Using Remote Replication With Other Features, 188

Before creating a virtual disk pair, verify the following:

1The Remote Replication premium feature is installed, enabled and activated on the primary and secondary storage arrays.

2The storage arrays containing the two virtual disks you want to replicate are connected through a Fibre Channel fabric interface.

3The secondary storage array contains a virtual disk that is equal (or larger) in capacity than the primary virtual disk in the replicated pair.

4Both virtual disks are visible to the storage management software.

5All I/O into the secondary virtual disk is stopped and all file systems are unmounted.

CAUTION: Creating a replicated virtual disk pair starts a synchronous process between the primary and secondary virtual disks. This process overwrites all existing data on the secondary virtual disk and sets the disk to read-only access. If you have existing data on your secondary virtual disk, back up the data before creating the replicated virtual disk pair.

Using Remote Replication With Other Features

Remote replication can be used with other disk utility features such as:

•Storage Partitioning

•Snapshot Virtual Disk Premium Feature

•Virtual Disk Copy Premium Feature

•Virtual Disk Expansion (VDE)

Snapshot Virtual Disk and Virtual Disk Copy are premium features that must be enabled and activated on the primary storage array.

Storage Partitioning With Remote Replication

Storage partitioning allows hosts to share access to virtual disks in a storage array. A storage partition is created when a collection of hosts (host group) or

asingle host is defined, then a virtual disk-to-logical unit number (LUN) mapping is defined. This mapping allows you to define which host or host group has access to a particular virtual disk in the storage array.

Storage partition definitions for the local storage array and remote storage array are independent. Establishing similar definitions on the disk serving in a secondary role reduces administrative effort required during site recovery.

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Configuration: Premium Feature— Remote Replication

MD3620F, MD3600f specifications

Dell's MD3620F and MD3600F storage arrays are designed for businesses seeking dependable, high-performance storage solutions tailored to meet the demands of modern data management. These models offer a blend of scalability, efficiency, and advanced features, making them well-suited for a range of applications, from virtual environments to critical database operations.

One of the primary features of the MD3620F and MD3600F is their support for a hybrid storage architecture. This approach allows organizations to combine flash storage with traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) to optimize performance and cost. The MD3620F focuses heavily on all-flash configurations, delivering exceptional speed and lower latency, ideal for I/O-intensive workloads.

Scalability is another hallmark of these storage solutions. The MD3600F allows users to scale up to 120 drives, providing robust capacity to meet growing data needs. The MD3620F is engineered for environments where data availability and speed are paramount, with support for high IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) and consistent performance under stress.

In terms of data management, both systems integrate with Dell’s proprietary software, which enhances operational efficiency through features like automated tiering. This technology optimizes data placement between different storage types based on access frequency, ensuring that hot data is readily available while reducing costs associated with less critical data.

Reliability is crucial for businesses that depend on their storage systems. The MD3620F and MD3600F come equipped with advanced data protection mechanisms, such as RAID support, which safeguards against data loss, and snapshot capabilities that provide point-in-time copies of data. Moreover, these solutions include hot-swappable components, ensuring minimal downtime for maintenance and repairs.

Connectivity is also a strong suit of these storage arrays. They support multiple connectivity options, including SAS and iSCSI, allowing for flexible integration into existing IT infrastructures. This adaptability enhances their appeal to a wide range of enterprise environments.

In summary, the Dell MD3620F and MD3600F stand out as robust storage solutions with a combination of hybrid and all-flash configurations, scalability, advanced data management tools, and enhanced reliability features. These characteristics make them ideal for organizations looking to enhance their data storage capabilities while maintaining high performance and efficiency.