Planning RAID Controller Modules | Dell MD3600I, MD3620I instruction

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Planning: RAID Controller Modules

RAID Controller Modules

The RAID controller modules provide high-performance, advanced virtual disk configuration, and fault-tolerant disk subsystem management. Each RAID controller module contains 2 GB of cache that is mirrored with the other controller's cache for high availability and is protected by a battery- powered cache offload mechanism.

RAID controller modules provide the following data path and enclosure management functions:

•Monitoring and controlling enclosure environment elements (temperature, fans, power supplies, and enclosure LEDs)

•Controlling access to the physical disks

•Communicating enclosure attributes and states to the host server and management station

Each RAID controller module has multiple iSCSI IN-ports for host access. The ports provide redundant host connections and support a high availability storage environment. Various configurations can be utilized, in both single controller (simplex) and dual controller (duplex) modes, to connect the storage enclosure to hosts depending on specific redundancy needs.

For information on cabling, see the MD3600i and MD3620i Series Storage Array’s Deployment Guide.

Planning: RAID Controller Modules

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Dell MD3600I, MD3620I owner manual Planning RAID Controller Modules

Contents

Dell PowerVault MD3600i and MD3620i Storage Arrays December Contents Planning RAID Controller Modules Cache Functions and Features Virtual Disk Operations Limit Out-of-Band and In-Band Management Configuring Alert Notifications Enabling or Disabling the Event Monitor Edit, Remove, or Rename Host Topology Managing Host Port Identifiers 104 103107 Host-to-Virtual Disk Mapping 131 117126 130 147 143145 146 Virtual Disk Copy Restrictions ContentsRe-Creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk Creating a Virtual Disk Copy for Preparing Host Servers 179 Using DM Multipathing Devices 186Stopping a Virtual Disk Copy 178 179 211 Downloading Both RAID Controller209 210 229 RAID Controller Module Backup Battery Unit 222Power Supply/Cooling Fan Module 224 227 242 Recovering From an Unresponsive237 241 Troubleshooting a Damaged Array 270 Safety First-For you and Your Array 263Troubleshooting Power 264 Troubleshooting Expansion Enclosure Management Modules 265 272 Contents About This Document Introduction Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Configuration Utility Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage ManagerMD3600i Series Storage Array Other Information You May Need Introduction Overview Planning About Your Storage Array Front-Panel Features and Indicators Hardware Features Planning About Your Storage Array Item Indicator, Button, or Icon Description Connector Back-Panel Features and Indicators Hard Drive Indicators Hard-Drive Indicator Patterns Hard-Drive Status Indicator Pattern Condition Power Supply and Cooling Fan Features Power Indicator Codes Item LED Type Icon Description Power Indicator Codes RAID Controller Modules Planning RAID Controller Modules MD3600i Series iSCSI RAID Controller Module RAID Controller Module Connectors and Features Item Component Function Shutdown Threshold Type RAID Controller Module-Additional FeaturesBattery Backup Unit Storage Array Thermal Shutdown Write-Back Cache Cache Functions and FeaturesSystem Password Reset Cache Mirroring Write-Through Cache Physical Disks, Virtual Disks, and Disk Groups Planning MD3600i Series Storage Array Terms and Concepts Physical Disk States Physical Disks Virtual Disks and Disk Groups Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology RAID Controller Virtual Disk States Description Virtual Disk States RAID Level Usage RAID Levels RAID Background Initialization Segment SizeVirtual Disk Operations Virtual Disk Initialization Foreground Initialization Consistency CheckMedia