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Locating a Disk Group
You can physically locate and identify all of the physical disks that comprise a selected disk group. An LED blinks on each physical disk in the disk group.
To locate a disk group:
1In the AMW, select the Logical tab.
2Select the appropriate disk group and from the toolbar select Disk Group→ Blink
The LEDs for the selected disk group blink.
3After locating the disk group, click OK. The LEDs stop blinking.
4If the LEDs for the disk group do not stop blinking, from the toolbar in AMW, select Storage Array→ Blink→ Stop All Indications.
If the LEDs successfully stop blinking, a confirmation message appears.
5Click OK.
Creating Virtual Disks
Keep these important guidelines in mind when you create a virtual disk:
•Many hosts can have 256 logical unit numbers (LUNs) mapped per storage partition, but the number varies per operating system.
•After you create one or more virtual disks and assign a mapping, you must register the virtual disk with the operating system. In addition, you must ensure that the host recognizes the mapping between the physical storage array name and the virtual disk name. Depending on the operating system, run the host-based utilities, hot_add and SMdevices.
•If the storage array contains physical disks with different media types or different interface types, multiple Unconfigured Capacity nodes may appear in the Logical pane of the Logical tab. Each physical disk type has an associated Unconfigured Capacity node if unassigned physical disks are available in the expansion enclosure.
•You cannot create a disk group and subsequent virtual disk from different physical disk technology types. Each physical disk that comprises the disk group must be of the same physical disk type.
NOTE: Ensure that you create disk groups before creating virtual disks.
102Configuration: Disk Groups and Virtual Disks
Contents
Dell PowerVault MD3600f and MD3620f Storage Arrays
Page
Contents
Cache Functions and Features
Planning MD3600f Series Storage Array Terms and Concepts
Virtual Disk Operations Limit
Configuration About
Configuring Alert Notifications
Starting or Stopping the Host Context Agent
Enabling or Disabling the Event Monitor
Moving a Host to a Different Host Group
Managing Host Port Identifiers
Configuring Hot Spare Physical Disks
Host-to-Virtual Disk Mapping
134
130
133
135
Snapshot Repository Capacity 154
148
153
157
168
167
Failed RAID Controller Module 167
169
Using Remote Replication
Viewing the Properties Pane Viewing Logical Elements
219
Using DM Multipathing Devices 212
211
221
239
Power Supply/Cooling Fan Module 237
235
242
Viewing the Firmware Inventory 259
Media Errors and Unreadable Sectors 257
Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting 256
261
279
Recovering From an Unresponsive 276
275
281
Troubleshooting a Damaged Array 299
Troubleshooting Power
Troubleshooting Expansion 294 Enclosure Management Modules
292
Introduction
About This Document
Dell PowerVault MD3600f Series Storage Array
Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager
Other Information You May Need
Introduction
Planning About Your Storage Array
Overview
Hardware Features
Front-Panel Features and Indicators
Planning About Your Storage Array
Item Indicator, Button, or Icon Description Connector
Back Panel Features and Indicators
Hard-Drive Indicator Patterns
Hard Drive Indicators
Power Supply and Cooling Fan Features
Drive-Status Indicator Pattern Condition
Power Indicator Codes
Power Indicator Codes Item LED Type Icon Description
Planning RAID Controller Modules
RAID Controller Modules
RAID Controller Module Connectors and Features
Function
Component Function
RAID Controller Module-Additional Features
Battery Backup Unit
Host Channel LED Link/Rate Indications
Storage Array Thermal Shutdown
Cache Functions and Features
System Password Reset
Cache Mirroring
SFP Transceivers, Fiber Optic, and SAS Cables
Write-Back Cache
Write-Through Cache
Fiber Optic Cable Connection
Interoperability of 2 Gbps, 4 Gbps, and 8 Gbps Devices
Planning MD3600f Series Storage Array Terms and Concepts
Physical Disks, Virtual Disks, and Disk Groups
Physical Disks
Physical Disk States
Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology
Virtual Disks and Disk Groups
Virtual Disk States
RAID Controller Virtual Disk States Description
RAID Levels
RAID Level Usage
RAID
Segment Size
Virtual Disk Operations
