Page 2 - Notes and Notices
Notes and Notices NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. ____________________ Information in this document is subject to chang...
Page 3 - C o n t e n t s; A b o u t T h i s G u i d e
Contents 3 C o n t e n t s 1 A b o u t T h i s G u i d e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Summary Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Configure Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Modify Tab . . . . . . . . . ...
Page 4 - U s i n g i S C S I
4 Contents Setting a Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Password Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Resetting a Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Connecting the Serial Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 System Setup for Password Reset . . . . . . . . . 23 Reset ...
Page 6 - D i s k G r o u p s a n d Vi r t u a l D i s k s
6 Contents 6 D i s k G r o u p s a n d Vi r t u a l D i s k s . . . . . . . . . 5 3 Creating Disk Groups and Virtual Disks . . . . . . . . 54 Automatic Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Manual Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Hot Spare Drive Protection . . . . . . . . . . . ...
Page 8 - F i r m w a r e D o w n l o a d s; 0 Tr o u b l e s h o o t i n g P r o b l e m s
8 Contents Creating a Virtual Disk Copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Preparing Host Servers to Create a Virtual Disk Copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Copying the Virtual Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Storage Array Performance During Virtual Disk Copy . . . . . . . . . . . ...
Page 9 - A E n c l o s u r e H a r d w a r e R e p l a c e m e n t ,
Contents 9 Device Health Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 SMrepassist Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Support Information Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Unidentified Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Recovering from an Unidentified Storage Array...
Page 11 - About This Guide; User Interface
About This Guide 11 About This Guide Dell™ PowerVault™ Modular Disk (MD) Storage Manager software is used to create and manage multiple storage arrays. The software can be used on any host attached to the storage array, as well as on storage management stations connected to the same sub-network. MD ...
Page 12 - Summary Tab
12 About This Guide • Beneath the Array Selector is the Content Area . Several tabs appear in this area to group the tasks you can perform on the selected array. When you click on a tab, the Content Area displays links for the tasks you can perform. The following sections list some of the tasks you ...
Page 13 - Tools Tab; Support Tab
About This Guide 13 Tools Tab • Rename a storage array • Set or change a password • View or enable premium features • Turn on indicator lights • Change enclosure ID numbers • Set or change enclosure tags • Set up e-mail alerts and SNMP alerts • Synchronize controller clocks, change the network confi...
Page 14 - Other Information You May Need
14 About This Guide • View online help • View the event log Other Information You May Need CAUTION: For complete regulatory and safety information, see your Product Information Guide . Warranty information may be included within this document or as a separate one. • Setting Up Your Dell PowerVault M...
Page 15 - About Your Storage Array; Access Virtual Disk
Storage Array 15 About Your Storage Array This chapter covers basic information about how to manage storage arrays from MD Storage Manager, including adding and removing arrays from the software, performing initial setup tasks, setting passwords on an array, and configuring alert notifications. For ...
Page 17 - Adding Storage Arrays; Automatic Discovery of Storage Arrays
Storage Array 17 Adding Storage Arrays To add a storage array to MD Storage Manager, click New in the Array Selector area. A window is displayed that allows you to choose the automatic or manual process to add a new storage array. NOTE: Verify that your host or management station network configurati...
Page 18 - Naming Storage Arrays; Removing Storage Arrays
18 Storage Array • To add a storage array that uses out-of-band management, specify the host name or IP address of each controller in the storage array. NOTE: It can take several minutes for MD Storage Manager to connect to the specified storage array. Naming Storage Arrays Each storage array should...
Page 19 - Setting Up Your Storage Array
Storage Array 19 To remove a storage array: 1 Click Remove located to the right of the drop-down menu in the Array Selector. 2 Click OK in the Remove dialog box. You can still manage the storage array from other storage management stations where it has been added. Setting Up Your Storage Array The P...
Page 21 - Storage Array Support Data
Storage Array 21 Storage Array Support Data Aggregated support data can be generated for a storage array to aid in remote troubleshooting and issue analysis. To generate the support data report: 1 Click the Support tab, then click Gather Support Information . 2 Click Browse to display the Collect Al...
