Dell power vault md User Manual

Dell PowerVault MD Storage
Arrays—Information Update

NOTE: Information in this document applies to Dell PowerVault MD3200, PowerVault

MD3220, PowerVault MD3200i, PowerVault MD3220i, PowerVault MD3600i,
PowerVault MD3620i, PowerVault MD3600f, and PowerVault MD3620f systems.

This document provides additional information that is not included in the
PowerVault MD customer documentation. Issues described in this document
may affect the installation, configuration, or operation of your PowerVault MD
storage array. Information provided in the document must be reviewed before
using your new storage array or upgrading your array software, firmware, or host
operating system.

The PowerVault MD series documentation set at support.dell.com/manuals
provides information to setup, configure, and use your system.

New Version of MD Storage Arrays Resource Media and Latest RAID Controller Firmware

The Dell PowerVault MD Series Resource Media provides a single installation for
all PowerVault MD storage arrays. Platform-specific media is no longer
distributed for each PowerVault MD storage array. Use the consolidated Dell
PowerVault MD Series Resource Media (version 3.0.0.18 or later) to install the
PowerVault MD Storage Manager and any media-based PowerVault MD storage
array management application. All RAID controllers in your system must use the
latest controller firmware versions as shown in the Support Matrix at
support.dell.com/manuals.

For information on updating your RAID controller firmware, see the
system-specific Owner's Manual at support.dell.com/manuals.

2011 - 10

Migrating a Disk Group

PowerVault MD Storage Manger (MDSM) allows you to migrate a disk group by
exporting the disk group and then importing it to another storage array. You can
also export a disk group to store data offline.

When you export a disk group, all the physical disks become offline. To ensure
that the export is successful, at least two physical disks that are not part of the
disk group you are migrating must be present in the storage array.

When you migrate the exported disk group to the new storage array, the import
fails if a majority of the physical disks are not present in the group. For example,
both the physical disks in a two-disk RAID 1 configuration, or the three physical
disks (one from each disk pair) in a four-disk RAID 10 configuration must be
present.

RAID Controller Clock Synchronization Using NTP and SNTP

Your PowerVault MD series RAID controller firmware independently monitors
Network Time Protocol (NTP) or Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP) server
messages and updates its time-of-day clock. After the RAID controller receives a
broadcasted NTP or SNTP server message and the controller clock is adjusted,
the controller firmware enforces an eight-hour delay. During the eight-hour time
frame, no subsequent NTP or SNTP messages are monitored. The eight-hour
delay prevents a rogue or malfunctioning NTP or SNTP server from causing
excessive clock management activity on the RAID controller, leading to
interference with normal controller processing.

NOTE: Configure the SNTP server to deliver broadcast messages to the 255.255.255.255

IP address.

Maximum Physical Disk Support Limitations

CAUTION: If you are using a RAID 0 or RAID 10 configuration, do not attempt to create

virtual disk groups exceeding the 120-physical disk limit.

Although the PowerVault MD storage arrays that come with premium feature
activation can support up to 192 physical disks, RAID 0 and RAID 10
configurations with more than 120 physical disks are not supported. MDSM does