Apple Xserve RAID User Manual
Xserve RAID
Using RAID Admin 1.2
and Disk Utility
Includes instructions for creating RAID
arrays and monitoring Xserve RAID systems
K
Apple Computer, Inc.
© 2004 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.
Under the copyright laws, this manual may not be
copied, in whole or in part, without the written consent
of Apple. Your rights to the software are governed by
the accompanying software license agreement.
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registered in the U.S. and other countries. Use of the
“keyboard” Apple logo (Option-Shift-K) for commercial
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information in this manual is accurate. Apple is not
responsible for printing or clerical errors.
Apple
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014-2084
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www.apple.com
Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, and
Xserve are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.,
registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Rendezvous is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Other company and product names mentioned herein
are trademarks of their respective companies. Mention
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only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a
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regard to the performance or use of these products.
Simultaneously published in the United States and
Canada.
022-1430/12-05-03
3
Contents
Preface 5 About Software for Xserve RAID Systems
Chapter 1 7 Configuring an Xserve RAID System
8
Installing the RAID Admin Application
8
Connecting to the System
10
Entering Basic Settings for an Xserve RAID System
10
14
System Identity and Access
Configuring Additional Systems
Chapter 2 15 Working With RAID Arrays
15
Creating a RAID Array
17
17
18
19
20
21
About Spare Drives
Modifying a RAID Array
Rebuilding a RAID Array
Deleting a RAID Array
Formatting and Mounting Arrays on a Host System
Adding Software RAID to Two or More Arrays
Chapter 3 25 Monitoring Status and Changing Settings
25
Monitoring System Status
25
25
29
29
29
29
30
31
33
34
34
Adding a System to the Monitoring List
Getting System Information
Removing a System From the Monitoring List
Changing RAID Admin Preferences
Changing System Settings
Revising Basic Information and Network Settings
Setting Fibre Channel Speed and Topology
Setting Up Drive Cache and Controller Cache
Using System Commands
Turning the System Identifier On or Off
Updating System Firmware
Chapter 4 35 Using Advanced Features of RAID Admin
35
Slicing an Array
3
37
38
39
Merging Slices in an Array
Expanding an Array
Masking RAID Volumes on Multiple Host Systems
(LUN Masking)
39
41
42
About the World Wide Port Name
Setting Up LUN Masking With RAID Admin
Verifying or Rebuilding Parity for an Array
4
Contents
About Software for
Xserve RAID Systems
You can set up and manage an Xserve RAID system from
a host computer or a remote computer.
You use three applications to configure and monitor your Xserve RAID system. Two of
these applications, RAID Admin and Fibre Channel Utility, are included on a CD with the
system. (In some instances, the CD with RAID Admin and Fibre Channel Utility is
supplied with other systems or cards as well.) You also can download the latest version
of RAID Admin and Fibre Channel Utility using Software Update in System Preferences.
The third application, Disk Utility, is part of Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server.
You use RAID Admin to set up the Xserve RAID hardware, including:
•
Creating, deleting, and expanding RAID arrays (known as “hardware RAID”)
•
Monitoring the status of one or more Xserve RAID systems
•
Adjusting settings, including system name and password, network address for each
RAID controller, fibre channel communication speed, drive cache, and controller
cache
•
Setting up email notification for system alerts
•
Implementing advanced features, such as dividing arrays into “slices,” mapping arrays
to specific host computers (LUN masking), and updating the firmware of an Xserve
RAID system.
