Dell PowerVault MD3400 series, PowerVault MD3420 series Deployment Manual
Dell PowerVault MD3400 and MD3420 Series
Storage Arrays
Deployment Guide
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you
how to avoid the problem.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
Copyright © 2014 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. This product is protected by U.S. and international copyright and
intellectual property laws. Dell™ and the Dell logo are trademarks of Dell Inc. in the United States and/or other
jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
2014 - 02
Rev. A00
Contents
1 Introduction........................................................................................................... 5
System Requirements............................................................................................................................5
Management Station Requirements............................................................................................... 5
Introduction to Storage Arrays..............................................................................................................5
Related Documentation........................................................................................................................6
Locating Your System Service Tag........................................................................................................7
Contacting Dell......................................................................................................................................7
Documentation Feedback.....................................................................................................................7
2 Hardware Installation...........................................................................................8
Planning The Storage Configuration ...................................................................................................8
Connecting The Storage Array ............................................................................................................ 8
Cabling The Storage Array.................................................................................................................... 9
Redundant And Nonredundant Configurations.............................................................................9
Single Controller Configurations.................................................................................................. 10
Dual Controller Configurations.....................................................................................................13
Cabling PowerVault MD1200 Series Expansion Enclosures..............................................................19
Expanding With Previously Configured PowerVault MD1200 Series Expansion Enclosures.....20
Expanding With New PowerVault MD1200 Series Expansion Enclosures.................................. 21
3 Installing PowerVault MD Storage Software................................................. 22
Graphical Installation (Recommended)..............................................................................................23
Console Installation............................................................................................................................ 23
Silent Installation................................................................................................................................. 24
Silent Installation On Windows Systems...................................................................................... 24
Silent Installation On Linux Systems.............................................................................................24
Upgrading MD Storage Software........................................................................................................24
4 Uninstalling MD Storage Software..................................................................25
Uninstalling MD Storage Software From Windows............................................................................25
Uninstalling MD Storage Software From Windows Server GUI Versions....................................25
Uninstalling MD Storage Software From Windows Server Core Versions.................................. 25
Uninstalling MD Storage Software From Linux.................................................................................. 25
5 Load Balancing....................................................................................................26
Load Balance Policy............................................................................................................................26
Round Robin With Subset............................................................................................................. 26
Least Queue Depth....................................................................................................................... 26
Least Path Weight..........................................................................................................................26
Changing Load Balance Policies On The Windows Server Operating System...........................27
1
Introduction
This document provides information about deploying Dell PowerVault MD3400 and Dell PowerVault
MD3420 storage arrays. The deployment process includes:
• Hardware installation
• Modular Disk Storage Manager (MDSM) software installation
• Initial system configuration
Other information includes system requirements, storage array organization, and utilities.
NOTE: For more information on product documentation, see Related Documentation.
MDSM enables an administrator to configure and monitor storage arrays for optimum usability. The
version of MDSM included on the PowerVault MD series resource media can be used to manage both the
Dell PowerVault MD3400 and Dell PowerVault MD3420 systems and the earlier PowerVault MD series
storage arrays. MDSM is compatible with both Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems.
System Requirements
Before installing and configuring the PowerVault MD3400 and MD3420 series hardware and software,
ensure that the minimum system requirements are met, and the supported operating system is installed.
For more information, see the Dell PowerVault MD34xx/38xx Series Support Matrix at dell.com/support/
manuals.
Management Station Requirements
A management station uses MDSM to configure and manage storage arrays across the network. For
management station requirements, see Dell PowerVault MD34xx/38xx Series Support Matrix at dell.com/
support/manuals.
Introduction to Storage Arrays
A storage array includes various hardware components, such as physical disks, RAID controller modules,
fans, and power supplies, gathered into enclosures. The physical disks are accessed through the RAID
controller modules.
One or more host servers attached to the storage array can access the data on the storage array. You can
also establish multiple physical paths between the hosts and the storage array so that loss of any single
path (for example, through failure of a host server port) does not result in loss of access to data on the
storage array.
The storage array is managed by MDSM running on a:
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• Host server — On a host server system, MDSM and the storage array communicate management
requests and event information using in-band or out-of band-connections.
• Management station — On a management station, MDSM communicates with the storage array either
through an Ethernet connection to the storage array management port or through an Ethernet
connection to a host server. The Ethernet connection passes management information between the
management station and the storage array connectivity.
Using MDSM, you can configure the physical disks in the storage array into logical components called
disk groups or dynamic disk group and then divide the disk groups into virtual disks. Disk groups are
created in the unconfigured capacity of a storage array. Virtual disks are created in the free capacity of a
disk group.
Unconfigured capacity comprises physical disks not already assigned to a disk group. When a virtual disk
is created using unconfigured capacity, a disk group or dynamic disk group is automatically created. If the
only virtual disk in a disk group is deleted, the disk group is also deleted. Free capacity is space in a disk
group that is not assigned to any virtual disk.
Data is written to the physical disks in the storage array using RAID technology. RAID levels define how
data is written to physical disks. Different RAID levels offer different levels of accessibility, redundancy,
and capacity. 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 dell.com/support/manuals.