Page 22 - Password Guidelines; Resetting a Password; Connecting the Serial Cable
22 Storage Array To remove a password: • Enter the current password in the Current password text box. • Leave the New password and Confirm new password text boxes blank. If you forget your password, contact Dell for technical assistance. Password Guidelines Consider these guidelines when you create ...
Page 23 - System Setup for Password Reset
Storage Array 23 System Setup for Password Reset Microsoft ® Windows ® Operating Systems 1 Click Start → Programs → Accessories → Communication → HyperTerminal to run HyperTerminal. If HyperTerminal is not installed, click Control Panel → Add/Remove Programs → Add/Remove Windows Components , find Hy...
Page 24 - Reset Password
24 Storage Array 7 Press <I> to set the speed to 115200. 8 P ress <Q> to set the data , parity , and stopbits to 8-N-1 , then press <Enter>. 9 Press <Enter> to exit the Comm Parameters screen. 10 Select Exit and press <Enter> again to exit the setup screen. Reset Passwo...
Page 25 - Changing Expansion Enclosure ID Numbers; Configuring E-mail Alerts
Storage Array 25 NOTE: If you require help with this procedure, contact Dell for technical assistance. For more information on contacting Dell, see the "Getting Help" chapter of the Hardware Owners Manua l. Changing Expansion Enclosure ID Numbers When an MD1000 expansion enclosure is attache...
Page 27 - Configuring SNMP Alerts
Storage Array 27 • Every x hours — Sends an e-mail at the specified interval if an event occurred during that period. You can select this option only if the Information to send option is set to Event + Profile or Event + Support . 4 Click Save . Configuring SNMP Alerts To add a management console to...
Page 31 - Using iSCSI; Using the iSCSI Tab
Using iSCSI 31 Using iSCSI This chapter provides information on using iSCSI in MD Storage Manager. For iSCSI prerequisite requirements and detailed step-by-step instructions on setting up and configuring iSCSI, see the Installation Guide . Using the iSCSI Tab The iSCSI tab is shown in the MD Storage...
Page 32 - Changing the iSCSI Target Authentication; Entering Mutual Authentication Permissions; Creating CHAP Secrets
32 Using iSCSI Changing the iSCSI Target Authentication If an initiator requires mutual (bi-directional) authentication see "Entering Mutual Authentication Permissions" on page 32. 1 Click the iSCSI tab, and then click Change Target Authentication . 2 Select None if no authentication is requ...
Page 34 - Changing the iSCSI Target Identification; Changing the iSCSI Target Discovery
34 Using iSCSI Changing the iSCSI Target Identification You cannot change the iSCSI target name, but you can associate an alias with the target for simpler identification. Aliases are useful because the iSCSI target names are not intuitive. You should provide an iSCSI target alias that is meaningful...
Page 35 - Configuring the MD3000i iSCSI Host Ports; Advanced iSCSI Host Ports Settings
Using iSCSI 35 Configuring the MD3000i iSCSI Host Ports Use the configuration dialog for the iSCSI host ports to set up the MD3000i iSCSI host ports to use with storage arrays in a storage area network (SAN). 1 Click the iSCSI tab, and then click Configure iSCSI Host Ports . 2 Select the controller ...
Page 36 - Viewing or Ending an iSCSI Session
36 Using iSCSI NOTE: Changing any of these settings resets the iSCSI port. I/O is interrupted to any host accessing that port. You can access the I/O automatically after the port restarts and the host logs in again. Viewing or Ending an iSCSI Session 1 Click the iSCSI tab, and then click View/End iS...
Page 41 - Event Monitor; Enabling the Event Monitor
Event Monitor 41 Event Monitor An event monitor is provided with MD Storage Manager. When enabled, the event monitor runs continuously in the background and monitors activity on the managed storage arrays. If the event monitor detects any critical problems, it can notify a host or remote system usin...
