Users Guide
Table Of Contents
- Dell EqualLogic Host Integration Tools for Microsoft Edition Version 5.4 Installation and User's Guide
- About This Guide
- Introduction to Host Integration Tools
- Installation
- Obtain the Installation Kit
- Installation Considerations
- Install Host Integration Tools for Microsoft
- Install HIT/Microsoft on a Windows Server Core Machine
- Install HIT on a Windows Server Core Cluster
- About Remote Host Installations
- Install HIT on a Failover Cluster
- About Silent Installations
- Using HIT With a SharePoint Farm
- Remote Setup Wizard
- Remote Setup Command Line Utility
- Using the Multipath I/O Component
- Use the VDS Provider
- Use SCVMM With the Dell EqualLogic SMP
- Install the Dell EqualLogic Storage Management Provider
- Configure the Dell EqualLogic Storage Management Provider
- Create a Classification for Dell EqualLogic Storage Resources
- Import the SMP Through the SCVMM GUI
- Configure PS Series Groups
- Configure Group Access on Managed Hosts and Clusters
- Configure Storage for VM Rapid Provisioning
- Create a VM Template From a VHD
- Migrate the Rapid-Provisioned VMs
- Migrate Storage of a Deployed VM to Another Location
- Troubleshoot SCVMM Issues
- Supported SMP PowerShell Cmdlets
- Use the HPC iSCSI Provider
- Tools and Utilities
- Index
Using the Multipath I/O Component
The Dell EqualLogic Multipath I/O (MPIO) DSM (Device Specific Module) enables you to configure redundant network paths
from a Windows computer to PS Series volumes for high availability and high-performance SAN data traffic.
Topics:
• Introduction to Multipath I/O DSM
• Prerequisites for Configuring Multipath I/O DSM
• Requirements for Multipath I/O
• Configure Multipath I/O Between a Computer and a Group
• View MPIO Sessions
• Set the MPIO Load-Balancing Policy
• EqualLogic MPIO Configuration Tool
Introduction to Multipath I/O DSM
The Dell EqualLogic MPIO DSM coordinates activity between the MPIO drivers and PS Series group storage, maximizing the
capabilities of both the operating system and the iSCSI SAN.
The MPIO component works with the iSCSI initiator and MPIO driver to improve both reliability and performance. The
component consists of a kernel driver (eqldsm.sys) and a user mode service (EHCMservice.exe).
If the Host Integration Kit installation included the option to import EqualLogic volumes to a PowerStore array, the MPIO
component consists of a kernel driver (dcdsm.sys) and user mode services (EHCMservice.exe and DC-
HAService.exe)."
When you install the MPIO DSM on a Windows operating system, it establishes and manages multiple I/O data paths to the
same iSCSI target (a PS Series volume). If a fatal path failure occurs, the failure is quickly detected and I/O transparently fails
over to a functioning path. The MPIO DSM recognizes and responds to a variety of network errors, device errors, and timeout
conditions.
The MPIO DSM provides the following features:
● Automatic connection management
● Increased bandwidth
● Reduced network latency
● Automatic path failure detection and failover to a functioning path
● Automatic load balancing across paths
● Support for multiple connections to a single iSCSI target (volume)
● Support for a variety of iSCSI initiators
● Per-pool connection throttling
The following figure shows a typical multipath I/O configuration.
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Using the Multipath I/O Component 37