Manuals / Dell / Computer Equipment / Network Card

Dell MD3000 owner manual Hot Spares and Rebuild, RAID Level Usage, Segment Size

Models: MD3000

1 112
Download 112 pages 15.6 Kb
Page 37
Image 37

RAID Level Usage

To ensure best performance, you should select an optimal RAID level when you create a system physical disk. The optimal RAID level for your disk array depends on a number of factors, including:

•Number of physical disks in the disk array

•Capacity of the physical disks in the disk array

•Need for redundant access to the data (fault tolerance)

•Disk performance requirements

RAID 0 is best used for video editing, image editing, prepress applications, or any application requiring high bandwidth.

RAID 1 offers fast performance and the best data availability, but also the highest disk overhead. It is best used for accounting, payroll, or financial applications.

RAID 5 is best used for file, application, database, web, e-mail, news, and intranet servers.

RAID 10 works well for medium-sized databases or any environment that requires high performance and fault tolerance and moderate-to-medium capacity.

Segment Size

Disk striping enables data to be written across multiple physical disks. Disk striping enhances performance because striped disks are accessed simultaneously.

The segment size or stripe element size specifies the size of data in a stripe written to a single disk. The MD3000 supports stripe element sizes of 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, and 512 KB. The default stripe element size is 128 KB.

Stripe width, or depth, refers to the number of disks involved in an array where striping is implemented. For example, a four-disk disk group with disk striping has a stripe width of four.

NOTE: Although disk striping delivers excellent performance, striping alone does not provide data redundancy.

Hot Spares and Rebuild

A valuable strategy to protect data is to assign available physical disks in the storage array as hot spares. A hot spare adds another level of fault tolerance to the storage array.

A hot spare is an idle, powered-on, stand-by physical disk ready for immediate use in case of disk failure. If a hot spare is defined in an enclosure in which a redundant virtual disk experiences a physical disk failure, a rebuild of the degraded virtual disk is automatically initiated by the RAID controller modules. If no hot spares are defined, the rebuild process will be initiated by the RAID controller modules when a replacement physical disk is inserted into the storage array.

Using Your RAID Enclosure

37

Page 36 Page 38
Page 37
Image 37
Dell MD3000 owner manual Hot Spares and Rebuild, RAID Level Usage, Segment Size
Page 36 Page 38

MD3000 specifications

The Dell MD3000 is a renowned storage area network (SAN) solution recognized for its flexibility, scalability, and high performance. Designed to meet the demands of small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and enterprise environments, the MD3000 offers a plethora of features that enhance data management and storage capabilities.

One of the standout features of the MD3000 is its modular design. This allows users to start with a basic configuration and expand their storage capacity as their needs grow. The system can support up to 30 drives, including both SATA and SAS drives, giving users the ability to optimize cost and performance based on their specific requirements. With support for a diverse range of drive types, the MD3000 ensures that businesses can implement a storage solution that aligns perfectly with their performance and budgetary needs.

The MD3000 leverages advanced technologies to deliver exceptional performance and reliability. It is equipped with Intelligent Disk Pools that optimize the allocation of data across drives, ensuring improved access speeds and overall system efficiency. This dynamic management of data not only enhances performance but also extends the lifespan of the storage devices.

Data protection is another critical component of the MD3000. The system features various RAID configurations, allowing users to choose the level of redundancy that suits their operational requirements. Additionally, robust snapshot capabilities help businesses create point-in-time copies of their data, enabling quick recovery in case of data loss or corruption.

Connectivity options are abundant with the MD3000. It supports both iSCSI and Fibre Channel, providing users the flexibility to integrate it seamlessly into existing network infrastructures. This adaptability makes it an attractive option for organizations looking to modernize their storage systems without overhauling their entire architecture.

Furthermore, the MD3000 is equipped with a user-friendly management interface. The GUI enables quick provisioning and monitoring of storage resources while providing insightful analytics and alerts, allowing IT teams to maintain optimal performance with ease.

In summary, the Dell MD3000 is a highly versatile and efficient storage solution that meets diverse organizational needs. Its scalable architecture, advanced features, and strong support for data protection and management make it an ideal choice for businesses aiming to enhance their storage capabilities while ensuring reliability and performance. Whether for virtualization, database management, or general storage needs, the MD3000 stands out as an excellent investment in enterprise storage technology.