Administrator Guide

Drives (SEDs) are managed into a separate folder than other disks. When Storage Center detects new disks, it manages the disk into the
appropriate folder.
In Storage Center version 7.3 and later, the Automatic Drive Placement function can be turned on or o for all Storage Centers (except
SCv2000 series) using the Storage Center Storage settings. See below for SCv2000 series disk management.
Disk Management on SCv2000 Series Controllers
Storage Centers with SCv2000 series controllers manage disks automatically, limiting the disk management options. After adding disks,
Storage Center recognizes the new disks, creates a new disk folder if necessary, then manages the disks in the disk folder. If a disk is
intentionally down for testing purposes, then is deleted, you can restore the disk to manage the disk again in a disk folder.
The following disk management options are not available with SCv2000 series controllers:
• Creating disk folders
• Adding disks to disk folders
• Managing disk spares
Disk Folders
A disk folder contains both managed drives and spare disk space. Managed drives are used for data storage. Spare disk space is held in
reserve to automatically replace a drive if a drive fails. By default, the Assigned disk folder is the parent disk folder for all drives. Drives are
further grouped by class in subordinate folders.
Disk Classes
Disks are classied based on their performance characteristics. Each class is shown in a separate folder within the Assigned disk folder.
• Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) – For HDDs, the disk classication describes its spindle speed and can be any of three disk types.
– 7K (RPM)
– 10K (RPM)
– 15K (RPM)
• Solid State Drives (SSDs) – SSDs are dierentiated by read or write optimization.
– Write-intensive (SLC SSD)
– Read-intensive (MLC SSD)
Drive Spares
Drive spares are drives or drive space reserved by the Storage Center to compensate for a failed drive. When a drive fails, Storage Center
restripes the data across the remaining drives.
Distributed Sparing
When updating to Storage Center version 7.3, a banner message prompts you to optimize disks. Clicking the link guides you through the
process of optimizing disks for Distributed Sparing. When disks are optimized, spare disk space is distributed across all drives in a drive
folder and is designated as Spare Space. This allows the system to use all disks in a balanced and optimized manner, and ensures the
fastest recovery time following a disk failure. Distributed Sparing is the default for systems shipping with Storage Center version 7.3.
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Storage Center Overview