ATTO Technology VT-Class manual Appendix B ATA Disk Technology, Feature, Fibre Channel

Page 84

Appendix B ATA Disk Technology

ATA is the dominant disk drive technology today and will be for the foreseeable future. It offers all the cost advantages of a mass produced, consumer-driven technology which is rapidly being driven forward. Today ATA also offers all the performance and reliability features needed to create high performance ATA-based disk storage arrays.

We view ATA as the perfect disk drive technology for “in-the-box” disk storage array solutions.

Aggregated Data Interface Technology (ADXT™) with its built-in Virtual Device Manager (VDM), Data Routing Fabric (DRF) and ATA Interface Engines (AIE) smoothly and efficiently organizes Fibre Channel data streams for storage or retrieval on ATA disk drives. ADXT provides end users with the power and sophisticated data control needed to take moderately priced ATA disk drives combine them in a disk storage array and power them to the performance levels of SCSI or Fibre Channel disk arrays

Unlike other storage arrays which use expensive SCSI or Fibre Channel disk drives to achieve performance, the Diamond Series uses lower cost ATA disk drives combined with an intelligent midplane to create a storage array with exceptional price and performance characteristics.

Disk features and standards

ATA disk drives are used in the enormous PC marketplace and an estimated 85% of all disk drives sold today contain an ATA interface. Shipments of ATA drives are expected to grow rapidly over the next five years with increasing consumer and business demand. In general, ATA disk drives are the “driver” of all disk storage technology as the costs, volumes and demands of the PC marketplace are the primary focus of the world’s largest disk drive manufacturers.

ATA disk drives today offer capacities comparable to SCSI and FC disk drives – although at a tremendously lower cost. Advances in platter and head technology will push drive capacity along a very steep curve in the next five years. The chart below summarizes ATA and other disk interface standards. It clearly indicates that ATA drive technology offers characteristics that ideally suit it for “in the box” usage in high capacity, high performance disk arrays.

 

Feature

IDE

ATA

SCSI

Fibre Channel

 

 

 

 

 

Connectivity

 

 

 

 

•

Max Devices

2

2

16

126...millions

•

Cable Length

46 cm

46 cm

25 m

10 km

 

 

 

 

 

Performance

 

 

 

 

•

Bandwidth

16 MB/sec.

100 MB/sec.

160 MB/sec.

200 MB/sec.

•

Bandwidth/drive

8 MB/sec.

33 MB/sec.

10 MB/sec.

1.6 MB/sec.

•

Multi-threaded I/O

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

 

 

 

 

Max Initiators

1

1

<16

125...millions

 

 

 

 

 

Topology

Bussed

Bussed

Bussed

Loop/Fabric

 

 

 

 

 

Error Detection

None

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

 

 

 

 

Protocol “weight”

very light

light

medium to heavy

heavy

 

 

 

 

 

 

•

Cost

 

 

 

 

•

Interface

n/a

lowest

medium to high

highest

•

Drives

n/a

lowest

medium to high

medium to high

 

 

 

 

 

Manageability

none

low to medium

medium

medium+

 

 

 

 

 

 