Virtual Disk Initialization
Consistency Check
Background Initialization
Foreground Initialization
Media Verification
Cycle Time
Virtual Disk Operations Limit
Disk Group Operations
RAID Level Migration
Segment Size Migration
Disk Group Defragmentation
Virtual Disk Capacity Expansion
Disk Group Expansion
Disk Group Operations Limit
RAID Background Operations Priority
Virtual Disk Migration and Disk Roaming
Disk Migration
Planning MD3600f Series Storage Array Terms and Concepts
Advanced Features
Disk Roaming
Host Server-to-Virtual Disk Mapping
Host Types
Snapshot Virtual Disks
Snapshot Repository Virtual Disk
Virtual Disk Copy
Virtual Disk Recovery
Source Virtual Disk
Target Virtual Disk
Using Snapshot and Disk Copy Together
Multi-Path Software
Preferred and Alternate Controllers and Paths
Load Balancing
Virtual Disk Ownership
Monitoring MD3600f Series System Performance
Planning MD3600f Series Storage Array Terms and Concepts
Performance Monitor Table Description Column Headings
Planning MD3600f Series Storage Array Terms and Concepts
Configuration Overview
User Interface
Enterprise Management Window
Inheriting the System Settings
Array Management Window
Configuration Overview
Out-of-Band and In-Band Management
Out-of-Band Management
Storage Arrays
Adding Storage Arrays
In-Band Management
Automatic Discovery of Storage Arrays
Manual Addition of a Storage Array
Select Edit→ Add Storage Array
Setting Up Your Storage Array
Locating Storage Arrays
AMW, select Storage Array→ Blink→ Storage Array
Stop All Indications
Naming or Renaming Storage Arrays
Name/Rename Storage Arrays dialog appears
Setting a Password
Type the New password
Password Guidelines
Viewing Storage Array Connections
Select Edit→ Comment
Adding/Editing a Comment to an Existing Storage Array
Removing Storage Arrays
Select Edit→ Remove→ Storage Array
Enabling Premium Features
Failover Alert Display
Changing the Cache Settings on the Storage Array
Changing Expansion Enclosure ID Number
Change→ Enclosure ID
Changing the Enclosure Order in the Physical Pane
Configuring Alert Notifications
Select Configure Alerts
AMW, select Storage Array→ Change→ Enclosure Order
Configuring E-mail Alerts
Configuration About Your Storage Array
Configuring Snmp Alerts
Configuration About Your Storage Array
Battery Settings
Setting the Storage Array RAID Controller Module Clocks
Configuration Event Monitor
Linux
Enabling or Disabling the Event Monitor
Windows
Select Action→ Properties
Configuration About Your Host
Configuring Host Access
Using the Mappings Tab
Defining a Host
Select Mappings→ Define→ Host
Removing Host Access
Managing Host Groups
Select Mappings→ Remove
Adding a Host to a Host Group
Creating a Host Group
Select Mappings→ Define→ Host Group
Removing a Host From a Host Group
Select Mappings→ Move
Moving a Host to a Different Host Group
Removing a Host Group
Move Host Confirmation dialog appears
Host Topology
Starting or Stopping the Host Context Agent
Linux
Data Path Protection
Windows
Click Action→ Start
Managing Host Port Identifiers
Add Host Port Identifier dialog appears
Configuration About Your Host
Configuration About Your Host
Configuration Disk Groups and Virtual Disks
Creating Disk Groups and Virtual Disks
Creating Disk Groups
Introduction Create Disk Group window is displayed
100
101
Locating a Disk Group
Creating Virtual Disks
103
Map later Using Mappings View
Changing the Virtual Disk Modification Priority
104
Changing the Virtual Disk Cache Settings
105
106
Changing the Segment Size of a Virtual Disk
107
108
Changing the I/O Type
Select Virtual Disk→ Change→ Segment Size
Modification Priority
Choosing an Appropriate Physical Disk Type
File system typical Database Multimedia Custom
109
Physical Disk Security With Self Encrypting Disk
110
111
Creating a Security Key
112
Click Create Key
113
Changing a Security Key
114
Saving a Security Key
Click Change Key
115
116
Unlocking Secure Physical Disks
Erasing Secure Physical Disks
117
Configuring Hot Spare Physical Disks
Select Physical disk→ Hot Spare Coverage
118
Hot Spare Physical Disk Options window is displayed
Click Unassign
119
Hot Spare Operation
Hot Spares and Rebuild
Global Hot Spares
120
Enclosure Loss Protection
Hot Spare Drive Protection
121
122
Criteria for Enclosure Loss Protection RAID Level
123
Host-to-Virtual Disk Mapping
Creating Host-to-Virtual Disk Mappings
124
125
Modifying and Removing Host-to-Virtual Disk Mapping
Mapping
126
Changing Controller Ownership of the Virtual Disk