Verification Cycle Time Virtual Disk Operations Limit Disk Group OperationsRAID Level Migration Virtual Disk Capacity Expansion Segment Size MigrationDisk Group Expansion Disk Group Defragmentation RAID Background Operations PriorityDisk Group Operations Limit Disk Migration Virtual Disk Migration and Disk Roaming Planning MD3600i Series Storage Array Terms and Concepts Host Server-to-Virtual Disk Mapping Disk Roaming Host Types Advanced Features Snapshot Repository Virtual Disk Snapshot Virtual Disks Source Virtual Disk Virtual Disk CopyTarget Virtual Disk Using Snapshot and Disk Copy Together Virtual Disk RecoveryMulti-Path Software Virtual Disk Ownership Preferred and Alternate Controllers and Paths Load Balancing Monitoring MD3600i Series System Performance Planning MD3600i Series Storage Array Terms and Concepts Performance Monitor Table Description Column Headings Planning MD3600i Series Storage Array Terms and Concepts User Interface Configuration Overview Enterprise Management Window Array Management Window Inheriting the System Settings Configuration Overview Out-of-Band and In-Band Management Configuration About Your Storage ArrayOut-of-Band Management Adding Storage Arrays Storage ArraysIn-Band Management Manual Addition of a Storage Array Automatic Discovery of Storage ArraysSelect Edit→ Add Storage Array Setting Up Your Storage Array Configuration About Your Storage Array AMW, select Storage Array→ Blink→ Storage Array AMW Setup tab, select Rename Storage ArrayLocating Storage Arrays Naming or Renaming Storage Arrays Name/Rename Storage Arrays dialog appears Setting a Password Type the New password PasswordPassword Guidelines Adding/Editing a Comment to an Existing Storage Array Viewing Storage Array ConnectionsSelect Edit→ Comment Removing Storage Arrays Enabling Premium FeaturesSelect Edit→ Remove→ Storage Array Displaying Failover Alert Changing the Cache Settings on the Storage Array Changing the Enclosure Order in the Physical Pane Changing Expansion Enclosure ID NumbersAMW, select Storage Array→ Change→ Enclosure Order Select All storage arrays Configuring Alert NotificationsConfiguring E-mail Alerts Select Configure Alerts Configuration About Your Storage Array Configuration About Your Storage Array Configuring Snmp Alerts Battery Settings Setting the Storage Array RAID Controller Module Clocks Enter the Target Chap secret Configuration Using iSCSIChanging the iSCSI Target Authentication Select Manage iSCSI Settings Creating Chap Secrets Entering Mutual Authentication PermissionsSelect the Mutual Authentication tab Click OK in the Manage iSCSI Settings window Valid Ascii Characters for Chap Secrets Initiator Chap SecretTarget Chap Secret Valid Characters for Chap Secrets Select the Target Discovery tab Changing the iSCSI Target Discovery SettingsChanging the iSCSI Target Identification Select the Target Identification tab Configuring the iSCSI Host Ports Configuration Using iSCSI Advanced iSCSI Host Port Settings Description Advanced iSCSI Host Ports Settings Viewing or Ending an iSCSI Session Click Set Baseline Viewing iSCSI Statistics and Setting Baseline Statistics Mappings→ Move Edit, Remove, or Rename Host Topology Configuration Event Monitor Windows Enabling or Disabling the Event MonitorLinux Configuring Host Access Configuration About Your Host Using the Mappings Tab Select Mappings→ Define→ Host Defining a Host Select Mappings→ Remove Removing Host Access Adding a Host to a Host Group Managing Host GroupsCreating a Host Group Select Mappings→ Define→ Host Group Move Host Confirmation dialog appears Moving a Host to a Different Host GroupRemoving a Host From a Host Group Select Mappings→ Move Host Topology Removing a Host Group101 Click Action→ Start Starting or Stopping the Host Context AgentLinux Windows 103 Data Path Protection Add Host Port Identifier dialog appears Managing Host Port Identifiers104 105 106 Creating Disk Groups and Virtual Disks Configuration Disk Groups and Virtual Disks107 