A-iii

ATTO Technology Inc. Diamond Storage Array Installation and Operation Manual

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Page 83 Page 85
Contents Diamond Storage Array VT-Class Page Page Contents Atto ExpressNAV Browser-based Interface ExpressNAV PagesFibre Channel Configuration Commands Serial Port Configuration CommandsMaintenance Services Commands Diagnostic CommandsDrive Management Commands ECCConfiguring the Diamond-VT Diagnostics, Upgrade and Maintenance TroubleshootingResetting Defaults Virtual TapeAppendix D Sample Zoning Command Sequences Appendix E Specifications XiiAppendix F Product Safety Xiii Appendix G Part numbers Xiv Appendix H WarrantyPreface DisclaimerAtto Technology, Inc Page Diamond-VT features Diamond Storage Array-VT Product OverviewFibre Channel model Scsi modelDiamond-VT Technical Overview RS-232Ethernet 400MB/secAdxt Powers ATA to New Levels ATA Interface Engine AIE The interface to eachInstallation Instructions Physical setupSet up the Ethernet connection Connect to EthernetSet up Virtual Tape configuration Configuration examplesConnect to Ethernet, on page 5, follow RAID Level 10 with Hot Spare sledsDiamond-VT Components Floor modelRack mount model Diamond-VT Physical Setup Floor ModelRack Mount Physical setup Connecting a Fibre Channel Array AutoconfigurationManual configuration Fibre Channel connections Connecting a Scsi Array To connect the Scsi Diamond-VTBus speed, MB/sec Bus width Max. bus lengths Max. device BitsScsi connections Accessing the Diamond-VT Command Line InterfaceAtto ExpressNAV RS-232 portSnmp In-band CLI Over Fibre Channel DetailsInitiator Host Diamond-VT Initiator/Host Diamond-VT Serial Port Access Serial port access Ethernet Access Telnet and Snmp Protocols To connect to the Ethernet portTo use Telnet To use SnmpTraps are generated for the following situations Atto ExpressNAV Browser-based Interface Navigating ExpressNAVBrowser compatibility Reset button Parameter name Submit buttonExpressNAV Pages Tape Volumes ConfigurationLogical Units PartitionsCLI Interface via ASCII-based Commands SaveConfiguration commandReady Return type/mode Return format/content HostnameSummary of CLI Commands Command Defaults ExampleCLI index Zoneaddhost zone1 General Use Commands Ethernet Commands SNMPUpdates TelnetPasswordTelnetTimeout SNMPTrapsFibre Channel Configuration Commands FcPortList FcPortNameFcScsiBusyStatus FcWWNameSerial Port Configuration Commands SerialPortBaudRateSerialPortHandshake SerialPortEchoMaintenance Services Commands Diagnostic Commands PowerAudibleAlarm SledFaultLEDTapeVolumeInfo RAID5ClearDataStatusDrive Management Commands DriveWipe LUNStateIdeTransferRate IdeWriteCacheRAID5ClearData RAIDInterleaveRAIDHaltRebuild RAIDManualRebuildRestoreModePages TapeVolumeBlockSizeRebuildPriority TapeWriteProtectZoneClearAll ZoneCreateZoneDelete ZoneRemoveDeviceCLI configure drives Configuring the Diamond-VT Virtual Tape VolumesRAID Level Hot Spare sledsInterleave Enhancing performanceVirtual Tape To set up RAID Level 10 with Hot Spare sleds Optional Hot Spare SledPlanned configuration is a work-in-process ZonesPrinciples of Zoning Device portion defines the LUNsFactors to consider Status and Sense DataType ZoneInfo Configuring Zoning To create a zoneTo remove zones To change current zonesErrors Zone definition tables The Zone commandsUpdating Firmware Updating firmware via the RS-232 serial portUpdating firmware via the optional Ethernet card Cd c\diamond\flash Type put ....imaDiagnostics, Upgrade and Maintenance Power On Self Test Post Each timeRS-232 Monitoring Port and CLI One tool to Ethernet Monitoring Port and CLI If the optionalPower Supply Monitoring The Diamond-VT System Fault LED and Error Codes If a serious25C 32C 35C 40C Disk Drive Activity and Disk Fault LEDs Each Monitoring, reporting Troubleshooting Windows 2000 special instructions Error MessagesCommand Line Interface messages Specific situations and suggestionsIf a power supply fails If you can’t access the Diamond-VT CLI via EthernetIf you cannot read or write to the Diamond-VT Type FirmwareRestart in CLIResetting Defaults Factory DefaultDefault Return to Default settingsCommand Default Rebuilding RAID Level 5 and 10 Configurations To synchronize mirrored drives manually Hardware Maintenance Hardware maintenance Hot Swap Operating Instructions Disk DrivesPower Supplies To replace a blower assemblyBlower Assemblies Appendix a Glossary Fibre Channel technologySAN technology Scsi protocolAppendix Feature Appendix B ATA Disk TechnologyFibre Channel Appendix C LunInfo for a Jbod setup LunInfo PartitionInfo active 59TapeVolumeInfo ZoneInfoViii Appendix D Sample Zoning Command Sequences First time configuration after downloadSimple configuration Symmetric ModelAsymmetric Model ZoneClearAll ZoneCreate zone1ZoneAddPort zone1 ZoneCreate zone2 ZoneAddPort zone2 ZoneCreate zone3Combined Symmetric/Asymmetric Model Appendix E Specifications Rack Mount DimensionsFloor Mount Dimensions Environmental and physicalAppendix F Product Safety Safety compliancesEMC specifications Radio and television interferenceAppendix G Part numbers Description All modelsAppendix H Warranty Manufacturer limited warrantyContact Atto Technology, Inc
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