The Storage Management Service provides RAID and non-RAID storage management that is integrated with Server Administrator. On Microsoft® Windows®, Red Hat® Enterprise Linux®, and SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server, the Storage Management Service is installed using Typical or Custom Setup. The Storage Management Service provides storage management information in an integrated graphical view.
The Storage Management Service:
Allows you to perform controller and enclosure functions for all supported RAID and non-RAID controllers and enclosures from a single graphical or command line interface without the use of the controller BIOS utilities.
Enables you to view the status of local and remote storage attached to a monitored system.
Supports SCSI, SATA, ATA, and SAS; however, Fibre Channel is not supported.
Protects your data by configuring data redundancy, assigning hot spares, or rebuilding failed drives.
Provides a graphical interface that is wizard-driven with features for novice and advanced users and detailed online help.
Provides a command line interface that is fully featured and scriptable.
Provides detailed online help.
See the Server Administrator Command Line Interface User's Guide for information about running Storage Management from the command line.
NOTICE: The Storage Management Service (Storage Management) enables you to perform storage tasks that are data-destructive. Storage Management should be used by experienced storage administrators who are familiar with their storage environment.
NOTE: For complete documentation on Storage Management, see the Storage Management online help and the Dell™ OpenManage™ Server Administrator Storage Management User's Guide.
NOTE: The Storage Management Service is available on systems running Microsoft Windows, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server operating systems.
NOTE: It is recommended that you use Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 3 (Update 6) or Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 4 for Storage Management Service.
When using the Storage Management, you can click Help on the global navigation bar for more detailed information about the specific window you are viewing. Help is available for all windows accessible to the user based on user privilege level and the specific hardware and software groups that Server Administrator discovers on the managed system.
Software Prerequisites
See the Storage Management readme (readme_sm.txt) and the Server Administrator readme (readme_sa.txt) for the complete software and hardware requirements. These files are available on the Systems Management Consoles CD.
Hardware Prerequisites
Installing Storage Management on a system that does not have a supported controller, or a controller that is not attached to storage is an unsupported configuration. For a list of the supported controllers and for other information about the Storage Management Service hardware requirements, see the Server Administrator (readme_sa.txt), and Storage Management readme (readme_sm.txt) files on the Systems Management Consoles CD.
Storage Management Service
Installing the Storage Management replaces any previous installation of the Array Manager managed system (server software) and console (client software) on the system. If only the Array Manager console is installed on the system, then installing the Storage Management does not replace the Array Manager console.
The Storage Management Service provides advanced features for configuring a system's locally attached RAID and non-RAID disk storage. Storage Management enables you to perform controller and enclosure functions for all supported RAID and non-RAID controllers and PowerVault™ 2xxS and PowerVault MD1000 enclosures from the Server Administrator graphical interface without requiring use of the controller BIOS utilities.
Using the Storage Management Service, you can protect your data by configuring data-redundancy, assigning hot spares, or rebuilding failed drives. You can also perform data-destructive tasks such as deleting virtual disks or resetting the controller configuration. All users of the Storage Management Service should be familiar with their storage environment and storage management.
In addition to the Server Administrator interface features, the Storage Management Service provides wizard-driven features for novice and advanced users and detailed online help.
The Storage Management command line interface (CLI) provides extended options for the Server Administrator omreport and omconfig commands. These options provide a command line interface that is fully featured and scriptable.
The Storage Management Service supports SCSI, SATA, ATA, and SAS; however, Fibre Channel is not supported.
This release of Storage Management does not support Windows volume and disk management. For additional information, see "Storage Management Service."
Storage Management Service and Array Manager
The Dell OpenManage Storage Management is a replacement for Array Manager. The Storage Management Service provides similar storage management and configuration features as Array Manager. There are differences in the operating system support and other features. Do read the details on "Migrating from Array Manager to the Storage Management" and see the Storage Management User's Guide for more details.
Storage Management Tree Objects
When installed, the Storage Management Service is accessible by selecting the Storage tree object on the Server Administrator graphical user interface. The Storage object expands to display tree objects for the supported controllers attached to the system. The controller object expands to display the storage attached to the controller.
Depending on the controllers and storage attached to the system, the expanded Storage object may display the following lower-level objects:
Controller
Battery
Connector
Enclosure or Backplane
Physical Disks
EMMs (Enclosure Management Modules)
Fans
Power Supplies
Temperatures
Firmware/Driver Versions
Virtual Disks
Health Tab
The Health tab for each tree object displays status information for the selected object.
