or three 5U (dense) ME484 expansion enclosures. ME4012 and ME4024 storage systems do not support a combination of ME412/ ME424 and ME484 expansion enclosures.
13 Supported management software ME4 Series management software is built into the storage system and is accessible by using a web browser connected to the Management Ethernet port. The ME4 Series management software details are shown in the following tables: Table 14.
14 Supported operating systems ME4 Series storage systems support Windows, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, NOTE: Where clustering is supported by the operating system, it is also supported on ME4 Series storage systems, subject to the following limitations: Windows Server 2012 R2 through Windows Server 2019 ● Maximum number of FC hosts is 64 ● Maximum number of iSCSI hosts is 64 ● Maximum number of SAS hosts is 4 Table 17.
Table 17. Supported ME4 Series operating systems (continued) Operating System Datacenter edition (Server Core* mode supported) SAS host server Fibre Channel host server iSCSI host server Notes & required hotfixes The Microsoft MPIO feature needs to be installed prior to connecting to ME4 Series Storage Systems. BitLocker Drive Encryption is not supported. Foundation edition The Microsoft MPIO feature needs to be installed prior to connecting to ME4 Series Storage Systems.
Table 17. Supported ME4 Series operating systems (continued) Operating System SAS host server Fibre Channel host server iSCSI host server Notes & required hotfixes Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 (x64 only) ● Basic Server install (Minimum) ● Device Mapper multipath is required for multipath support. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.9 (x64 only) ● Basic Server install (Minimum) ● Device Mapper multipath is required for multipath support.
Table 17. Supported ME4 Series operating systems (continued) Operating System SAS host server Fibre Channel host server iSCSI host server Notes & required hotfixes VMware vSphere 7.0 U1 For supported firmware versions, see VMware HCL Supported path policies: MRU and RR VMware vSphere 7.0 For supported firmware versions, see VMware HCL Supported path policies: MRU and RR VMware vSphere 6.7 U3 For supported firmware versions, see VMware HCL Supported path policies: MRU and RR VMware vSphere 6.
15 Operating systems with ALUA support ALUA is supported natively on the following operating systems: NOTE: Configuration steps are not required to enable ALUA on these operating systems. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 26 Microsoft Windows Server 2019 Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Citrix XenServer 7.1 CU2 or later Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.0 or later Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 or later Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.9 or later SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15.
16 Supported device mapper software Table 18. Supported device mapper software Operating System Component Supported Version SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15.0 Native or later Native SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12.3 or later Native Native Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.0 or later Native Native Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 or later Native Native Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.
17 Supported SAS host bus adapters This chapter lists the server HBAs that have been tested for use with ME4 Series storage systems. However, it does not imply that these HBAs are supported by any or all server vendors. ME4 Series storage systems support the following HBAs: ● Dell HBA355e for PowerEdge 15th generation servers ● Dell 12 Gbps SAS HBA for PowerEdge 13th, 14th, and 15th generation servers You can download the supported drivers and firmware for the HBAs from https://www.dell.com/support.
18 Supported Fibre Channel host bus adapters The following table lists the HBAs that have been tested for use within ME4 Series storage systems: NOTE: This table does not imply that all of the HBAs and their driver/firmware stacks are supported by any or all server vendors. You must ensure that the HBA and its associated drivers are included on the hardware compatibility list of the vendor. This recommendation also applies to Dell EMC PowerEdge server products.
Table 19. ME4 Series Fibre Channel HBAs (continued) Host bus adapter name Direct-attach configuration Fabric configuration LPe12002 30 Supported Fibre Channel host bus adapters Dell Part Number Available From N/A https://www.broadcom.
19 Supported Fibre Channel and iSCSI directattach configuration operating systems ME4 Series storage systems support Fibre Channel and iSCSI direct-attached configurations on the following operating systems: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Microsoft Windows Server 2019 Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Citrix XenServer 7.1 CU2 or later Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.0 or later Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 or later Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.9 or later SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15.
20 Dell EMC Storage Support Policy Level 1: Full Contractual Support For tested devices listed in this Support Matrix, (and for the specific version listed), Dell EMC will provide solution support, under an active support contract assuming that all other components in the storage solution are also under contracted support with their respective manufacturers and that documented recommended design best practices are followed.