Preface
You use the Fibre Channel Utility to view and modify settings on the Apple Fibre
Channel PCI Card, including:
•
Identifying the World Wide Node Name (WWNN) and World Wide Port Name (WWPN)
associated with each card port
•
Setting the fibre channel speed from the host card
•
Setting the fibre channel topology from the host card
•
Setting the hard loop ID
You use Disk Utility for:
•
Mounting arrays on the host system (which includes putting the file system on arrays
and creating volumes)
•
Implementing software RAID (striping or mirroring two or more RAID arrays)
5
This guide provides instructions for using RAID Admin and Fibre Channel Utility to
configure and monitor Xserve RAID systems and using Disk Utility to enhance
hardware RAID arrays. (For descriptions of RAID levels and the types of arrays you can
set up on an Xserve RAID system, see Chapter 7, “RAID Overview,” and Chapter 8,
“Planning RAID Storage for the Xserve RAID System,” in the
Xserve RAID User’s Guide.)
See Chapter 1, “Configuring an Xserve RAID System,” on page 7 for details on
configuring a system for the first time.
See Chapter 2, “Working With RAID Arrays,” on page 15 for instructions on creating and
deleting RAID arrays.
See Chapter 3, “Monitoring Status and Changing Settings,” on page 25 for information
on managing systems, changing settings, and getting details of a system alert.
See Chapter 4, “Using Advanced Features of RAID Admin,” on page 35 for information
on slicing arrays, expanding arrays, verifying or rebuilding parity, and LUN masking.
6 Preface
About Software for Xserve RAID Systems
1
Configuring an
List of systems
being monitored
Monitoring buttons
(for selected system)
Xserve RAID System
1
Use the RAID Admin application to configure or monitor
one or more Xserve RAID systems.
You use RAID Admin to enter basic information, such as system name, access level and
password, and network settings, on the Xserve RAID system. Monitoring buttons
require the monitoring password; management buttons require the management
password. (The default passwords are “public” for monitoring and “private” for
management.)
Toolbar monitoring buttons
(to connect to systems)
Toolbar management buttons
Message area
Icons for monitoring
buttons; an icon
changes color (and
shape, if selected in
Preferences) to indicate
a change in status.
System information
Before creating RAID arrays, it’s a good idea to configure the system with the name,
password, and network settings you want. You may need to get some information from
the network administrator for your location.
7
Be sure to write down the information you enter for the system and keep that record in
a safe place. If you plan to share your Xserve RAID system, other users will need to
know some or all of these details.
Installing the RAID Admin Application
You must install RAID Admin on all computers that you want to use to monitor or
administer Xserve RAID systems. Each monitoring computer must be using Java 1.3.1 or
a more recent version. (Java 1.3.1 is supported in Mac OS X v10.2 and later versions.)
To install or update RAID Admin on a monitoring computer, do one of the
following:
•
Insert the
computer and copy the folder “RAID Admin” to that computer.
•
Use Software Update in System Preferences to update a version already installed on
the computer.
You can also copy the software folder from a remote system or server if the computer
you want to use for monitoring does not have an optical drive.
Note:
with each new version.
Xserve RAID Admin Tools
When you update the software, be sure to read the “Read Me” files associated
disc in the optical drive of the monitoring
Connecting to the System
RAID Admin uses Rendezvous discovery to simplify connecting to an Xserve RAID
system the first time. The application lists the IP addresses of the systems on the same
subnet as your monitoring computer.
The system’s default configuration is to use DHCP for a network address. If no DHCP
server is available, the system will automatically use a link local address of 169.254.x.x.
Important:
Admin on a computer that is on the same subnet as the system. By doing so, you can
connect to the system without knowing the IP address of the system.
8 Chapter 1
The first time you configure an Xserve RAID system, you must use RAID
Configuring an Xserve RAID System
List of systems on subnet
(Rendezvous names)
To connect to an Xserve RAID system:
1
Turn on the Xserve RAID system.
Note:
The drives on the Xserve RAID have been preconfigured at the factory into a
RAID Level 5 array with RAID Now background initialization in effect. When you turn on
the system, the drives will begin initializing the array. This process will take a number of
hours. You can use the default RAID Level 5 array (or arrays, depending on the number
of drives in the system) immediately (as the drives are initializing) or delete the
preconfigured arrays and configure the drives as you wish. Connecting during
initialization and deleting an array will not harm the system. If you have written any
data on an array, deleting that array will cause that data to be lost.
