Required Switch Zoning Configurations; Zoning Guidelines For Remote Replication; Switch Cascading; Journaling File Systems And Remote Replication - Dell PowerVault MD3260i Administrator's Manual

Performing a VDE operation does not interrupt access to data on disk groups, virtual disks or physical disks.
A VDE operation can be performed on a primary virtual disk or a secondary virtual disk of a replicated pair. It cannot be
performed on a replication repository virtual disk. No other action can be performed on a virtual disk while it is
undergoing expansion (except normal disk I/O).
NOTE: To perform a VDE operation, the remote replication must be in Optimal status. The properties pane in the
logical view displays the status of a virtual disk.

Required Switch Zoning Configurations

Due to potential restrictions at the host level, remote replication configurations must contain Fibre Channel switches.
Fibre Channel switches must be zoned so that a single host adapter accesses only one RAID controller module in a
storage array. Additionally, all zone configurations should specify separate zones for ports that are reserved for remote
replication functions.
NOTE: Do not zone the uplink port (E_port) that connects (cascades) switches within a fabric.
Switch zoning configurations are typically set using the switch management software provided by the Fibre Channel
switch vendor. This software is either included with the switch itself, or downloaded from the vendor's website.

Zoning Guidelines for Remote Replication

Enabling remote replication on your storage array automatically dedicates one port per RAID controller exclusively to
replication. These dedicated ports, Port 3 on RAID controller 0 and Port 3 on RAID controller 1, must be in different zones
on the Fibre Channel switch. Generally, switch zoning should be established so that:
• All RAID Controller 0 Fibre Channel Port 3s are in a common zone.
• All RAID Controller 1 Fibre Channel Port 3s are in a common zone, but separately zoned from RAID Controller 0
ports.
• Host Fibre Channel access ports are in separate zones from those established for remote replication.

Switch Cascading

When two or more Fibre Channel switches are cascaded, the switch management software combines the ports for all of
the switches that are linked.

Journaling File Systems And Remote Replication

When using a journaling file system, you cannot gain read-only access to a remote virtual disk. A journaling file system
does not let you mount the remote virtual disk in Windows NTFS. However, you can mount a snapshot of the remote
virtual disk, if available.

Prerequisites For Setting Up And Managing Remote Replication

Before setting up remote replication between two storage arrays, ensure that:
• The Remote Replication premium feature has been activated.
• The local storage array contains two replication repository virtual disks (created during activation).
• The local storage array contains the primary virtual disk to be replicated.
• The remote storage array contains the secondary virtual disk to serve as the replication target, and:
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