Related Documentation
NOTE: For all PowerVault documentation, go to dell.com/powervaultmanuals and enter the
system Service Tag to get your system documentation.
NOTE: For all Dell OpenManage documents, go to dell.com/openmanagemanuals.
NOTE: For all storage controller documents, go to dell.com/storagecontrollermanuals.
Your product documentation includes:
• Dell PowerVault MD3400/3420/3800i/3820i/3800f/3820f Storage Arrays Getting Started Guide —
Provides an overview of system features, setting up your system, and technical specifications. This
document is also shipped with your system.
• Dell PowerVault MD3400 and 3420 Storage Arrays Owner’s Manual — Provides information about
system features and describes how to troubleshoot the system and install or replace system
components.
• Rack Installation Instructions — Describes how to install your system into a rack. This document is
also shipped with your rack solution.
• Dell PowerVault MD Series Storage Arrays Administrator's Guide — Provides information about
configuring and managing the system using the MDSM GUI.
• Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Arrays CLI Guide — Provides information about configuring and
managing the system using the MDSM CLI.
• Dell PowerVault MD3400 and 3420 Storage Arrays Deployment Guide — Provides information about
deploying the storage system in the SAN architecture.
• Dell PowerVault MD34xx/38xx Series Support Matrix — Provides information about the software and
hardware compatibility matrices for the storage array.
6
Locating Your System Service Tag
Your system is identified by a unique Express Service Code and Service Tag number. The Express Service
Code and Service Tag are found on the front of the system by pulling out the information tag.
Alternatively, the information may be on a sticker on the chassis of the system. This information is used
by Dell to route support calls to the appropriate personnel.
Contacting Dell
NOTE: If you do not have an active Internet connection, you can find contact information on your
purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog.
Dell provides several online and telephone-based support and service options. Availability varies by
country and product, and some services may not be available in your area. To contact Dell for sales,
technical support, or customer service issues:
1. Go to dell.com/contactdell.
2. Verify your country or region from the drop-down menu at the top left corner of the page.
3. Select your support category: Technical Support, Customer Support, Sales, or International
Support Services.
4. Select the appropriate service or support link based on your requirement.
NOTE: If you have purchased a Dell system, you may be asked for the Service Tag.
Documentation Feedback
If you have feedback for this document, write to documentation_feedback@dell.com. Alternatively, you
can click on the Feedback link in any of the Dell documentation pages, fill out the form, and click Submit
to send your feedback.
7
2
Hardware Installation
Before using this guide, ensure that you review the instructions in the documents:
• Getting Started Guide — The Getting Started Guide shipped with the storage array provides
information to configure the initial setup of the system.
• Owner’s Manual — The Owner’s Manual provides information about important concepts to set up
your storage solution. See the Owner’s Manual at dell.com/support/manuals.
Planning The Storage Configuration
Consider the following before installing your storage array:
• Evaluate data storage needs and administrative requirements.
• Calculate availability requirements.
• Decide the frequency and level of backups, such as weekly full backups with daily partial backups.
• Consider storage array options, such as password protection and email alert notifications for error
conditions.
• Design the configuration of virtual disks, disk groups, or dynamic disk groups according to a data
organization plan. For example, use one virtual disk for inventory, a second for financial and tax
information, and a third for customer information.
• Decide whether to allow space for hot spares, which automatically replace failed physical disks.
Connecting The Storage Array
Figure 1. RAID Controller Module Ports
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Item
Number
Name Description
1 12 gbps SAS Host Ports (2) Allows you to connect host servers to the
storage array.
2 7–segment display Displays status of the controller.
3 1G Ethernet Management (MGMT) Port (1) Allows for out of band management of
storage array.
4 Reserved Ethernet Port (1) This is a reserved port.
5 12 gbps SAS Host Ports (2) Allows you to connect host servers to the
storage array.
6 SAS Expansion Ports (2) Allows you to connect the storage array to
optional PowerVault MD1200 series
expansion enclosures for additional storage
capacity.
NOTE: Only one SAS OUT expansion port can be used at a time and the recommended expansion
port is port 0.
NOTE: Do not cable the reserved management port.
Each PowerVault MD3400 and MD3420 storage array can be expanded to a maximum of 120 slots (or
192, if enabled using Premium Feature activation) through a maximum of seven MD1200 series expansion
enclosures.
Cabling The Storage Array
You can cable the storage array to host servers with:
• Single path data configuration — A single path configuration allows you to connect a maximum of
eight hosts. This is a non-redundant configuration.
• Dual path data configuration — A dual path configuration allows you to connect a maximum of four
hosts.
Choose the data configuration based on:
• Number of hosts required
• Level of data redundancy required
Redundant And Nonredundant Configurations
Nonredundant configurations are configurations that provide only a single data path from a host to the
storage array. This type of configuration is only recommended for noncritical data storage. Path failure
from a failed or removed cable, or a failed or removed RAID controller module results in loss of host
access to storage on the storage array.
Redundancy is established by installing separate data paths between the host and the storage array. Each
data path is connected to one of the two RAID controller modules installed in the storage array.
Redundancy protects the host from losing access to data in the event of path failure, because both RAID
controller modules can access all the disks in the storage array.
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