Page 42 - Disabling the Event Monitor
42 Event Monitor Disabling the Event Monitor Disable the event monitor if you do not want the system to send alert notifications. If you are running the event monitor on multiple systems, disabling the event monitor on all but one system prevents the sending of duplicate messages. Windows 1 Select S...
Page 43 - About Your Host; Configuring Host Access
About Your Host 43 About Your Host This chapter covers basic information about configuring host groups and host access, host topology, and I/O data path protection. A host is a system that accesses a storage array and is mapped to the virtual disks through one or more host connections. Hosts have th...
Page 44 - Automatic Configuration
44 About Your Host To begin configuring host access, click the Configure tab and then click either Configure Host Access (Automatic) or Configure Host Access (Manual) . See the appropriate section for manual configuration, depending on whether you are using SAS HBA or iSCSI. Automatic Configuration ...
Page 46 - Removing Host Access
46 About Your Host To manually define an initiator, click New , enter the iSCSI initiator name and iSCSI initiator label in the Enter new iSCSI initiator dialog box, and then click Add . NOTE: The initiator name entered must match the name on a host server that will connect to the storage array. 5 C...
Page 47 - Host Groups; Creating a Host Group
About Your Host 47 Host Groups A host group is a logical entity of two or more hosts that share access to specific virtual disks on the storage array. You create host groups with MD Storage Manager. All hosts in a host group must have the same host type (operating system). In addition, all hosts in ...
Page 48 - Removing a Host From a Host Group
48 About Your Host 4 Select the host group to which you want to move the host. 5 Click OK . The host is moved into the host group. The host retains the virtual disk mappings assigned to it, and inherits the virtual disk mappings assigned to the group. Other hosts in the group do not inherit the mapp...
Page 49 - Removing a Host Group; Host Topology
About Your Host 49 The host retains the virtual disk mappings assigned to it, and inherits the virtual disk mappings assigned to the group to which it is moved. The host loses the virtual disk mappings assigned to the group from which it was moved. Removing a Host Group This section covers removing ...
Page 50 - Host Context Agent
50 About Your Host Host Context Agent The host context agent discovers the host topology. The host context agent starts when the host is started and stops when the host is turned off. The topology discovered by the host context agent can be viewed by clicking Configure Host Access (Automatic) in the...
Page 51 - I/O Data Path Protection; Failover with Red Hat Enterprise Linux
About Your Host 51 I/O Data Path Protection You can have multiple host-to-array connections for a host. Make sure to select all of the connections to the array when configuring host access to the storage array. NOTICE: Refer to the Installation Guide for more information on cabling configurations. N...
Page 53 - Disk Groups and Virtual Disks
Disk Groups and Virtual Disks 53 Disk Groups and Virtual Disks Following is a list of terms used throughout this chapter: • Disk Group — A set of physical disks that are logically grouped and assigned a RAID level. Every disk group provides the overall capacity required to create one or more virtual...
Page 54 - Creating Disk Groups and Virtual Disks
54 Disk Groups and Virtual Disks Creating Disk Groups and Virtual Disks Disk groups are created in the unconfigured capacity of a storage array, and virtual disks are created in the free capacity of a disk group. The maximum number of physical disks supported in a disk group is 30. The hosts attache...
Page 55 - Manual Configuration
Disk Groups and Virtual Disks 55 performed in the department: Accounts Receivable (AR), Accounts Payable (AP), internal billing, and so forth. In this scenario, the AR and AP virtual disks probably need more capacity than the internal billing virtual disk. NOTE: In Linux, the host must be rebooted a...
Page 58 - Hot Spare Drive Protection; Automatically Configuring Hot Spares
58 Disk Groups and Virtual Disks If you plan to create multiple virtual disks, wait until you have created all the virtual disks to register them. Waiting prevents you from having to register virtual disks more than once. Linux NOTE: You need super-user (Linux) privileges to run the hot_add utility....
Page 59 - Manually Configuring Hot Spares
Disk Groups and Virtual Disks 59 coverage for the storage array. The number and type of hot spare drives is determined based on the number, type, and capacity of physical disks in the storage array. To add hot spare drive protection using automatic configuration: 1 Click the Configure tab, then clic...