Introduction Create Disk Group window is displayed Creating Disk Groups108 109 Creating Virtual Disks Locating a Disk Group 111 112 Changing the Virtual Disk Modification Priority 113 Changing the Virtual Disk Cache Settings 114 Select Virtual Disk→ Change→ Segment Size Changing the Segment Size of a Virtual Disk115 File system typical Database Multimedia Custom Changing the I/O Type116 Physical Disk Security with Self Encrypting Disk Choosing an Appropriate Physical Disk Type117 118 119 Save Security Key File Validate Security Key Unlock Drives 120 Creating a Security Key 121 Click Create Key Changing a Security Key122 123 Confirm Change Security Key window is displayed Click Change Key Saving a Security Key124 Unlocking Secure Physical Disks Validate Security Key125 Erasing Secure Physical Disks Configuring Hot Spare Physical Disks126 Hot Spare Physical Disk Options window is displayed Select Physical disk→ Hot Spare Coverage127 128 Hot Spares and RebuildGlobal Hot Spares Click Unassign Hot Spare Drive Protection Hot Spare Operation129 130 Enclosure Loss ProtectionCriteria for Enclosure Loss Protection RAID Level 131 Host-to-Virtual Disk Mapping 132 Creating Host-to-Virtual Disk Mappings 133 Modifying and Removing Host-to-Virtual Disk Mapping 134 Changing Controller Ownership of the Virtual Disk Select Virtual Disk→ Change→ Ownership/Preferred Path Removing Host-to-Virtual Disk Mapping135 136 Select Disk Group→ Change→ Ownership/Preferred Path 137 Restricted MappingsChanging the RAID Level of a Disk Group Select Disk Group→ Change→ RAID Level 138 139 140 Storage Partitioning Changing the RAID Level of a Disk Group141 142 Select Disk Group→ Add Free Capacity Physical Disks Disk Group and Virtual Disk Expansion143 144 Using Free CapacityUsing Unconfigured Capacity Virtual Disk Expansion Non-Exportable Components Disk Group MigrationExport Disk Group Exporting a Disk Group Importing a Disk Group Import Disk Group146 Non-Importable Components Storage Array Media Scan147 148 Changing Media Scan Settings 149 Suspending the Media Scan 150 151 Configuration Premium Feature- Snapshot Virtual Disks 152 About the Simple Path Creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk Using the Simple Path153 154 155 About the Advanced Path Creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk Using the Advanced Path156 157 158 159 160 Creating the Snapshot Using the Advanced PathSpecify Virtual Disk Parameters window is displayed Automatic Map later with Storage Partition 161 Specifying Snapshot Virtual Disk Names 162 163 Snapshot Repository Capacity 164 Click Add Physical Disks 165 Add Physical Disks window closes 166 Re-Creating Snapshot Virtual DisksDisabling a Snapshot Virtual Disk Select Virtual Disk→ Snapshot→ Re-create 167 Preparing Host Servers to Re-Create a Snapshot Virtual Disk Select Virtual Disk → Snapshot→ Re-create Re-Creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk168 169 Configuration Premium Feature- Virtual Disk Copy 170 Creating a Virtual Disk Copy for an Mscs Shared Disk 171 Virtual Disk Read/Write Permissions Creating a Virtual Disk Copy Virtual Disk Copy Restrictions172 Virtual Disk Copy and Modification Operations Before you Begin173 174 Preferred RAID Controller Module OwnershipCreate Copy Wizard Failed Virtual Disk Copy 175 Failed RAID Controller ModuleCopy Manager Copying the Virtual Disk 176 Storage Array Performance During Virtual Disk Copy Setting Copy Priority177 Select Change→ Copy Priority Stopping a Virtual Disk Copy178 Preparing Host Servers to Recopy a Virtual Disk Recopying a Virtual Disk179 180 Recopying the Virtual Disk Select Copy→ Re-Copy Removing Copy Pairs181 182 183 184 185 Configuration Device Mapper Multipath for Linux Prerequisites Using DM Multipathing Devices186 187 Device Mapper Configuration Steps 188 Scan for Newly Added Virtual Disks 189 Create a New fdisk Partition on a Multipath Device Node Dev/mapper/mpathxparty Add a New Partition to Device MapperDev/mapper/mpathxpy