Dell PowerVault MD3800f and MD3820f Series Storage Arrays Deployment Guide
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. 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. Copyright © 2014 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. This product is protected by U.S. and international copyright and intellectual property laws.
Contents 1 Introduction........................................................................................................... 5 System Requirements............................................................................................................................5 Management Station Requirements............................................................................................... 5 Introduction to Storage Arrays...........................................................................
Enabling Premium Features (Optional).............................................................................................. 23 Upgrading MD Storage Software........................................................................................................24 4 Post Installation Tasks....................................................................................... 25 Verifying Storage Array Discovery............................................................................................
Introduction 1 This document provides information about deploying Dell PowerVault MD3800f and MD3820f Fibre Channel storage arrays. The deployment process includes: • • • Hardware installation Modular Disk Storage Manager (MDSM) software installation Initial system configuration Other information includes system requirements, storage array organization, and utilities. NOTE: For more information on product documentation, see dell.com/support/manuals.
• Host server — On a host server system, MDSM and the storage array communicate management requests and event information using in-band or out-of band-connections. • Management station — On a management station, MDSM communicates with the storage array either through an Ethernet connection to the storage array management port or through an Ethernet connection to a host server. The Ethernet connection passes management information between the management station and the storage array connectivity.
Contacting Dell Dell provides several online and telephone-based support and service options. If you do not have an active Internet connection, you can find contact information on your purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog. Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be available in your area. To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer-service issues: 1. Go to dell.com/support. 2.
Hardware Installation 2 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 configure the initial setup of the system. • Planning section of the Owner’s Manual — The planning section provides information about important concepts to set up your storage solution. See the Owner’s Manual at dell.com/support/ manuals.
Each PowerVault MD3800f and MD3820f series storage array can be expanded to a maximum of 120 (or 192, if enabled using Premium Feature activation) physical slots. Configuring Fibre Channel With Dell MD Series Storage Arrays This section provides information about configuring Fibre Channel communication between the host server and the storage array. For basic setup information such as racking, power cabling, and recommended handling procedures, see the Getting Started Guide for your Storage Array at dell.
Other Information You May Need In addition to this document, see the documentation provided with the HBA and Fibre Channel switch hardware for vendor-specific information required to complete Fibre-Channel setup on your storage array. Installing Supported Fibre Channel HBAs The storage array supports a specific set of Fibre Channel HBAs, each requiring a unique driver and firmware level. See the Dell PowerVault MD Series Support Matrix at dell.com/powervaultmanuals for a list of supported HBAs.
Figure 1. Example of Switch Zoning on SAN on an MD38xxf-series Fibre-Channel Storage Array World Wide Name Zoning There are several different switch zoning techniques used across various SANs. When configuring zoning with your storage array, using a 64 bit World Wide Name (WWN) to uniquely identify each component in your Fibre Channel switch fabric is recommended.
together, the switch allows the host server to see only devices included in that zone, decreasing the amount of time it would otherwise take for the host server to query attached, but out-of-zone, devices. Switch Zoning Guidelines The storage array imposes specific requirements that must be followed when setting up Fibre Channel switch zoning: • • • • • If a Fibre Channel switch is used to connect your host server and storage array, it must be zoned. Unzoned or open switches cannot be used.
the host server(s) from losing access to data in the event of a path failure since both RAID controller modules can independently access all the physical disks in the storage array. SAN-Attached Cabling SAN-attached cabling configurations provide the highest level of redundancy and alternate-path connectivity between the host server and storage array. A SAN configuration using a Fibre Channel compatible switch fabric allows you to establish multiple redundant paths to data on the storage array.
Figure 2.
