Dell PowerVault MD3600f Deployment Manual
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Dell PowerVault MD3600f Deployment Manual

Dell PowerVault MD3600f Deployment Manual

Storage arrays
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Download this manual See also: Owner's Manual, Configuration Manual
Dell PowerVault MD3600f and
MD3620f Storage Arrays
Deployment Guide

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Summary of Contents for Dell PowerVault MD3600f

  • Page 1 Dell PowerVault MD3600f and MD3620f Storage Arrays Deployment Guide...
  • Page 2 © 2011 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell™, the DELL logo, and PowerVault™ are trademarks of Dell Inc. ® ®...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents Introduction ......Introduction to Storage Arrays ....System Requirements .
  • Page 4 Console Installation ....Silent Installation ....Enabling Premium Features (Optional) .
  • Page 5 Guidelines for Using Fiber Optic Cables ..Installing and Removing Fibre Channel Cables ..C Hardware Cabling Best Practices ..Handling Static-Sensitive Components ..Host Cabling for Remote Replication .
  • Page 6 Contents...

  • Page 7: Introduction

    Introduction NOTE: Throughout the document, Dell PowerVault MD3600f series storage array refers to both Dell PowerVault MD3600f and Dell PowerVault MD3620f. This guide provides information about deploying Dell PowerVault MD3600f and MD3620f storage arrays. The deployment process includes: • Hardware installation •...

  • Page 8: System Requirements

    You can set a specified RAID level for each disk group and virtual disk on your storage array. For more information about using RAID and managing data in your storage solution, see the Owner’s Manual at support.dell.com/manuals. System Requirements Before installing and configuring the MD3600f series hardware and software, ensure that the operating system is supported and minimum system requirements are met.
  • Page 9 Microsoft Windows, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. Operating system installations can be either native or hypervisior guest configurations. Supported hypervisors include Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix XenServer, and VMware. For information about the supported versions, see the Support Matrix at support.dell.com/manuals. • Administrator or equivalent permissions Introduction...
  • Page 10 Introduction...

  • Page 11: Hardware Installation

    • Configuring Fibre Channel With the Dell MD3600f Series Storage Array— This document provides information about configurations, host bus adapter (HBA) installation, and zoning. Storage Configuration Planning Consider the following before installing your storage array: •...

  • Page 12: About The Storage Array Connections

    The RAID controller modules are identified as RAID controller module 0 and RAID controller module 1. For more information, see the Getting Started Guide at support.dell.com/manuals. Each RAID controller module has four FCIN (host) port connectors that provide FC connections to the host or node. Each RAID controller module also contains an Ethernet management port and a SAS Out port connector.

  • Page 13: Cabling Powervault Md1200 Series Expansion Enclosures

    CAUTION: If a PowerVault MD1200 series enclosure that was previously attached to PERC H800 adapter is used as an expansion enclosure to a PowerVault MD3600f series storage array, the physical disks of the expansion enclosure are reinitialized and data is lost. You must backup all data on the expansion enclosure before attempting the expansion.
  • Page 14 "Software Installation" on page 17. 4 Using MDSM, update the storage array RAID controller module firmware and NVSRAM to the latest versions available at support.dell.com. In the Enterprise Management Window (EMW), Click Tools Upgrade RAID Controller Module Firmware.

  • Page 15: Expanding With New Powervault Md1200 Series Expansion Enclosures

    Expanding With New PowerVault MD1200 Series Expansion Enclosures Perform the following steps to attach new PowerVault MD1200 series expansion enclosures to a PowerVault MD3600f series storage array: NOTE: Before adding the expansion enclosure(s), ensure that the storage array Support Matrix software is installed and up to date.
  • Page 16 • If the status LEDs light solid amber, the storage array is still coming online. • If the status LEDs are blinking amber, there is an error that can be viewed using MDSM. • If the status LEDs light solid blue, the storage array is ready. After the storage array is online and ready, turn on any attached host systems.

  • Page 17: Software Installation

    Software Installation The PowerVault MD3600f series resource media contains software and drivers for both Linux and Microsoft Windows operating systems. The root of the media contains a readme.txt file covering changes to the software, updates, fixes, patches, and other important data applicable to both Linux and Windows operating systems.

  • Page 18: Graphical Installation (Recommended)

    NOTE: To install the software on a Windows or Linux system, you must have administrative or root privileges. The PowerVault MD3600f series resource media provided offers the following three installation methods: • Graphical Installation (Recommended)—This is the recommended installation procedure for most users. The installer presents a graphical wizard-driven interface that allows customization of which components are installed.

  • Page 19: Console Installation

    IPv6 on the management station to discover the storage array(s). 7 Configure single initiator and multiple target zoning on your switches. For information about zoning, see Configuring Fibre Channel with the Dell MD3600f Series Storage Array at support.dell.com/manuals. 8 Perform the remaining post-installation tasks.