Page 60 - Modifying and Removing Host-to-Virtual Disk Mapping
60 Disk Groups and Virtual Disks Host-to-Virtual Disk Mapping After you create virtual disks, you must map them to the host(s) connected to the array. When you configure host-to-virtual disk mapping, consider these guidelines: • Each virtual disk in the storage array can be mapped to only one host o...
Page 61 - Changing Controller Ownership of the Virtual Disk; Storage Partitioning
Disk Groups and Virtual Disks 61 4 To map the disk to a different host or host group, click Change located to the right of the list. 5 To remove the disk mapping to a host or host group, click Remove located to the right of the list. Changing Controller Ownership of the Virtual Disk If the host has ...
Page 62 - Disk Group and Virtual Disk Expansion; Disk Group Expansion; Virtual Disk Expansion
62 Disk Groups and Virtual Disks Administrative Tools and select the Disk Management MMC option to format and partition the disk. If the host server is running Windows Server 2008 Core version, partition and format the virtual disk using the Microsoft DiskPart utility. Disk Group and Virtual Disk Ex...
Page 63 - Storage Array Media Scan; Changing Media Scan Settings
Disk Groups and Virtual Disks 63 If you receive a warning that the snapshot repository virtual disk is becoming full, you may expand the snapshot repository virtual disk from MD Storage Manager. See "Snapshot Repository Capacity" on page 79 for step-by-step instructions. Storage Array Media ...
Page 64 - Suspending the Media Scan; Microsoft Services; Virtual Disk Service
64 Disk Groups and Virtual Disks 3 In the Select virtual disks to scan box, click the virtual disk you want to include in the media scan. NOTE: Press <Ctrl> and click to add more than one virtual disk to the media scan. Click Select All to include all virtual disks in the media scan. 4 Check t...
Page 65 - Volume Shadow-Copy Service
Disk Groups and Virtual Disks 65 Volume Shadow-Copy Service The Microsoft Volume Shadow-copy Service (VSS) is a storage management interface for Microsoft Windows operating systems. VSS enables your storage array to interact with third-party applications that use the VSS Application Programming Inte...
Page 68 - About the Simple Path
68 Snapshot Virtual Disks When you create a snapshot virtual disk, you specify where to create the snapshot repository virtual disk, its capacity, and other parameters. You can disable or delete the snapshot virtual disk when you no longer need it, such as when the backup is complete. If you disable...
Page 71 - Creating the Snapshot Using the Simple Path
Snapshot Virtual Disks 71 3 Remove the drive letter(s) of the source in Windows or unmount the virtual drive(s) in Linux to help guarantee a stable copy of the drive for the Snapshot. If this is not done, the snapshot operation will report that it has completed successfully, but the snapshot data wi...
Page 73 - About the Advanced Path
Snapshot Virtual Disks 73 Creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk Using the Advanced Path About the Advanced Path Use the advanced path to choose whether to place the snapshot repository virtual disk on free capacity or unconfigured capacity and to change the snapshot repository virtual disk parameters. Yo...
Page 76 - Creating the Snapshot Using the Advanced Path
76 Snapshot Virtual Disks 4 Follow any additional instructions for your operating system. Failure to follow these additional instructions can create unusable snapshot virtual disks. NOTE: If your operating system requires additional instructions, you can find those instructions in your operating sys...
Page 78 - Specifying Snapshot Virtual Disk Names
78 Snapshot Virtual Disks To map later, select Map later . 15 Click Finish to create the snapshot virtual disk and the associated snapshot repository virtual disk. 16 After you have created one or more snapshot virtual disks, mount or reassign a drive letter of the source virtual disk. 17 If needed,...
Page 79 - Snapshot Repository Capacity
Snapshot Virtual Disks 79 • Whether you use the software-supplied sequence number that (by default) populates the Snapshot virtual disk name or the Snapshot repository virtual disk name field, the next default name for a snapshot or snapshot repository virtual disk still uses the sequence number det...
