Dell PowerVault MD3200 Deployment Manual
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Dell PowerVault MD3200 Deployment Manual

Storage arrays
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See also: Owner's Manual , Deployment Manual
Dell PowerVault MD3200 and
MD3220 Storage Arrays
Deployment Guide

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Summary of Contents for Dell PowerVault MD3200

  • Page 1 Dell PowerVault MD3200 and MD3220 Storage Arrays Deployment Guide...
  • Page 2 © 2011 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell™, the DELL logo, and PowerVault™ are trademarks of Dell Inc. ® ®...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents Introduction ......System Requirements ....Management Station Requirements .
  • Page 4 Installing PowerVault MD Storage Software ......Graphical Installation (Recommended) ..Console Installation .

  • Page 5: Introduction

    MDSM enables an administrator to configure and monitor storage arrays for optimum usability. The version of MDSM included on the PowerVault MD series resource media can be used to manage both the PowerVault MD3200 series and the earlier PowerVault MD series storage arrays. MDSM is compatible with both Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems.

  • Page 6: Introduction To Storage Arrays

    NOTE: Supported hypervisors include Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix XenServer, and VMware ESX and ESXi. For information about the supported versions, see the Support Matrix at support.dell.com/manuals. • Administrator or equivalent permissions. Introduction to Storage Arrays An enclosure containing physical disks accessed through RAID controller modules is called a storage array.
  • Page 7 You can set a specified RAID level for each disk group and virtual disk on your storage array. For more information about using RAID and managing data in your storage solution, see the Owner’s Manual at support.dell.com/manuals. Introduction...
  • Page 8 Introduction...

  • Page 9: Hardware Installation

    Planning section of the Owner’s Manual—The planning section provides information about important concepts you must know before setting up your storage solution. See the Owner’s Manual at support.dell.com/manuals. Planning the Storage Configuration Consider the following before installing your storage array: •...

  • Page 10: Connecting The Storage Array

    For more information, see the Getting Started Guide. Each Dell PowerVault MD3200 series storage array can be expanded to a maximum of 120 (or 192, if enabled through the Premium Feature activation) physical disks through a maximum of seven PowerVault MD1200 series expansion enclosures.

  • Page 11: Redundant And Non-Redundant Configurations

    Redundant and Non-Redundant Configurations Non-redundant configurations are configurations that provide only a single data path from a host to the storage array. This type of configuration is only recommended for non-critical data storage. Path failure from a failed or removed cable, a failed HBA, or a failed or removed RAID controller module results in loss of host access to storage on the storage array.

  • Page 12: Corporate, Public

    Figure 2-2. Two Hosts Connected to a Single Controller Server 1 Server 2 Storage array Corporate, public, or private network Hardware Installation...

  • Page 13: Hardware Installation

    Figure 2-3. Four Hosts Connected to a Single Controller Server 1 Server 2 Server 3 Server 4 Storage array Corporate, public, or private network Hardware Installation...

  • Page 14: Dual Controller Configurations

    Dual Controller Configurations Figure 2-4 through Figure 2-6 show two and four hosts, each connected to two RAID controller modules. Since each host has redundant paths, loss of a single path would still allow access to the storage array through the alternate path. Figure 2-4.
  • Page 15 Figure 2-5. Four Hosts Connected to Two Controllers Server 3 Server 4 Server 1 Server 2 Storage array Corporate, public, or private network Hardware Installation...
  • Page 16 Figure 2-6. Four Hosts Connected to Two Controllers Server 1 Server 2 Server 3 Server 4 Storage array Corporate, public, or private network Hardware Installation...
  • Page 17 Figure 2-7 shows eight hosts, each connected to only one RAID controller module. This configuration allows the maximum number of hosts that may be connected, but provides no redundancy. Figure 2-7. Eight Hosts Connected to Two Controllers Up to 8 hosts Server 3 Server 4 Server 1...
  • Page 18 Figure 2-8 and Figure 2-9 show up to four cluster nodes connected to two RAID controller modules. Since each cluster node has redundant paths, loss of a single path would still allow access to the storage array through the alternate path. Figure 2-8.
  • Page 19 Figure 2-9. Four Cluster Nodes Connected to Two Controllers Four cluster nodes Storage array Corporate, public, or private network Hardware Installation...

