Configuring Hot Spare Physical Disks

Guidelines to configure host spare physical disks:

You can use only unassigned physical disks with Optimal status as hot spare physical disks.

You can unassign only hot spare physical disks with Optimal, or Standby status. You cannot unassign a hot spare physical disk that has the In Use status. A hot spare physical disk has the In Use status when it is in the process of taking over for a failed physical disk.

If a hot spare physical disk does not have Optimal status, follow the Recovery Guru procedures displayed by the MDSM application to correct any problem before trying to unassign the physical disk.

Hot spare physical disks must be of the same media type and interface type as the physical disks that they are protecting.

If there are secure disk groups and security capable disk groups in the storage array, the hot spare physical disk must match the security capability of the disk group.

Hot spare physical disks must have capacities equal to or larger than the used capacity on the physical disks that they are protecting.

The availability of enclosure loss protection for a disk group depends on the location of the physical disks that comprise the disk group. To ensure that enclosure loss protection is not affected, you must replace a failed physical disk to initiate the copyback process. See "Enclosure Loss Protection" on page 123.

CAUTION: If a hot spare physical disk does not have Optimal status, follow the Recovery Guru procedures to correct the problem before you try to unassign the physical disk. You cannot assign a hot spare physical disk if it is in use (taking over for a failed physical disk).

To assign or unassign hot spare physical disks:

1In the AMW, select the Physical tab.

2Select one or more physical disks.

3Perform one of these actions:

• Select Physical diskHot Spare Coverage.

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Configuration: Disk Groups and Virtual Disks

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Dell MD3600f, MD3620F owner manual Configuring Hot Spare Physical Disks, Select Physical disk→ Hot Spare Coverage, 120

MD3620F, MD3600f specifications

Dell's MD3620F and MD3600F storage arrays are designed for businesses seeking dependable, high-performance storage solutions tailored to meet the demands of modern data management. These models offer a blend of scalability, efficiency, and advanced features, making them well-suited for a range of applications, from virtual environments to critical database operations.

One of the primary features of the MD3620F and MD3600F is their support for a hybrid storage architecture. This approach allows organizations to combine flash storage with traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) to optimize performance and cost. The MD3620F focuses heavily on all-flash configurations, delivering exceptional speed and lower latency, ideal for I/O-intensive workloads.

Scalability is another hallmark of these storage solutions. The MD3600F allows users to scale up to 120 drives, providing robust capacity to meet growing data needs. The MD3620F is engineered for environments where data availability and speed are paramount, with support for high IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) and consistent performance under stress.

In terms of data management, both systems integrate with Dell’s proprietary software, which enhances operational efficiency through features like automated tiering. This technology optimizes data placement between different storage types based on access frequency, ensuring that hot data is readily available while reducing costs associated with less critical data.

Reliability is crucial for businesses that depend on their storage systems. The MD3620F and MD3600F come equipped with advanced data protection mechanisms, such as RAID support, which safeguards against data loss, and snapshot capabilities that provide point-in-time copies of data. Moreover, these solutions include hot-swappable components, ensuring minimal downtime for maintenance and repairs.

Connectivity is also a strong suit of these storage arrays. They support multiple connectivity options, including SAS and iSCSI, allowing for flexible integration into existing IT infrastructures. This adaptability enhances their appeal to a wide range of enterprise environments.

In summary, the Dell MD3620F and MD3600F stand out as robust storage solutions with a combination of hybrid and all-flash configurations, scalability, advanced data management tools, and enhanced reliability features. These characteristics make them ideal for organizations looking to enhance their data storage capabilities while maintaining high performance and efficiency.