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Troubleshooting: Your Array

Safety First—For you and Your Array

CAUTION: Many repairs may only be done by a certified service technician. You should only perform troubleshooting and simple repairs as authorized in your product documentation, or as directed by the online or telephone service and support team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty. Read and follow the safety instructions that came with the product.

Troubleshooting Storage Array Startup Failure

If your system halts during startup, check if:

The array emits a series of beeps.

The array fault LEDs are lit. See "RAID Controller Modules" on page 31.

There is a constant scraping or grinding sound when you access the hard drive. See "Getting Help" on page 259.

Troubleshooting Loss of Communication

For information about troubleshooting loss of communication, see "Troubleshooting Array and Expansion Enclosure Connections" on page 255.

Troubleshooting External Connections

Verify that the cables are connected to the correct ports before troubleshooting any external devices. For the location of the back-panel connectors on your array, see Figure 3-1.

Ensure that all the cables are securely attached to the external connectors on your array.

For information on cabling, see the Dell™ PowerVault™ MD3200i Deployment Guide.

Troubleshooting: Your Array

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Dell MD3200i Troubleshooting Your Array, Troubleshooting Loss of Communication, Troubleshooting External Connections, 249

MD3200i, MD3220i specifications

The Dell MD3220i and MD3200i are part of Dell's extensive line of modular storage solutions, designed to support organizations in optimizing their data management and scalability requirements. These models offer reliable performance and flexible features, making them suitable for various workloads including virtualization, cloud storage, and disaster recovery.

One of the standout features of the MD3220i and MD3200i is their support for iSCSI storage networking. By utilizing the Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) protocol, these systems provide organizations with a cost-effective way to connect their storage over existing network infrastructure, enabling efficient data transfers and management.

Both models are equipped with dual controllers that ensure high availability and failover capabilities, which are crucial for meeting uptime requirements in mission-critical environments. The dual controllers also facilitate load balancing and increase overall system performance, as they allow multiple paths to the storage, enhancing I/O performance.

Scalability is another key characteristic of the MD3220i and MD3200i. These storage arrays can be expanded to meet growing storage demands, supporting up to 240TB of raw capacity with up to 16 additional expansion enclosures. This flexibility allows organizations to start with a smaller configuration and grow their storage capabilities without a complete overhaul of the existing infrastructure.

The units also support multiple disk types, including traditional spinning disks, solid-state drives (SSDs), and a combination of both. This versatility enables users to tailor storage configurations to their specific performance and budgetary needs. Furthermore, the systems feature advanced data management technologies such as snapshots and remote replication, providing essential tools for data protection.

With their ease of management, the MD3220i and MD3200i are designed for straightforward configuration and operation. The intuitive management interfaces allow IT professionals to monitor performance, configure storage, and manage data effectively, ensuring businesses can maintain optimal system availability.

In summary, the Dell MD3220i and MD3200i are robust, scalable, and versatile storage solutions that cater to diverse organizational needs. Their integrated technologies, such as iSCSI support, dual controller architecture, and advanced data management features, make them an ideal choice for modern data centers looking to enhance storage capabilities while ensuring reliability and performance.