Dell MD3660I Hardware Installation, Planning The Storage Configuration, Cabling The Storage Array

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Hardware Installation

Before using this guide, ensure that you review the instructions in the:

•Getting Started Guide—The Getting Started Guide that shipped with the storage array, provides information to configure the initial setup of the system.

•Dell PowerVault MD3260/3260i/3660i/3660f/3060e Storage Arrays Administrator's Guide—The Administrator's Guide provides information about important concepts you must know before setting up your storage solution. See the Administrator's Guide at support.dell.com/manuals.

•The Rack Installation instructions, that shipped with the storage array, provides information on how to rack your system.

Planning The Storage Configuration

Consider the following before installing your storage array:

•Evaluate data storage needs and administrative requirements.

•Calculate availability requirements.

•Decide the frequency and level of backups, such as weekly full backups with daily partial backups.

•Consider storage array options, such as password protection and e-mail alert notifications for error conditions.

•Design the configuration of virtual disks and disk groups according to a data organization plan. For example, use one virtual disk for inventory, a second for financial and tax information, and a third for customer information.

•Decide whether to allow space for hot spares, which automatically replace failed physical disks.

Connecting The Storage Array

The storage array is connected to a host using two hot-swappable RAID controller modules. The RAID controller modules are identified as RAID controller module 0 and RAID controller module 1.

Each RAID controller module has four iSCSI IN port connectors that provide Ethernet connections to the host or node. Each RAID controller module also contains an Ethernet management port and a SAS OUT port connector. The Ethernet management port allows you to install a dedicated management station (server or stand-alone system). The SAS OUT port allows you to connect the storage array to optional expansion enclosures for additional storage capacity.

Each PowerVault MD3660i Series storage array can be expanded to a maximum of 120 (or 180, if enabled using Premium Feature activation) physical disks through a maximum of seven PowerVault MD3060e Series expansion enclosures.

Cabling The Storage Array

The iSCSI interface enables different host-to-controller configurations. The figures in this chapter are grouped according to the following categories:

•Direct-attached configurations (no Ethernet switches are used)

•Network-attached (SAN) configurations (Ethernet switches are used)

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