Introduction, Overview | Texas Memory Systems RamSan-300/320

Chapter 1 – Introduction

1.1Overview

The RamSan-3xx series solid-state disk uses SDRAM (memory) as its primary storage. This technology enables practically instantaneous data access, which results in dramatic application performance increases.

Texas Memory Systems (TMS) designed the RamSan to be highly available and fault tolerant. The system has higher availability than RAID or JBOD systems because the primary storage media is SDRAM, which does not require moving parts. Additionally, SDRAM has a very high mean time between failures (as high as several hundred years) according to some studies. The mechanical components in the RamSan are redundant and hot swappable.

The RamSan-320’s internal disk drives provide a fully non-volatile solution. The RamSan-320 has three modes of operation: Active BackupTM mode, DataSync mode, and Mirror mode. For more information on these three modes, see Section 6.9 - Setting backup mode.

The RamSan complements existing disk drives, JBOD, or RAID, in performance sensitive applications. Servers perceive the RamSan as another attached SCSI disk drive. For some applications, the RamSan is the only storage system required. For applications that store terabytes of data, storage administrators add the RamSan to systems that include RAID or JBOD.

Connect the RamSan via Fibre Channel to host servers, NAS filers, or storage network switches and hubs. If you have specific compatibility questions, please contact Texas Memory Systems.

Use the RamSan in a variety of applications. If hard disk drives slow down your application, there is a good chance that the RamSan can speed it up.

RamSan-300/320 User’s Manual

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Texas Memory Systems RamSan-300/320 manual Introduction, Overview

Contents

RamSan-300/320 User’s Manual RamSan-300/320 User’s Manual Table of Contents Batteries Fans Conventions Safety PrecautionsPreface Document Overview Following table describes revisions to this document Revision History Overview Introduction System Components PowerNon-Volatility Active BackupTM mode optional Configurable Backup Performance System Inspection InstallationBattery Warning Electro-Static Discharge Warning RamSan-320 FC 4 FC Connecting the Fibre Channel PortsConnecting the Power Supplies Rack Mounting Power switch Power AC Voltage Turning on the System AC Voltage indicator lightSystem Initialization System is now ready for normal operation Front Panel Display Management Tool Overview Text Management Interface Connecting using a terminal programFront Panel menu system layout General interface layout and instructions Connecting using Telnet Text Management Interface Sub-Menu Scrolling Sub-Menus Web Management Interface Web Management Interface Logging into the system Administration FunctionsSet password Security Click on the Management Control Processor graphic Via Web Interface Via Text Management Enable/disable Telnet Via Web Management Enable/Disable Telnet Telnet Setup From the Telnet Main Menu, select Management setup Enable/disable Snmp Enable/disable Web Interface Configuring Ethernet settings via Front Panel Configuring Ethernet settings Dhcp Subnet Mask Select IP assignment mode Configuring Ethernet settings via Text Management Interface Select Select hostname Power Down SettingsManual shutdown Via Front Panel Display Automatic shutdown From the Telnet Main Menu, select Power down system Front panel monitoring Restore/Synchronize ProgressMonitoring Functions Viewing system health and status Status Error Fibre Channel Performance Active Monitor Mode LED Display LED Performance Monitoring Identify Device button Identifying a RamSan System Uptime Status Viewing system uptime Health and Status From the Telnet Main Menu, select Health and Status Disk Status via Web interface Viewing system health Batteries Not displayed for the RamSan-300 Management Control Processor Power supplies Fans Good 10 Fibre Channel Controller Status via Web Interface Viewing detailed fibre channel controller status Via Text Management Viewing IO/second summary Via Web Interface Statistics 13 IO/sec Summary 14 Bandwidth Performance Graph via Web Interface Viewing bandwidth summary 15 Bandwidth Performance via Text Management Interface Click the Management Control Processor graphic LogsViewing controller details Viewing the system event and support logs Clearing the system event log Clearing logged ECC errors Controller LUN ConfigurationGigabytes System Memory Fibre Channel Reconfigured LUN Mapping Example LUN configuration Via Web Interface Adding LUNs Select Change size of LUNs to add From the Telnet Main Menu, select LUN Setup Select Add LUNsVia Text Management Select Change number of LUNs to add Via the Web Interface Viewing LUN status / LUN mapTo view the LUNs for the entire system Viewing LUNs Assigned to FC ports via Web Interface LUN Map Screen Linking LUNs to/from Fibre Channel Controllers Via Text Management Linking Fibre Channel Controllers Select Exit to the LUN configuration menu Select Unlink LUNs from selected controller Unlinking Fibre Channel ports from LUN Select Assign different LUN # to this LUN Changing LUN numbers Select Resize LUN Resizing LUNs Viewing Current Access Lists Managing access listsSelect Print detailed WWN mask list for LUN Deleting Access Lists Adding Access ListsSelect Delete WWN mask from LUN Select Set Scsi device identifier Setting Scsi device identifiers 14 Deleting LUNs via Web Interface Deleting LUNs 15 Deleting LUNs Setting backup mode Select Set backup mode for this LUN Volatile mode optional Changing Fibre Channel topology and link speed Fibre Channel Controller Configuration Select Change link speed Select Change topologySelect Save changes and exit Auto-Detect Error From the Telnet Main Menu, select Controller setup Configuring high availabilityPrimary Active Secondary Passive, Primary is Primary Active, Secondary isPrimary Passive, Secondary is Secondary Active, Primary is Hot Swapping Power Supplies System MaintenanceHot Swapping Disk Drives Fans Batteries Support Log TroubleshootingStill Having Problems… System Event Log Non-operating Environment SpecificationsPhysical Characteristics Operating Environment Figure A-1 MCP-65 Management Control Processor Appendix a RamSan-3xx Series Replacement Parts Figure B-3 Power Supply Module Figure A-6 120 Gigabyte Replacement Hard Drive Appendix B FCC/Safety Notices Repairs/Returns Field ServiceReturn to Factory Telephone and Software Support Gold Warranty On-site Repair Business Hours Silver Warranty Advanced Parts ReplacementPlatinum Warranty On-site Repair 24/7 Outside of Warranty