  • Page 20: Enabling Premium Features (Optional)

    NOTE: Before proceeding with the following silent install commands on a Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 operating system, ensure that you run the following script # md_prereq_install.sh from the Resource DVD's root directory to install prerequisite packages. To run the silent installation in a Linux system: 1 To begin the installation with all the default options, navigate to the linux folder on the resource media and run the following command: ./md36xxf_install.bin...

  • Page 21: Post Installation Tasks

    Post Installation Tasks Before using the PowerVault MD3600f Series storage array for the first time, complete a number of initial configuration tasks in the order shown. These tasks are performed using the MD Storage Manager (MDSM) software. 1 For out-of-band management, you must set the network configuration for each RAID controller module, including its Internet Protocol (IP) address, subnetwork mask (subnet mask), and gateway.

  • Page 22: Verifying Storage Array Discovery

    To add an array, click New link. In Linux, click the Manual button and click OK. 4 If the array still shows an Unresponsive status, contact Dell. Initial Setup Tasks 1 The name of the first storage array found appears in the Devices tab of the EMW.
  • Page 23 Set up alert notifications To notify individuals (by e-mail) and/or storage enterprise management consoles, such Set up e-mail alerts as Dell Management Console, (by SNMP) Set up SNMP alerts when a storage array component degrades or fails, or an adverse environmental condition occurs.
  • Page 24 Post Installation Tasks...

  • Page 25: Uninstalling Software

    Windows operating systems other than Microsoft Windows Server 2008: 1 From the Control Panel, double-click Add or Remove Programs. 2 Select Dell MD Storage Software from the list of programs. 3 Click Change/Remove, and follow the instructions to complete the uninstallation process.

  • Page 26: Uninstalling From Linux

    /opt/dell/mdstoragesoftware directory. If another directory was used during installation, navigate to that directory before beginning the uninstallation procedure. 2 From the installation directory, open the Uninstall Dell MD Storage Software directory and run the file Uninstall Dell MD Storage Software.exe.

  • Page 27: A Load Balancing

    Load Balancing Windows Load Balance Policy Multi-path drivers select the I/O path to a virtual disk through a specific RAID controller module. When the multi-path driver receives a new I/O, the driver tries to find a path to the current RAID controller module that owns the virtual disk.

  • Page 28: Changing Load Balance Policies In Windows Sever 2008

    The least queue depth with subset policy treats large block requests and small block requests equally. The data path selected is in the path group of the RAID controller module that owns the virtual disk. Changing Load Balance Policies in Windows Sever 2008 Load balancing with the PowerVault MD3600 series is only available for Windows Server 2008 or later versions of the operating system.

  • Page 29: Setting Load Balance Policies In Linux

    Setting Load Balance Policies in Linux Linux only supports round robin based load balancing. For more information, see "Round Robin With Subset" on page 27. Load Balancing...
  • Page 30 Load Balancing...

  • Page 31: B Working With Sfp Modules And Fiber Optic Cables

    FC devices. Before installing SFP modules and fiber optic cables, read the following information: • Use only Dell supported SFPs with the PowerVault MD3600f series storage arrays. Other generic SFPs are not supported and may not work with the storage arrays.

  • Page 32: Installing And Removing Sfp Modules

    • You must install the SFP module into a port before you connect the fiber optic cable. • You must remove the fiber optic cable from the SFP module before you remove the SFP module from the port. CAUTION: When handling static-sensitive devices, take precautions to avoid damaging the product from static electricity.

  • Page 33: Guidelines For Using Fiber Optic Cables

    To remove SFP modules: 1 Remove the FC cable from the SFP module. See "Installing and Removing Fibre Channel Cables" on page 34. NOTE: To avoid damaging the cable or the SFP module, disconnect the FC cable before removing the SFP module. 2 Unlock the SFP module latch.

  • Page 34: Installing And Removing Fibre Channel Cables

    Installing and Removing Fibre Channel Cables WARNING: Data processing environments can contain equipment transmitting on system links with laser modules that operate at greater than Class 1 power levels. Never look into the end of an optical fiber cable or open receptacle. Before installing an FC cable, see "Guidelines for Using Fiber Optic Cables"...

  • Page 35: C Hardware Cabling Best Practices

    Hardware Cabling Best Practices Handling Static-Sensitive Components Static electricity can damage memory modules, system boards, and other static-sensitive components. To prevent damaging the system, follow these precautions: • Move and store all components in the static-protective packaging. • Place components on a grounded surface before removing them from their static-protective packaging.

  • Page 36: Cabling For Performance

    Cabling for Performance Data transfer performance is enhanced by maximizing bandwidth, which is the ability to process more I/O across more channels. Therefore, a configuration that maximizes the number of host channels and the number of drive channels available to process I/O maximizes performance. Faster processing speeds also maximize performance.

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