Dell Computer Drive manual About This Guide, User Interface

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About This Guide

Dell™ PowerVault™ Modular Disk (MD) Storage Manager software is used to create and manage multiple storage arrays. The software can be used on any host attached to the storage array, as well as on storage management stations connected to the same sub-network.

MD Storage Manager is a graphical user interface (GUI) with wizard-guided tools and a task-based structure designed to reduce the complexity of installation, configuration, management, and diagnostic tasks.

MD Storage Manager software also contains an optional event monitoring service that is used to send alerts when a critical problem with the storage array occurs and a command line interface (CLI) to access functions performed by MD Storage Manager.

This guide is intended for users who are already familiar with the basic functions of their storage array. Any differences in certain functions between supported operating systems are explained where applicable.

MD Storage Manager online help contains detailed answers to software- related questions. You can access online help by clicking Help located at the top right corner of the MD Storage Manager interface. Refer to your storage array’s Installation Guide for information on installing the MD Storage Manager.

User Interface

The Storage Manager screen is divided into three parts:

•The Title Bar at the top of the screen displays the name of the application and the Dell logo.

•Beneath the Title Bar is the Array Selector, listing the MD Storage Array that is currently selected. The icon next to the array’s name indicates its condition. You can choose another array by clicking the down-arrow next to the array’s name and highlighting a different array in the drop-down list. Links to the right of the array name let you add or remove arrays from the list of managed arrays. Links to the far right provide access to online help or close the Storage Manager.

About This Guide

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Contents W . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager User’s GuideFebruary Contents Connecting the Serial Cable System Setup for Password Reset Viewing iSCSI Statistics and Setting Baseline Disk Groups and Virtual Disks Premium Feature-Snapshot Virtual Disks Troubleshooting Problems 101 Contents User Interface About This GuideModify Tab Configure TabSummary Tab Support Tab Tools TabISCSI Tab View online help View the event log Other Information You May NeedAbout Your Storage Array Access Virtual DiskOut-of-Band and In-Band Management Manual Addition of a Storage Array Adding Storage ArraysAutomatic Discovery of Storage Arrays Removing Storage Arrays Naming Storage ArraysInitial setup tasks include Setting Up Your Storage ArrayStorage Array Storage Array Support Data Setting a PasswordTo set, change, or remove a password for a storage array Consider these guidelines when you create a password Resetting a PasswordPassword Guidelines Connecting the Serial CableMicrosoft Windows Operating Systems System Setup for Password ResetReset Password Changing Expansion Enclosure ID Numbers Configuring Alert NotificationsConfiguring E-mail Alerts Storage Array Configuring Snmp Alerts Starting or Restarting the Host-Agent Software in Linux Starting or Restarting the Host-Agent Software in WindowsStorage Array Storage Array Using the iSCSI Tab Using iSCSICreating Chap Secrets Changing the iSCSI Target AuthenticationEntering Mutual Authentication Permissions Valid Ascii Characters for Chap Secrets Space Using iSCSI Type the alias in the iSCSI target alias field and click OK Changing the iSCSI Target IdentificationChanging the iSCSI Target Discovery Advanced iSCSI Host Ports Settings Configuring the MD3000i iSCSI Host PortsViewing or Ending an iSCSI Session Lowest priority defaultViewing iSCSI Statistics and Setting Baseline Statistics Edit, Remove, or Rename Host Topology Host Topology Actions Desired Action Using iSCSI Enabling the Event Monitor Service Status area, click Start LinuxEvent Monitor Disabling the Event Monitor About Your Host Configuring Host AccessManual Configuration using SAS HBA Automatic ConfigurationClick Next Manual Configuration using iSCSIRemoving Host Access Adding a Host to a Host Group Host GroupsCreating a Host Group Moving a Host to a Different Host Group Removing a Host From a Host GroupRemoving a Host Group Host TopologyHost Context Agent Failover with Red Hat Enterprise Linux Create a virtual disk and map it to LUN Reboot the hostData Path Protection About Your Host Disk Groups and Virtual Disks Creating Disk Groups and Virtual Disks Manual Configuration Disk Groups and Virtual Disks Disk Groups and Virtual Disks Hot Spare Drive Protection Automatically Configuring Hot SparesClick OK in the dialog box Manually Configuring Hot SparesModifying and Removing Host-to-Virtual Disk Mapping Host-to-Virtual Disk MappingCreating Host-to-Virtual Disk Mappings Changing Controller Ownership of the Virtual Disk Storage PartitioningVirtual Disk Expansion Disk Group and Virtual Disk ExpansionDisk Group Expansion Storage Array Media Scan Changing Media Scan SettingsErrors discovered by the media scan include Suspending the Media Scan Microsoft ServicesVirtual Disk Service Volume Shadow-Copy Service Disk Groups and Virtual Disks Premium Feature-Snapshot Virtual Disks About the Simple Path Creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk Using the Simple PathHost-to-Virtual Disk Mapping The default setting is Map now SMrepassist -ffilename-identifier Creating the Snapshot Using the Simple Path Snapshot Virtual Disks About the Advanced Path Creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk Using the Advanced PathSnapshot Virtual Disks SMrepassist -ffilename-identifier Creating the Snapshot Using the Advanced Path Snapshot Virtual Disks Source-virtual disk-name-sequence-number Specifying Snapshot Virtual Disk NamesSnapshot Repository Capacity Disabling a Snapshot Virtual Disk Re-creating Snapshot Virtual DisksPreparing Host Servers to Re-create a Snapshot Virtual Disk To disable a snapshot virtual diskRe-creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk Premium Feature-Virtual Disk Copy Reasons to use virtual disk copy include the following Creating a Virtual Disk Copy for an Mscs Shared DiskVirtual Disk Read/Write Permissions If you are using the target virtual disk for backup purposesVirtual Disk Copy Restrictions Preparing Host Servers to Create a Virtual Disk Copy Creating a Virtual Disk CopyClick Next at the bottom Copying the Virtual DiskChoose the target virtual disk Storage Array Performance During Virtual Disk Copy Setting Copy PriorityClick Yes to stop the virtual disk copy Stopping a Virtual Disk CopyRecopying a Virtual Disk To stop a virtual disk copy, complete the following stepsPreparing Host Servers to Recopy a Virtual Disk Recopying the Virtual Disk Removing Copy Pairs Virtual Disk Copy Downloading RAID Controller and Nvsram Packages Firmware DownloadsDownloading Both RAID Controller and Nvsram Firmware Downloading Non-redundant Mscs Nvsram Firmware Downloading Only Nvsram FirmwareDownloading Physical Disk Firmware Downloading EMM Firmware 100 Device Health Conditions Troubleshooting ProblemsRecovery Guru Storage Array Profile102 SMrepassist Utility103 Support Information PackageClick Browse Unidentified Devices Recovering from an Unidentified Storage Array105 Ping host-name-or-IP-address-of-the-hostTroubleshooting 107 Removing an EMM from the Expansion EnclosureInserting an EMM into an Expansion Enclosure 108 MD3000 Maintenance ConsiderationsRemoving and Inserting Physical Disks 109 110 111 IndexIndex 113 114