Dev/mapper/mpathx-party Ready For Use Linux Host Server Reboot Best PracticesCreate a File System on a Device Mapper Partition Mount a Device Mapper Partition Important Information About Special Partitions Useful Device Mapper Commands Description192 193 Limitations and Known Issues 194 TroubleshootingQuestion Answer 195 196 197 Downloading RAID Controller and Nvsram Packages 198 Downloading Both RAID Controller and Nvsram Firmware 199 Click Transfer 200 201 Downloading Only Nvsram Firmware 202 203 Downloading Physical Disk Firmware 204 205 AMW, select Advanced→ Maintenance→ Download→ EMM FirmwareDownloading MD1200 Series Expansion Module EMM Firmware Download Environmental EMM Firmware dialog appears 206 Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology Smart 207 Media Errors and Unreadable Sectors 208 Recommended Tools Management Installing Array Components209 210 Installing the Front BezelFront Bezel Optional Removing the Front Bezel 211 Safety Models AMT, E03J, and E04JHard Drives Removing a Drive Blank Removing a Hard Drive Installing a Drive Blank212 213 Removing and Installing a Hard Drive 214 Installing a Hard Drive 215 Removing a Hard Drive From a Hard-Drive Carrier 216 217 Installing a Hard Drive Into a Drive CarrierRAID Controller Module Removing a RAID Controller Module Blank 218 Installing a RAID Controller Module Blank 219 Removing a RAID Controller Module Opening the RAID Controller Module Installing a RAID Controller Module220 221 Closing the RAID Controller Module Removing the RAID Controller Module Backup Battery Unit RAID Controller Module Backup Battery Unit222 223 Installing the RAID Controller Module Backup Battery Unit Removing a Power Supply/Cooling Fan Module Power Supply/Cooling Fan Module224 225 226 Installing a Power Supply/Cooling Fan Module Removing the Control Panel Control Panel227 228 Installing the Control Panel Removing the Backplane Backplane229 230 17. Removing and Installing the Backplane-PowerVault MD3620i 16. Removing and Installing the Backplane-PowerVault MD3600i 232 Installing the Backplane Viewing the Firmware Inventory Management Firmware Inventory233 234 Management System Interfaces Microsoft ServicesVirtual Disk Service Volume Shadow-Copy Service 236 237 Troubleshooting Your Storage Array SoftwareStart-Up Routine Device Health Conditions 238 On the Setup tab, select Manage a Storage ArrayStatus Icon Description Additional Status Icons Description 239 240 241 Storage Array Support DataAutomatically Collect the Support Bundle Data Enter the Execution summary 242 Retrieving Trace Buffers 243 Collect Physical Disk Data window is displayed Collecting Physical Disk Data244 245 Event Log 246 Recovery GuruStorage Array Profile Select Storage Array→ View→ Profile 247 Viewing the Physical Associations Viewing the Logical Associations248 249 Finding Nodes 250 Using Go ToSelect Find all free capacity nodes Click Find Next 251 Recovering From an Unresponsive Storage Array Condition 252 253 254 Locating a Physical Disk Select Physical Disk→ Blink→ Expansion Enclosure Locating an Expansion Enclosure255 256 Capturing the State Information 257 SMrepassist Utility Unidentified Devices Recovering From an Unidentified Storage Array258 259 260 261 Starting or Restarting the Host Context Agent Software 262 263 Troubleshooting Your ArrayTroubleshooting Loss of Communication Troubleshooting External Connections 264 Troubleshooting Power Supply/Cooling Fan Module Troubleshooting Expansion Enclosure Management Modules Troubleshooting Array Cooling Problems265 266 Troubleshooting RAID Controller Modules 267 268 Troubleshooting Hard Drives Troubleshooting a Wet Storage Array Troubleshooting Array and Expansion Enclosure Connections269 270 Troubleshooting a Damaged Array 271 ECC ErrorsConditions Invalid Storage Array 272 PCI ErrorsCritical Conditions Noncritical Conditions Click All Support from Support menu Getting HelpContacting Dell Visit support.dell.com 274 275 Index 276 277 278 279 Smart 280 281 282