Page 80 - Re-creating Snapshot Virtual Disks; Disabling a Snapshot Virtual Disk
80 Snapshot Virtual Disks • Any virtual disk in the disk group is in any state of modification. • The controller that has ownership of this virtual disk is currently adding capacity to another virtual disk. Each controller can add capacity to only one virtual disk at a time. • No free capacity exist...
Page 81 - Preparing Host Servers to Re-create a Snapshot Virtual Disk
Snapshot Virtual Disks 81 To disable a snapshot virtual disk: 1 Click the Modify tab, then click Modify snapshot virtual disks . 2 Click Disable Snapshot Virtual Disks . 3 Highlight the snapshot virtual disk to be disabled and click Disable beneath the list. 4 In the Confirm Disable Snapshot Virtual...
Page 82 - Re-creating a Snapshot Virtual Disk
82 Snapshot Virtual Disks 4 Remove the drive letter(s) of the source and (if mounted) snapshot virtual disk in Windows or unmount the virtual drive(s) in Linux to help guarantee a stable copy of the drive for the Snapshot. If this is not done, the snapshot operation will report that it has completed...
Page 85 - Virtual Disk Read/Write Permissions
Virtual Disk Copy 85 Virtual Disk Read/Write Permissions After the virtual disk copy is complete, the target virtual disk automatically becomes read-only to the hosts. The target virtual disk rejects read and write requests while the virtual disk copy operation has a status of Pending or In Progress...
Page 86 - Virtual Disk Copy Restrictions
86 Virtual Disk Copy Virtual Disk Copy Restrictions Before you perform any virtual disk copy tasks, understand and adhere to the restrictions listed in this section. The restrictions apply to the source virtual disk, the target virtual disk, and the storage array. • While a virtual disk copy has a s...
Page 87 - Creating a Virtual Disk Copy; Preparing Host Servers to Create a Virtual Disk Copy
Virtual Disk Copy 87 Creating a Virtual Disk Copy Use the Create Virtual Disk Copies feature on the Configure tab to create a full copy of a source virtual disk. This operation overwrites any existing data on the target virtual disk. Once the virtual disk copy has started, all I/O activity to the so...
Page 88 - Copying the Virtual Disk
88 Virtual Disk Copy 4 Remove the drive letter(s) of the source and (if mounted) virtual disk in Windows or unmount the virtual drive(s) in Linux to help guarantee a stable copy of the drive for the virtual disk. If this is not done, the copy operation will report that it has completed successfully,...
Page 89 - Setting Copy Priority
Virtual Disk Copy 89 5 Set the copy priority for the virtual disk copy and click Next . The source virtual disk, the target virtual disk, and the copy priority setting that you selected appear on the Create virtual disk copies—Confirm Copy Settings dialog. The higher priorities allocate more resourc...
Page 90 - Stopping a Virtual Disk Copy; Recopying a Virtual Disk
90 Virtual Disk Copy You can change the copy priority for a virtual disk copy in the following circumstances: • Before the virtual disk copy begins See "Creating a Virtual Disk Copy" on page 87. • While the virtual disk copy is in progress Click the Modify tab, then click Manage Virtual Disk...
Page 91 - Preparing Host Servers to Recopy a Virtual Disk
Virtual Disk Copy 91 Preparing Host Servers to Recopy a Virtual Disk NOTICE: Before you create a new copy of a source virtual disk, stop any data access (I/O) activity or suspend data transfer to the source virtual disk (and, if applicable, the target disk) to ensure that you capture an accurate poi...
Page 92 - Recopying the Virtual Disk
92 Virtual Disk Copy Recopying the Virtual Disk After first preparing the host server(s) as specified in the preceding procedure, complete the following steps to create a new virtual disk copy for an existing copy pair: 1 Click the Modify tab, and then click Manage virtual disk copies . You can only...
