Fibre Channel FC, Array Overview | Sun Microsystems 5310 NAS

C H A P T E R 3

Storage Arrays

This chapter instructs you on how to solve specific Storage Array problems with the Sun StorEdge 5310 NAS. It contains the following sections:

■“Array Overview” on page 3-1

■“Using the Array” on page 3-8

■“Troubleshooting and Recovery” on page 3-22

■“Relocating a Command Module” on page 3-31

■“Raid Storage Manager (RSM)” on page 3-44

3.1Fibre Channel FC

3.1.1Array Overview

This chapter describes the array command module its components.

3.1.1.1Module Description

The array command module is a compact unit that provides high-capacity disk storage for Fibre Channel environments. This module supports two controllers and is available in both a deskside and a rackmount model.

The command module supports 14 drives within its enclosure, plus seven expansion drive modules, containing 14 drives each for a total of 112 drives.

Figure 3-1 on page 3-2and Figure 3-2 on page 3-3show front and back views of the command module and its components.

The front of the command module consists of the following components:

3-1

5310 NAS specifications

Sun Microsystems, known for its innovative computing solutions, launched the Sun 5310 Network Attached Storage (NAS) system, which marked a significant advancement in the realm of storage solutions in the early 2000s. The 5310 NAS was designed to provide high-performance, reliable, and scalable storage tailored for enterprise environments.

One of the standout features of the Sun 5310 NAS is its file-serving capabilities, which support multiple protocols, notably NFS (Network File System) and CIFS (Common Internet File System). This dual-protocol support allowed organizations to seamlessly integrate the NAS into diverse IT ecosystems, facilitating interoperability between UNIX, Linux, and Windows systems. The enhanced file-sharing capabilities made it an ideal solution for businesses with mixed operating environments.

The Sun 5310 NAS incorporates cutting-edge technologies to ensure high availability and data integrity. The system utilized a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology, providing various RAID levels to protect against data loss while optimizing performance. Additionally, the device featured hot-swappable drives, enabling maintenance and upgrades with minimal downtime, a crucial factor for business continuity.

Equipped with advanced management software, the Sun 5310 NAS offered users an intuitive interface for monitoring storage health and performance. This software included comprehensive reporting functionalities that allowed IT administrators to oversee usage patterns and capacity planning efficiently.

Scalability was another defining characteristic of the Sun 5310 NAS. The system could easily expand with additional storage modules, accommodating the growing needs of an organization without the necessity for complete system overhauls. This flexibility ensured that businesses could adapt their storage solutions to meet evolving data storage needs without incurring significant costs or disruptions.

In terms of performance, the Sun 5310 NAS featured high I/O throughput achieved through its robust hardware architecture and optimized file serving capabilities. This performance baseline was crucial for organizations that relied on heavy data workloads and required rapid access to information.

In summary, the Sun 5310 NAS from Sun Microsystems embodied a forward-thinking approach to network storage, blending reliability, scalability, and multi-protocol support. Its user-friendly management software, combined with the robustness of RAID technology and hot-swappable drives, made it a preferred choice for enterprises looking to streamline their storage infrastructure while safeguarding critical data.

Sun Microsystems 5310 NAS manual Fibre Channel FC, Array Overview, Module Description

Models: 5310 NAS