Switch Fabric A Switch Fabric B Server2_HBA_0 Server2_HBA_1 Array1_Ctrl-0-0 Array1_Ctrl-0-1 Array1_Ctrl-0-3 Array1_Ctrl-0-2 Array1_Ctrl-1-0 Array1_Ctrl-1-1 Array1_Ctrl-1-2 Array1_Ctrl-1-3 Zone3_Server3_HBA_0 Zone6_Server3_HBA_1 Server3_HBA_0 Server3_HBA_1 Array1_Ctrl-0-0 Array1_Ctrl-0-1 Array1_Ctrl-0-3 Array1_Ctrl-0-2 Array1_Ctrl-1-0 Array1_Ctrl-1-1 Array1_Ctrl-1-2 Array1_Ctrl-1-3 Remote Replication Cabling Example Remote Replication is a storage array premium feature that provides o
Figure 3.
Switch Fabric A Switch Fabric B Array1_Ctrl-0-0 Array1_Ctrl-0-1 Array1_Ctrl-1-0 Array1_Ctrl-0-2 Array1_Ctrl-1-2 Array1_Ctrl-1-1 Zone4_Server3_HBA_0_1 Zone9_Server3_HBA_0_0 Server3_HBA_0_1 Server3_HBA_0_0 Array2_Ctrl-0-1 Array2_Ctrl-0-0 Array2_Ctrl-0-2 Array2_Ctrl-1-0 Array2_Ctrl-1-1 Array2_Ctrl-1-2 Zone5_Server3_HBA_1_1 Zone10_Server3_HBA_1_0 Server3_HBA_1_1 Server3_HBA_1_0 Array2_Ctrl-0-1 Array2_Ctrl-0-0 Array2_Ctrl-0-2 Array2_Ctrl-1-0 Array2_Ctrl-1-1 Array2_Ctrl-1-2 Replication
Figure 4. Mixed Environment Cabling PowerVault MD1200 Series Expansion Enclosures You can expand the capacity of your PowerVault MD3800i and MD3820i series storage array by adding PowerVault MD1200 series expansion enclosures. You can expand the physical disk pool to a maximum of 120 (or 192, if enabled using Premium Feature activation) physical disks using a maximum of seven expansion enclosures.
CAUTION: If a PowerVault MD1200 series expansion enclosure that was previously attached to PERC H800 adapter is used as an expansion enclosure to a PowerVault MD34xx/MD38xx series storage array, the physical disks of the expansion enclosure are reinitialized and data is lost. You must back up all data on the expansion enclosure before attempting the expansion. 1. Back up all data on the expansion enclosures. 2. Upgrade the expansion enclosure firmware to the latest version available at dell.
b. Set up the PowerVault MD1200 series expansion enclosures. For information about setting up the PowerVault MD1200 series expansion enclosures, see the Owner’s Manual at dell.com/support/ manuals. c. Using MDSM, update the RAID controller module firmware and NVSRAM to the latest versions available on dell.com/support/manuals. d. Click Tools → Upgrade RAID Controller Module Firmware from the Enterprise Management Window (EMW). 2. Stop I/O and turn off all systems: a.
Installing PowerVault MD Storage Software 3 The Dell PowerVault MD series resource media contains software and drivers for both Linux and Microsoft Windows operating systems. The root of the media contains a readme.txt file covering changes to the software, updates, fixes, patches, and other important data applicable to both Linux and Windows operating systems. The readme.
Installing Host Bus Adapters and Drivers Ensure that you read the Configuring Fibre Channel With the Dell PowerVault MD Series Storage Arrays document before continuing with this procedure. 1. Install the host bus adapters (HBAs). 2. Connect the cables. 3. Install the HBA drivers and the operating system HBA patches/hotfixes 4. Ensure that the recommended HBA settings are applied. Graphical Installation (Recommended) 1. Insert the PowerVault MD series resource media.
Console Installation NOTE: Console installation only applies to Linux systems that are not running a graphical environment. The autorun script in the root of the resource media detects when there is no graphical environment running and automatically starts the installer in a text-based mode. This mode provides the same options as graphical installation with the exception of the MDCU specific options. The MDCU requires a graphical environment to operate.
Upgrading MD Storage Software To upgrade from a previous version of the MDSM application, uninstall the previous version (see Uninstalling MD Storage Software), and then follow the instructions in this chapter to install the new version.