  • Page 20: Cabling Powervault Md1200 Series Expansion Enclosures

    CAUTION: If a PowerVault MD1200 series enclosure that was previously attached to PERC H800 adapter is used as an expansion enclosure to a PowerVault MD3200 series storage array, the physical disks of the expansion enclosure are reinitialized and data is lost. You must backup all data on the expansion enclosure before attempting the expansion.
  • Page 21 For information about installing the software, see "Installing PowerVault MD Storage Software" on page 25. Update the storage array RAID controller module firmware and NVSRAM to the latest versions available at support.dell.com, using PowerVault MDSM. Click Tools Upgrade RAID Controller Module Firmware in the Enterprise Management Window (EMW).

  • Page 22: Expanding With New Powervault Md1200 Series Expansion Enclosures

    Expanding With New PowerVault MD1200 Series Expansion Enclosures Perform the following steps to attach new PowerVault MD1200 series expansion enclosures to a PowerVault MD3200 series storage array: 1 Before adding the expansion enclosure(s), ensure that the storage array software is installed and is up to date. For more information, see the Support Matrix at support.dell.com/manuals.
  • Page 23 • If the status LEDs are blinking amber, there is an error that can be viewed using PowerVault MDSM. • If the status LEDs are solid blue, the storage array is ready. After the storage array is online and ready, turn on any attached host systems.
  • Page 24 Hardware Installation...

  • Page 25: Installing Powervault Md Storage Software

    Installing PowerVault MD Storage Software 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 the Linux and Windows operating systems.

  • Page 26: Graphical Installation (Recommended)

    • Console Installation—This installation procedure is useful for Linux users who do not want to install an X-Window environment on their supported Linux platform. • Silent Installation—This installation procedure is useful for users who want to create scripted installations. Graphical Installation (Recommended) The PowerVault MD Storage Manager application configures, manages, and monitors the storage array.

  • Page 27: Console Installation

    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 support.dell.com. See the Support Matrix at support.dell.com/manuals for any additional settings and/or software required for your specific storage array.

  • Page 28: Upgrading Powervault Md Storage Software

    # md_prereq_install.sh 1 Copy the custom_silent.properties file in the /windows folder of the installation media or image to a writable location on the host server. 2 Modify the custom_silent.properties file to reflect the features, models and installation options to be used. 3 Save the file.

  • Page 29: Post Installation Tasks

    Post Installation Tasks Before using the Dell PowerVault MD storage array for the first time, complete the set of 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.

  • Page 30: Verifying Storage Array Discovery

    To add an array, click New link. In Linux, click the Manual button and click OK. 4 If the array still shows an Unresponsive status, contact Dell. Initial Setup Tasks 1 The name of the first storage array found is displayed in the devices tab of the EMW.
  • Page 31 Before configuring the storage array, check the status icons on the Device pane to ensure that the enclosures in the storage array are in an Optimal status. For more information on the status icons, see the Owner’s Manual at support.dell.com/manuals. Table 4-1. Initial Setup Tasks Dialog Box...
  • Page 32 Post Installation Tasks...

  • Page 33: Uninstalling Powervault Md Storage Software

    Storage Software (MDSM) from Microsoft Windows operating systems other than Microsoft Windows Server 2008: 1 Double-click Add or Remove Programs from the Control Panel. 2 Select Dell MD32xxi storage software from the list of programs. 3 Click Change/Remove. The Uninstall Complete window is displayed.

  • Page 34: Uninstalling Md Storage Software From Linux

    /opt/dell/mdstoragemanager directory. If another directory was used during installation, navigate to that directory before beginning the uninstallation procedure. 2 From the installation directory, open the Uninstall Dell MD Storage Software directory. 3 Run the file Uninstall Dell MD Storage Software.exe.

  • Page 35: A Appendix-Load Balancing

    Appendix—Load Balancing Windows 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, the driver tries to find a path to the current RAID controller module that owns the virtual disk.

  • Page 36: Least Queue Depth With Subset

    RAID controller module that owns the virtual disk. Changing Load Balance Policies in Windows Sever 2008 Load balancing with the PowerVault MD3200 series is only available for Windows Server 2008 and later versions of the operating system. You can change the load balance policies from the default round robin with subset by using one of the following: •...

  • Page 37: Setting Load Balance Policies In Linux

    Changing the Load Balance Policy Using the Windows Server 2008 Disk Management Options 1 Right-click My Computer from the host desktop and select Manage to open the Computer Management window. 2 Click Disk Management to show the list of virtual disks attached to the host.
  • Page 38 Appendix—Load Balancing...

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