Select Virtual Disk→ Change→ Ownership/Preferred Path
127
Removing Host-to-Virtual Disk Mapping
128
Select Disk Group→ Change→ RAID Level
Changing the RAID Level of a Disk Group
Select Disk Group→ Change→ Ownership/Preferred Path
129
Restricted Mappings
130
Mapping Restrictions Operating System Highest LUN
131
Select Disk Group→ Ownership/Preferred Path. or
132
Changing the RAID Level of a Disk Group
133
Storage Partitioning
134
Disk Group and Virtual Disk Expansion
Select Disk Group→ Add Free Capacity Physical Disks
135
Using Free Capacity
Virtual Disk Expansion
136
Export Disk Group
Using Unconfigured Capacity
Disk Group Migration
Non-Exportable Components
Importing a Disk Group
Import Disk Group
Exporting a Disk Group
138
Storage Array Media Scan
Non-Importable Components
139
Changing Media Scan Settings
140
Suspending the Media Scan
141
142
Configuration Premium Feature- Snapshot Virtual Disks
143
Creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk Using the Simple Path
144
About the Simple Path
145
146
Select Virtual Disk→ Snapshot→ Create. or
147
Creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk Using the Advanced Path
About the Advanced Path
148
149
150
Creating the Snapshot Using the Advanced Path
151
Specify Virtual Disk Parameters window is displayed
152
Specifying Snapshot Virtual Disk Names
153
Snapshot Repository Capacity
154
155
Click Add Physical Disks
Add Physical Disks window closes
156
Re-creating Snapshot Virtual Disks
Select Virtual Disk→ Snapshot→ Re-create
157
Disabling a Snapshot Virtual Disk
158
Preparing Host Servers to Re-create a Snapshot Virtual Disk
159
Re-creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk
160
Configuration Premium Feature- Virtual Disk Copy
161
Creating a Virtual Disk Copy for an Mscs Shared Disk
162
Virtual Disk Read/Write Permissions
163
Virtual Disk Copy Restrictions
164
Creating a Virtual Disk Copy
Before You Begin
165
Failed Virtual Disk Copy
Virtual Disk Copy and Modification Operations
Create Copy Wizard
166
Copy Manager
Preferred RAID Controller Module Ownership
Failed RAID Controller Module
167
Copying the Virtual Disk
168
Setting Copy Priority
Storage Array Performance During Virtual Disk Copy
169
Select Change→ Copy Priority
Stopping a Virtual Disk Copy
Recopying a Virtual Disk
170
Preparing Host Servers to Recopy a Virtual Disk
171
Recopying the Virtual Disk
Select Copy→ Re-Copy
172
Removing Copy Pairs
173
174
175
176
Configuration Premium Feature- Remote Replication
177
Activating Remote Replication
Replication Repository Virtual Disks
178
RAID Levels for Replication Repository Virtual Disks
Primary and Secondary Virtual Disk Pairs
179
Using Remote Replication With Other Features
Storage Partitioning With Remote Replication
180
Virtual Disk Expansion With Remote Replication
Snapshot Virtual Disk With Remote Replication
Virtual Disk Copy With Remote Replication
181
Zoning Guidelines for Remote Replication
Required Switch Zoning Configurations
Switch Cascading
182
Prerequisites
Setting Up and Managing Remote Replication
Journaling File Systems and Remote Replication
183
184
Preview Activate Remote Replication wizard is displayed
Completed Activate Remote Replication message is displayed
185
Creating a Remote Replication
186
Setting the Write Mode
Selecting the Secondary Virtual Disk
187
Setting Synchronization Priority and Synchronization Method
188
Completing the Remote Replication
189
RAID Controller Module Ownership/Preferred Path
190
Viewing the Storage Array Profile
191
Select View Associated Logical Elements
Viewing the Properties Pane
Viewing Logical Elements of the Secondary Virtual Disk
192
193
Virtual Disk Status Icons
Changing Write Mode and Consistency Group Membership
Write Mode and Consistency Group Membership IconStatus
194
Select Change→ Write Mode
195
Resynchronizing Virtual Disks
Normally Synchronized Virtual Disks
196
Changing Synchronization Priority and Method
197
198
Unsynchronized Virtual Disks
199
Automatically Resynchronizing Virtual Disks
Manually Resynchronizing Virtual Disks
200
201
Suspending a Remote Replication
202
Resuming a Remote Replication
About Resumed Remote Replications
203
Select Test Replication Communication
204
Deleting a Primary Virtual Disk
205
Deleting a Secondary Virtual Disk
206
Removing a Remote Replication From a Storage Array
207
Deactivating the Remote Replication on the Storage Array
208
Disabling the Remote Replication Premium Feature