Post Installation Tasks 4 Before using the Dell PowerVault storage array for the first time, complete these initial configuration tasks in the order shown. These tasks are performed using the MD Storage Manager (MDSM) software. 1. For out-of-band management, you must set the network configuration for each RAID controller module, including its Internet Protocol (IP) address, subnetwork mask (subnet mask), and gateway. NOTE: You can set the network configuration using a DHCP server 2. 3. Start MDSM.
4. If the array still shows an Unresponsive status, contact Dell. Initial Setup Tasks Enter the context of your task here (optional). This is where introductory content goes. 1. The name of the first storage array found is displayed in the Devices tab of the EMW. To see a list of all storage arrays found on the local network, expand the discovered storage arrays tab in the Device pane of the EMW. 2. The default name for a newly installed MDxxxxx series storage array is Unnamed.
Uninstalling MD Storage Software 5 Uninstalling MD Storage Software From Windows 1. From the Control Panel, double-click Add or Remove Programs. 2. Select MD Storage Software from the list of programs. 3. Click Change/Remove. The Uninstall Complete window is displayed. 4. Follow the instructions on screen. 5. Select Yes to restart the system, and then click Done. Uninstalling MD Storage Software From Windows Server GUI Versions 1. From the Control Panel, double-click Programs and Features. 2.
Load Balancing 6 Load Balance Policy Multi-path drivers select the I/O path to a virtual disk through a specific RAID controller module. When the multi-path driver receives a new I/O to process, the driver tries to find a path to the current RAID controller module that owns the virtual disk. If the path to the current RAID controller module that owns the virtual disk cannot be found, the multi-path driver migrates the virtual disk ownership to the secondary RAID controller module.
If more than one data path to the virtual disk has the same weight value, the round robin with subset path selection policy is used to route I/O requests between the paths with the same weight value. The least path weight load balance policy is not supported on Linux operating systems.
Working With SFP+ Modules and Fiber Optic Cables 7 Each storage controller can have up to four FC host ports. A small-form-factor pluggable (SFP+) module is used to connect a host port to a host or switch. The SFP+ module is inserted into the port, and then a fiber optic cable is inserted into the SFP+ module. The other end of the fiber optic cable is connected to an optical interface connector either in a FC HBA on a host or a switch. SFP+ modules are laser products.
3. With the SFP+ module latch in the unlocked position, remove the SFP+ module. For SFP+ modules that contain wire tabs, grasp the wire latch and pull the SFP+ module out of the port. 4. Replace the protective cap on the SFP+ module and the host port. 5. Place the SFP+ module into a static-protective package. Installing SFP+ Modules To install SFP+ modules: 1. If all the FC IN ports have an SFP+ module installed, go to step 5. 2. Remove the SFP+ module from the static protective package. 3.
Before installing an FC cable, see Guidelines for Using Fiber Optic Cables. 1. If applicable, remove the protective cap from the SFP+ module and store the protective cap for future use. 2. Remove the two protective caps from one end of the cable and store them for future use. 3. Insert the cable into an SFP+ module that is installed in the storage array. The cable connector is keyed for correct installation. Holding the connector, push in the cable until it clicks into place. 4.
Hardware Cabling Best Practices 8 Handling Static-Sensitive Components Static electricity can damage memory modules, system boards, and other static-sensitive components. To prevent damaging the system, follow these precautions: • Move and store all components in the static-protective packaging. • Place components on a grounded surface before removing them from their static-protective packaging. • Grounded surfaces include static-dissipating mats or grounded workstations.
Single-Controller and Dual-Controller Topologies While creating a topology for a RAID enclosure that contains only one RAID controller module, attach expansion enclosures that contain only one single environmental services monitor (ESM). Do not attach an expansion enclosure that contains two ESMs to a single-controller RAID enclosure. Labeling Cables Cabling is an important part of creating a robust storage array. Labeling the cables identifies system components and drive channels.
