Dell EMC PowerVault MD3860f Series Storage Arrays Deployment Guide
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. © 2012 - 2018 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell, EMC, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Contents 1 Introduction....................................................................................................................................................5 System requirements......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Management station requirements............................................................................................................................
5 Uninstalling MD Storage Manager............................................................................................................... 25 Uninstalling MD Storage Manager from Windows.......................................................................................................25 Uninstall MD Storage Manager from Windows Server GUI version..........................................................................25 Uninstall MD Storage Manager on Windows Server Core versions.................
1 Introduction This guide provides information about deploying Dell EMC PowerVault MD3860f storage arrays. The deployment process includes: • Hardware installation • Modular Disk Storage Manager (MD Storage Manager) installation • Initial system configuration Other information provided include system requirements, storage array organization, and utilities. NOTE: For more information on product documentation, see Related Documentation.
• Management station—On a management station, MD Storage Manager 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 using array connectivity.
2 Hardware installation Before using this guide, ensure that you review the instructions in the: • Dell PowerVault MD3460/MD3860i/MD3860f Storage Arrays Getting Started Guide — The Getting Started Guide that is shipped with the storage array provides information to configure the initial setup of the system. • Dell PowerVault MD Series Storage Arrays Administrator's Guide — The Administrator's Guide provides information about important concepts you must know before setting up your storage solution.
• 12 Gbps SAS host Ports (2) – Additional SAS Host ports. • SAS host Expansion Ports (2) – Allows you to connect the storage array to optional PowerVault MD3060e expansion enclosures for additional storage capacity. Only one SAS OUT expansion port can be used at a time and the recommended expansion port is 0. Configuring Fibre Channel with Dell EMC MD Series storage arrays This section provides information about configuring Fibre Channel communication between the host server and the 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 EMC PowerVault MD Series Support Matrix at Dell.com/powervaultmanuals for a list of supported HBAs. If an HBA is already installed on your host server, verify that it is supported in the Dell EMC PowerVault MD Series Support Matrix. If the HBA is not listed, it should not be used to connect to the storage array.
Figure 1. Example of switch zoning on SAN on 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.
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. • WWN port zoning is recommended. While hard zoning is supported, LUN masking uses the WWN identifier. You can mix WWN and hard-zoned ports in the same zone. • Multiport HBAs are supported.
NOTE: A SAN configuration using a supported Fibre Channel switch hardware is required if the Remote Replication premium feature is activated on the storage array. For specific cabling requirements for Remote Replication, see Remote Replication Cabling Example. SAN-attached cabling example The following figure shows a three-server, mixed HBA cabling configuration that uses two separate switch fabrics to establish multiple paths to the storage array.
Switch Fabric A Switch Fabric B 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 Zone2_Server2_HBA_0 Zone5_Server2_HBA_1 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
Figure 3. Remote Replication cabling Table 2.
Switch Fabric A Switch Fabric B 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_Zone_1 Replication_Zone_2 Array
Figure 4. Mixed environment NOTE: The SAS host ports in the PowerVault MD3860f storage array is recommended to be connected to a secondary host or backup network. Cabling PowerVault MD3060e expansion enclosures You can expand the capacity of your PowerVault MD3860f Series storage array by adding PowerVault MD3060e expansion enclosures.
MD3060e expansion cabling diagrams Figure 5.
Figure 6. Dual expansion diagram Expanding with new PowerVault MD3060e expansion enclosures NOTE: Hot plug of MD3060e expansion enclosure is not recommended. Power on all MD3060e expansion enclosures before you power on the array enclosure. For helpful videos and other resources on PowerVault MD series, see dell.com/PVresources.
4 Click Tools > Upgrade RAID Controller Module Firmware from the Enterprise Management Window (EMW) by selecting the array enclosure that you want to update. 5 Stop all I/O to the storage array and turn off affected host systems attached to the storage array. 6 Turn off the storage array. 7 Turn off any expansion enclosure(s) in the affected system. 8 Cable the expansion enclosure(s) to the storage array.
3 Installing MD Storage Manager The 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 describing changes to the software, updates, fixes, patches, and other important data applicable to both Linux and Windows operating systems. The readme.
• Silent installation • Enabling premium features (optional) • Upgrading PowerVault MD Storage Manager Installing host bus adapters and drivers 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) The MD Storage Manager configures, manages, and monitors the storage array.
NOTE: The MD Storage Manager installer automatically installs the required drivers, firmware, and operating system patches/hotfixes to operate your storage array. These drivers and firmware are also available at dell.com/support. In addition, see the Support Matrix at dell.com/powervaultmanuals for any additional settings and/or software required for your specific storage array. Console installation NOTE: Console installation only applies to Linux systems that are not running a graphical environment.
4 Post installation tasks 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. 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 Launch MD Storage Manager.
Initial setup tasks 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 Discovered Storage Arrays in the Devices tab of the EMW. 2 The default name for a newly installed PowerVault MD3860f series storage array is Unnamed. another name is displayed in MD Storage Manager, click the down arrow next to the name and click Unnamed in the drop-down list and rename the array.
5 Uninstalling MD Storage Manager Uninstalling MD Storage Manager from Windows To uninstall the Modular Disk Storage Manager from Microsoft Windows Server: 1 Double-click Add or Remove Programs from the Control Panel. 2 Select Dell 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 Manager from Linux By default, PowerVault MD Storage Manager is installed in the /opt/dell/mdstoragemanager directory. If another directory was used during installation, navigate to that directory before beginning the uninstallation procedure. 1 From the installation directory, open the Uninstall Dell MD Storage Software directory. 2 Run the file Uninstall Dell MD Storage Software.exe. 3 From the Uninstall window, click Next, and follow the instructions on the screen.
6 Load balancing 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.
Setting load balance policies in Linux Linux only supports round robin based load balancing. For more information, see Round robin with subset. Setting load balance policies in VMware VMware supports Asymmetric Logical Unit Access (ALUA). For more information on Most Recently Used (MRU) and Round Robin (RR) load balancing policies, see VMware documents.
7 Appendix — Working with SFP modules and fiber optic cables 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.
Figure 7. Installing and removing an SFP module 1 FC IN slot (4) 2 SFP+ transceiver 3 fibre optic cable 4 gate Removing SFP modules To remove SFP modules: 1 Remove the FC cable from the SFP module. See Removing Fibre Channel Cables. NOTE: To avoid damaging the cable or the SFP module, disconnect the FC cable before removing the SFP module. 2 Unlock the SFP module latch. For SFP modules that contain wire tabs, unlock the SFP module latch by pulling the wire latch outward.
Installing Fibre Channel cables WARNING: Data processing environments can contain equipment transmitting on system links with laser modules that operate at greater than Class 1 power levels. Never look into the end of an optical fiber cable or open receptacle. Before installing an FC cable, see Guidelines For Using Fibre Optic Cables. To install an FC cable: 1 If applicable, remove the protective cap from the SFP module and store the protective cap for future use.
8 Appendix — Hardware cabling best practices 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.
If you are adding a new expansion enclosure to an existing configuration, correctly labeled cables help identify where to connect the new enclosure.
9 Getting help Topics: • Contacting Dell • Locating your Dell EMC system service tag 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 about 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.