209
210
Configuration Device Mapper Multipath for Linux
211
Using DM Multipathing Devices
Prerequisites
212
Device Mapper Configuration Steps
Scan for Newly Added Virtual Disks
213
214
Create a New fdisk Partition on a Multipath Device Node
Add a New Partition to Device Mapper
215
Ready for Use
Create a File System on a Device Mapper Partition
Mount a Device Mapper Partition
216
Device Mapper Commands Descriptions
Important Information About Special Partitions
217
Limitations and Known Issues
218
Troubleshooting
219
QuestionAnswer
220
Recommended Tools
221
Removing the Front Bezel
Installing the Front Bezel
Front Bezel Optional
222
Removing a Drive Blank
Safety Models AMT, E03J, and E04J
Hard Drives
223
Installing a Drive Blank
Removing a Hard Drive
224
Removing and Installing a Hard Drive
225
Installing a Hard Drive
226
Removing a Hard Drive From a Hard-Drive Carrier
227
228
Removing a RAID Controller Module Blank
Installing a Hard Drive Into a Drive Carrier
RAID Controller Module
229
Installing a RAID Controller Module Blank
230
Removing a RAID Controller Module
231
Installing a RAID Controller Module
232
Opening the RAID Controller Module
233
Closing the RAID Controller Module
234
RAID Controller Module Backup Battery Unit
Removing the RAID Controller Module Backup Battery Unit
235
Installing the RAID Controller Module Backup Battery Unit
236
Power Supply/Cooling Fan Module
Removing a Power Supply/Cooling Fan Module
237
Installing a Power Supply/Cooling Fan Module
238
Control Panel
Removing the Control Panel
239
240
Installing the Control Panel
241
Backplane
Removing the Backplane
242
243
16. Removing and Installing the Backplane-PowerVault MD3600f
17. Removing and Installing the Backplane-PowerVault MD3620f
Installing the Backplane
245
246
Downloading RAID Controller and Nvsram Packages
247
Downloading Both RAID Controller and Nvsram Firmware
248
Select Tools→ Upgrade RAID Controller Module Firmware
Click Transfer
249
Downloading Only Nvsram Firmware
250
251
Click Nvsram in the Download area
252
Downloading Physical Disk Firmware
253
Download Physical Disk Introduction window appears
254
Download Environmental EMM Firmware dialog appears
AMW, select Advanced→ Maintenance→ Download→ EMM Firmware
Downloading MD1200 Series Expansion Module EMM Firmware
255
Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology Smart
256
Media Errors and Unreadable Sectors
257
258
Viewing the Firmware Inventory
259
260
Volume Shadow-Copy Service
Microsoft Services
Virtual Disk Service
261
262
263
Start-Up Routine
Device Health Conditions
Start-Up Routine Indications Look/listen for Action
On the Setup tab, select Manage a Storage Array
264
Status Icon Description
265
Additional Status Icons Description
Storage Array Support Data
266
Automatically Collect the Support Bundle Data
Enter the Execution summary
267
Collecting the Physical Disk Data
268
Event Log
269
Recovery Guru
Storage Array Profile
270
271
Viewing the Logical Associations
Select View→ Associated Logical Elements. or
272
Viewing the Physical Associations
Finding Nodes
273
Select Find all free capacity nodes
274
Select View→ Go To→ Snapshot Virtual Disk
Using Go To
Click Find Next
Select View→ Go To→ Snapshot Repository Virtual Disk
Select View→ Go To→ Target Virtual Disk
Recovering From an Unresponsive Storage Array Condition
Select View→ Go To→ Source Virtual Disk
276
277
278
Locating a Physical Disk
Locating an Expansion Enclosure
279
Capturing the State Information
Select Physical Disk→ Blink→ Expansion Enclosure
280
SMrepassist Utility
281
Recovering From an Unidentified Storage Array
Unidentified Devices
282
283
284
Starting or Restarting the Host Context Agent Software
285
286
287
288
Troubleshooting Loss of Communication
Troubleshooting an SFP Transceiver
289
290
291
Removing an SFP Module
Troubleshooting External Connections
Troubleshooting Power Supply/Cooling Fan Module
292
Troubleshooting Array Cooling Problems
293
Troubleshooting Expansion Enclosure Management Modules
294
Troubleshooting RAID Controller Modules
295
Troubleshooting Hard Drives
296
Troubleshooting Array and Expansion Enclosure Connections
297
Troubleshooting a Wet Storage Array
298
Troubleshooting a Damaged Array
299
Invalid Storage Array
ECC Errors
Conditions
300
Noncritical Conditions
PCI Errors
Critical Conditions
301
302
Contacting Dell
Visit support.dell.com
303
304
Index
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312