1. Introduction

The Dell™ PowerVault™ MD3000i storage solution consists of a standard or high availability configuration. The standard model has a single controller with two 1GbE ports. It can be deployed to support up to 16 hosts non-redundantly. The high availability model has dual controllers with two 1GbE ports per controller for a total of four 1GbE ports. The dual controller option can connect up to 16 fully redundant hosts. This document provides instructions to setup the MD3000i iSCSI storage solution for usage with VMware® ESX Server™ software.

The Dell PowerVault MD3000i iSCSI storage array contains four Ethernet ports through which the VD can be accessed affording both redundancy and availability of data. Provisioning of storage on servers in a VM environment is a multiple step process starting with definition of the server names for host access. The iSCSI connection is then established from the storage subsystem, and after detection and configuration is established as a two way link with the associated ESX server(s), completing the iSCSI communication subsystem. The final step allocates the detected storage to the individual virtual machines (VM’s), where all or part of the configured storage can be assigned to individual VM’s.

2. Architectural Setup

The following figure illustrates a typical high availability setup for using the MD3000i in an ESX Server farm. As a best practice, Dell recommends using a separate Gigabit Ethernet network switch to handle iSCSI storage traffic. Two servers are connected to two switches. Each switch has a path to the MD3000i via the two dual port controllers. In this base HA configuration, the servers, switches, and MD3000i ports share the same subnet. The NIC ports serving iSCSI traffic on the ESX servers are teamed.

LAN

ESX Server 1

ESX Server 2

 

Ethernet Switches

 

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MD1000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1: MD3000i High

Availability Configuration

 

 

MD1000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dell Inc

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dell MD3000I manual Introduction, Architectural Setup
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MD3000I specifications

The Dell MD3000i is a high-performance storage solution designed to meet the demanding needs of businesses requiring reliable and scalable storage systems. Part of the Dell PowerVault series, the MD3000i offers a robust platform that supports both iSCSI and direct-attach connectivity options, making it versatile enough to fit various IT environments.

One of the primary features of the MD3000i is its ability to support multiple RAID configurations, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, 50, and 60, which ensures data protection and performance optimization. This flexibility allows organizations to tailor their storage setup based on their specific needs, whether prioritizing speed or redundancy.

The system supports up to 15 expansion enclosures, which allows users to scale their storage capacity significantly. The MD3000i can accommodate up to 192TB of raw storage when fully configured, making it suitable for environments with large amounts of data. Additionally, the modular design of the MD3000i means that businesses can easily add drives as needed, thereby reducing upfront costs.

In terms of performance, the MD3000i features hot-swappable drives, helping minimize downtime during maintenance and upgrades. This design philosophy extends to other components as well, allowing for easier management and greater efficiency. The system is also equipped with dual active controllers that provide failover capabilities, ensuring high availability for mission-critical applications.

Another significant aspect of the Dell MD3000i is its integration with various storage management software options, which allow for simplified administration and monitoring. Features such as snapshots and volume cloning aid in data protection and recovery processes, providing additional layers of security for critical information.

Moreover, the MD3000i supports seamless integration with existing server infrastructures and virtualization platforms, enhancing its appeal for organizations looking to modernize their data storage without complete overhauls of their systems. Its compatibility with multiple operating systems and environments makes it a flexible choice for companies of all sizes.

In summary, the Dell MD3000i stands out for its scalability, performance, and reliability in data storage. With features that promote ease of management and strong data protection mechanisms, it is an excellent choice for businesses looking to enhance their storage solutions in a cost-effective manner.
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