Channel Protection

In a Fibre Channel environment, channel protection is usually present for any volume group candidate because, when the storage array is properly cabled, there are two redundant Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loops for each drive.

3.3.6.8I/O Data Path Protection

I/O data path protection to redundant controllers in a storage array is accomplished with the Auto-Volume Transfer (AVT) feature and a host multi-path driver.

Note – IMPORTANT Redundant Disk Array Controller (RDAC) must be uninstalled in order for DMP to become the default failover driver.

A multi-path driver is an I/O path failover driver installed on host computers that access the storage array, such as Redundant Disk Array Controller (RDAC). Veritas Volume Manager with Dynamic Multi-Pathing (DMP) is another example of a failover driver. This failover driver requires the Array Support Library (ASL) software to be installed, which provides information to the Volume Manager for setting the path associations for the failover driver.

AVT is a built-in feature of the controller firmware that allows volume-level failover rather than controller-level failover. AVT is disabled by default and will be automatically enabled based on the failover options supported by the host operating system.

AVT or RDAC will transfer volumes to the alternate controller if the preferred controller owner fails. If the volumes are not subsequently transferred back to their preferred controller, a critical event will automatically be generated. An associated alert notification will automatically be sent if you have configured alert destinations for the storage array.

For operating system-specific failover options, refer to the SANtricity Storage Manager Installation Guide.

Multi-Path Driver with AVT Enabled

If AVT is enabled when a volume is created, a controller must be assigned to own the volume (called the preferred controller, or preferred owner). The preferred controller normally receives the I/O requests to the volume. If a problem along the data path (such as a component failure) causes an I/O to fail, the multi-path driver will issue the I/O to the alternate controller.

3-62Sun StorEdge 5310 NAS Troubleshooting Guide • December 2004

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Sun Microsystems 5310 NAS manual 6.8 I/O Data Path Protection, Channel Protection, Multi-Path Driver with AVT Enabled
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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.
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