Computer Drive specifications

Dell Computer drives are a crucial component of the brand's range of products, delivering reliable storage solutions tailored for various user needs. Dell offers a diverse lineup of drives, including solid-state drives (SSDs), hard disk drives (HDDs), and hybrid drives, each featuring distinct characteristics that cater to different performance requirements.

One standout feature of Dell's SSDs is their use of advanced NAND flash technology. This results in significantly faster read and write speeds compared to traditional HDDs, ensuring quicker boot times and application loading. With capacities ranging from 128GB to 8TB, Dell SSDs are ideal for both casual users and professionals who require consistent performance for data-intensive applications such as video editing, gaming, and large database management.

Dell's HDDs, on the other hand, remain a popular choice for users who prioritize storage capacity over speed. With options available in sizes from 500GB to 10TB, these drives offer users ample space to store large files, such as videos, music libraries, and software applications. Dell's enterprise-grade HDDs are known for their durability and reliability, making them suitable for server environments where data integrity is paramount.

Incorporating hybrid drives, Dell brings the best of both worlds. By combining the speed of SSDs with the capacity of HDDs, hybrid drives offer a balanced solution for users seeking improved performance without sacrificing storage space. These drives utilize a small amount of SSD storage as a cache to speed up frequently accessed files, enhancing overall system responsiveness.

Dell also emphasizes data protection in its drive offerings, with features like encryption and secure erase capabilities. This focus on security is vital for users in business environments, where sensitive information must be safeguarded against unauthorized access.

Another characteristic that sets Dell drives apart is their compatibility with a wide range of systems. Dell ensures that its drives can seamlessly integrate with various models, from laptops to desktops and servers. Furthermore, Dell's support for RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configurations allows users to configure their storage systems for enhanced performance, redundancy, or both.

In conclusion, Dell Computer drives encompass a comprehensive range of features and technologies that meet the needs of diverse users. With their emphasis on speed, capacity, durability, and security, Dell drives are a trusted choice for anyone seeking reliable storage solutions. Whether in personal computing or enterprise environments, Dell stands at the forefront of storage technology, continually evolving to meet user demands.
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