Page 93 - Removing Copy Pairs
Virtual Disk Copy 93 3 You must register the target virtual disk with the operating system before you can use the new virtual disk. Perform the following steps: a Enable write permission on the target virtual disk by either removing the virtual disk copy pair (see "Removing Copy Pairs" on pa...
Page 95 - Firmware Downloads
Firmware Downloads 95 Firmware Downloads You can download the following types of firmware images with MD Storage Manager: • RAID controller module firmware that manages the storage array controllers • RAID nonvolatile static random access memory (NVSRAM) images that specify the default settings for ...
Page 96 - Downloading Both RAID Controller and NVSRAM Firmware
96 Firmware Downloads Downloading Both RAID Controller and NVSRAM Firmware NOTE: I/O to the array can continue while you are upgrading RAID controller and NVSRAM firmware. NOTE: The RAID enclosure must contain at least two disk drives in order to update the firmware on the controller. Use the follow...
Page 97 - Downloading Non-redundant MSCS NVSRAM Firmware
Firmware Downloads 97 11 A Confirm Download dialog box appears listing the current versions and the versions you selected of the RAID controller and NVSRAM firmware. To complete the download, click Yes . Downloading Only NVSRAM Firmware Use the following procedure to download NVSRAM firmware: 1 Clic...
Page 98 - Downloading Physical Disk Firmware
98 Firmware Downloads 3 Click Select File to browse to the file that you want to download. By default, only firmware images that are compatible with the current storage array configuration appear. 4 Click the non-redundant-MSCS NVSRAM file in the File Selection area and then click OK . 5 If the file...
Page 99 - Downloading EMM Firmware
Firmware Downloads 99 7 A Confirm Download dialog box appears listing the current versions and the versions you selected of physical disk firmware. To complete the download, click Yes . Downloading EMM Firmware NOTICE: Do not make any configuration changes to the storage array while you are download...
Page 101 - Troubleshooting Problems; Recovery Guru; Storage Array Profile
Troubleshooting 101 Troubleshooting Problems The following sections provide information to assist you in resolving problems that may occur with your MD Storage Array. Recovery Guru The Recovery Guru is a component of MD Storage Manager that diagnoses critical events on the storage array and recommen...
Page 102 - SMrepassist Utility; filesystem-identifier
102 Troubleshooting A storage array is always in one of six possible health status conditions, which you can identify by the status icon. • Optimal status — Every component in the managed device is in the desired working condition. • Needs Attention status — A problem exists with the managed device ...
Page 103 - Support Information Package
Troubleshooting 103 where -f flushes all the memory-resident data for the file system indicated by < filesystem-identifier > , and < filesystem-identifier > specifies a unique file system in the following syntax: drive-letter: < mount-point-path> The file system identifier might co...
Page 104 - Unidentified Devices
104 Troubleshooting Unidentified Devices An unidentified node or device occurs when the MD Storage Manager cannot access a new storage array. Causes for this error include network connection problems, the storage array is turned off, or the storage array does not exist. NOTE: Before beginning any re...
Page 107 - Removing an EMM from the Expansion Enclosure; Inserting an EMM into an Expansion Enclosure
Hardware Considerations 107 Enclosure Hardware Replacement, Maintenance, and Configuration Considerations Removing and Inserting Enclosure Management Modules on Attached Expansion Enclosures The following procedures describe how to safely remove and insert an enclosure management module (EMM) from a...
Page 108 - Removing and Inserting Physical Disks
108 Hardware Considerations 2 After attaching the SAS cables, wait at least three minutes for the EMM to reach optimal state. NOTE: You may experience a transitional failure on multiple EMMs in the MEL log while the system updates. Removing and Inserting Physical Disks Refer to the following guideli...
Page 111 - Index
Index 111 Index A alert e-mail, 27SNMP, 27 B backup, 84 C Configure tab, 12 copy pairs removing, 93 copy priority, 89 D disk expansion, 62 disk group, 12, 53-55, 80 documentation, 14 download firmware, 13 E e-mail alert, 27 event monitor, 15 F free capacity, 53 H H B A p o r t , 43 host, 15 access, ...