2
Start RAID Admin on a computer that is on the same subnet as the system and click
Add System.
3
In the Add window, select the system you want from the list or type the IP address of
the system in the Address field.
4
Type the Monitoring Password.
Monitoring access allows you to monitor a system but not make changes. When you
want to create an array or make other changes, the software asks you to enter the
management password.
Note:
The default monitoring password is “public.” The default management password
is “private.”
5
Click Add.
6
Select the system in the list to display its settings and information in the monitoring
panes.
Chapter 1
Configuring an Xserve RAID System
9
Entering Basic Settings for an Xserve RAID System
You can enter or change a number of settings for the Xserve RAID system. These
include:
•
System name
•
Location of the system and key contact
•
Management or monitoring password
•
System time synchronization with the monitoring computer or a network server
•
Audible alarm on or off; automatic restart after power outage on or off
•
Network address configuration
•
Fibre channel options for transmission speed and connection type
•
Turning drive cache on or off for each array and controller cache on or off (for each
RAID controller)
Changing some settings will cause the Xserve RAID system to restart.
System Identity and Access
You use the Settings window in RAID Admin to add or change most information for
your Xserve RAID system.
To open the Settings window:
1
In the RAID Admin window, click the Settings button.
2
If necessary, enter the management password and click OK.
10 Chapter 1
Configuring an Xserve RAID System
Note:
You can save the management password for a system (until you quit RAID
Admin) by checking “Remember management password” when you enter the
password. A small lock icon appears at the right side of the message area for the
system in RAID Admin’s main window. Any subsequent tasks requiring the
management password will authenticate using the saved password without prompting
you. For security, you can delete the saved password by choosing Forget Management
Password from RAID Admin’s System menu.
System Name and Contact Information
Use the System pane in the Settings window to enter or change the system name. ( The
default name Xserve RAID is set at the factory.) You can also enter reference
information, including the physical location of the Xserve RAID system and the primary
contact for that system.
Choose an option from the Time Synchronization Method pop-up menu. You can
synchronize the system’s time with the host computer or a network time server (for
which you enter the name).
You can change the password for management or monitoring access using the
appropriate Change button. When setting up the system, you may want to change
both passwords. Be sure to write them down and make them available to anyone else
who is authorized to make changes (management) or monitor system status
(monitoring).
The option for audible alerts is turned on by default.
The option for SNMP access is turned on by default. This option allows SNMP
community “public” access.
Chapter 1
Configuring an Xserve RAID System
11
Network Address
You use the Network pane of the Settings window to set the IP address for each RAID
controller in the system.
•
If you have one or two static IP addresses, choose Manually from the Configure popup menu and type the address, subnet mask, and router information.
•
If you don’t have a static IP address, choose Using DHCP from the Configure pop-up
menu. (DHCP is the default setting for the system.)
For specific information about the IP address and other network details for your system,
check with the network administrator at your location.
12 Chapter 1
Configuring an Xserve RAID System
Email Notification
The Xserve RAID system sends email messages whenever it detects an error condition.
You can add as many email addresses as you wish for notification; separate the names
with commas.
To set up email notification:
1
In the RAID Admin window, click the Email button.
2
If necessary, enter the management password and click OK.
3
In the Email Notification window, click Add.
4
Enter one or more email addresses in the text field and click OK.
5
Enter the address of the SMTP server and the sender’s email address. You can use your
own address or create a new address on the SMTP server with a name such as “Xserve
RAID 3 alert” to identify the system and the purpose of the email message. (The
address you use must be a valid one on the SMTP server.)
6
If the SMTP server requires authentication, click the authentication checkbox and enter
the appropriate user name and password.
You can use the Send Test Email button to verify that notification is working.
7
Click OK.
Chapter 1
Configuring an Xserve RAID System
13
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