Dell Computer Drive manual Host Context Agent

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Host Context Agent

The host context agent discovers the host topology. The host context agent starts when the host is started and stops when the host is turned off. The topology discovered by the host context agent can be viewed by clicking Configure Host Access (Automatic) in the Configure tab in the MD Storage Manager.

You must stop and restart the host context agent to see the changes to the host topology if any of the following situations occur:

•A new storage array is attached to the host server.

•A host is added while turning on power to the RAID controller modules.

Linux

In Linux, you can stop and start the host context agent from the command line. Use the following syntax: SMagent start or SMagent stop.

You will stop and then restart SMagent after performing either of the two following maintenance tasks.

•Moving a controller offline or replacing a controller.

•Removing host-to-array connections from or attaching host-to-array connections to a Linux host server.

Windows

In Windows, you can stop and start the host context agent from the Services option of the Administrative Tools. To access the host context agent:

1Select Start → Settings → Control Panel → Administrative Tools → Services.

or

Select Start → Administrative Tools → Services.

2From the list of services, select Modular Disk Storage Manager Agent.

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About Your Host

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Contents Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager User’s Guide W . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o mFebruary 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 About This Guide User InterfaceModify Tab Configure TabSummary Tab Support Tab Tools TabISCSI Tab Other Information You May Need View online help View the event logAccess Virtual Disk About Your Storage ArrayOut-of-Band and In-Band Management Manual Addition of a Storage Array Adding Storage ArraysAutomatic Discovery of Storage Arrays Naming Storage Arrays Removing Storage ArraysSetting Up Your Storage Array Initial setup tasks includeStorage Array Storage Array Support Data Setting a PasswordTo set, change, or remove a password for a storage array Connecting the Serial Cable Resetting a PasswordPassword Guidelines Consider these guidelines when you create a passwordSystem Setup for Password Reset Microsoft Windows Operating SystemsReset 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 Windows Starting or Restarting the Host-Agent Software in LinuxStorage Array Storage Array Using iSCSI Using the iSCSI TabCreating 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 Configuring the MD3000i iSCSI Host Ports Advanced iSCSI Host Ports SettingsLowest priority default Viewing or Ending an iSCSI SessionViewing 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 Configuring Host Access About Your HostAutomatic Configuration Manual Configuration using SAS HBAManual Configuration using iSCSI Click NextRemoving Host Access Adding a Host to a Host Group Host GroupsCreating a Host Group Removing a Host From a Host Group Moving a Host to a Different Host GroupHost Topology Removing a Host GroupHost 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 Automatically Configuring Hot Spares Hot Spare Drive ProtectionManually Configuring Hot Spares Click OK in the dialog boxModifying and Removing Host-to-Virtual Disk Mapping Host-to-Virtual Disk MappingCreating Host-to-Virtual Disk Mappings Storage Partitioning Changing Controller Ownership of the Virtual DiskVirtual 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 Creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk Using the Simple Path About 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 Creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk Using the Advanced Path About the Advanced PathSnapshot Virtual Disks SMrepassist -ffilename-identifier Creating the Snapshot Using the Advanced Path Snapshot Virtual Disks Specifying Snapshot Virtual Disk Names Source-virtual disk-name-sequence-numberSnapshot Repository Capacity Re-creating Snapshot Virtual Disks Disabling a Snapshot Virtual DiskTo disable a snapshot virtual disk Preparing Host Servers to Re-create a Snapshot Virtual DiskRe-creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk Premium Feature-Virtual Disk Copy Creating a Virtual Disk Copy for an Mscs Shared Disk Reasons to use virtual disk copy include the followingIf you are using the target virtual disk for backup purposes Virtual Disk Read/Write PermissionsVirtual Disk Copy Restrictions Creating a Virtual Disk Copy Preparing Host Servers to Create a Virtual Disk CopyClick Next at the bottom Copying the Virtual DiskChoose the target virtual disk Setting Copy Priority Storage Array Performance During Virtual Disk CopyTo stop a virtual disk copy, complete the following steps Stopping a Virtual Disk CopyRecopying a Virtual Disk Click Yes to stop the virtual disk copyPreparing Host Servers to Recopy a Virtual Disk Recopying the Virtual Disk Removing Copy Pairs Virtual Disk Copy Firmware Downloads Downloading RAID Controller and Nvsram PackagesDownloading Both RAID Controller and Nvsram Firmware Downloading Only Nvsram Firmware Downloading Non-redundant Mscs Nvsram FirmwareDownloading Physical Disk Firmware Downloading EMM Firmware 100 Storage Array Profile Troubleshooting ProblemsRecovery Guru Device Health ConditionsSMrepassist Utility 102103 Support Information PackageClick Browse Recovering from an Unidentified Storage Array Unidentified DevicesPing host-name-or-IP-address-of-the-host 105Troubleshooting 107 Removing an EMM from the Expansion EnclosureInserting an EMM into an Expansion Enclosure 108 MD3000 Maintenance ConsiderationsRemoving and Inserting Physical Disks 109 110 Index 111Index 113 114

Computer Drive specifications

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