Information/Configuration Tab
The Information/Configuration tab displays the property information for the selected tree object. When using the Storage Management Service, the Information/Configuration tabs also have drop-down menus and buttons for executing storage tasks and launching wizards.
Storage Management Tasks
The Storage Management Service has drop-down menus and wizards for executing storage management and configuration tasks. This section discusses some of the common storage tasks and wizards provided by the Storage Management Service.
NOTE: For complete documentation of the Storage Management storage tasks and other features, see the Storage Management online help.
Create Virtual Disk Wizard
The Storage Management Service provides an Express and an Advanced Create Virtual Disk Wizard. The Express Wizard calculates an appropriate virtual disk configuration based on the available space and controller considerations. When using the Express Wizard, you select the RAID level and size for the virtual disk. The Express Wizard selects a recommended disk configuration for you that matches your RAID level and size selection. The Express Wizard requires minimal user input and is recommended for novice users.
The Create Virtual Disk Advanced Wizard allows you to specify the read, write, and cache policy for the virtual disk. You can also select the physical disks and the controller connector to be used. You need a good knowledge of RAID levels and hardware to use the Advanced Wizard. This wizard is recommended for advanced users.
To launch the Express and Advanced Create Virtual Disk Wizards:
Expand the Storage tree object to display the controller objects.
Expand a controller object.
Select the Virtual Disks object.
Click Go To Create Virtual Disk Wizard.
See the Storage Management online help for more information.
Reconfigure Virtual Disk Wizard
The Reconfigure Virtual Disk Wizard enables you to change the virtual disk configuration. Using this task, you can change the RAID level or increase the virtual disk size by adding physical disks.
To launch the Reconfigure Virtual Disk Wizard:
Expand the Storage tree object to display the controller objects.
Expand a controller object.
Select the Virtual Disks object.
Select Reconfigure from the Available Tasks drop-down menu.
Click Execute.
See the Storage Management online help for more information.
Maintain Integrity of Redundant Virtual Disks
If you have created a redundant virtual disk, the Check Consistency task verifies the accuracy of the redundant (parity) information. This task only applies to redundant virtual disks. When necessary, the Check Consistency task rebuilds the redundant data.
To launch the Check Consistency task:
Expand the Storage tree object to display the controller objects.
Expand a controller object.
Select the Virtual Disks object.
Select Check Consistency from the Available Tasks drop-down menu.
Click Execute.
See the Storage Management online help for more information.
Assign and Unassign Global Hot Spare
A global hot spare is an unused backup disk that is part of the array group. Hot spares remain in standby mode. When a physical disk that is used in a virtual disk fails, the assigned hot spare is activated to replace the failed physical disk without interrupting the system or requiring your intervention. When a hot spare is activated, it rebuilds the data for all redundant virtual disks that were using the failed physical disk.
You can change the hot spare assignment by unassigning a disk and choosing another disk as needed. You can also assign more than one physical disk as a global hot spare.
Global hot spares must be assigned and unassigned manually. They are not assigned to specific virtual disks. If you want to assign a hot spare to a virtual disk (it will replace any physical disk that fails in the virtual disk) then use the instructions to assign and unassign dedicated hot spare.
To assign a dedicated hot spare
Select the disk in the Connector (channel or port) table that you want to use as the dedicated hot
spare. On some controllers, more than one disk can be selected. The disks you have selected as
dedicated hot spares are displayed in the Disks currently configured as dedicated hot spare table.
Click Apply Changes when ready.
To unassign a dedicated hot spare
Click the disk in the Disks currently configured as dedicated hot spare table to unassign it. Clicking
the disk removes the disk from the Disks currently configured as dedicated hot spare table and returns
it to the Connector (channel or port) table.
Click Apply Changes when ready.
To locate this task in Storage Management
Expand the Storage tree object to display the controller objects.
Expand a controller object.
Select the Virtual Disks object.
Select Assign/Unassign Dedicated Hot Spare from the Available Tasks drop-down menu.
Click Execute.
See the Storage Management online help for more information.
Rebuild a Failed Physical Disk
If the failed physical disk is part of a redundant virtual disk, then the physical disk failure should not result in data loss if replaced immediately. The rebuild task is available when the Physical Disks object is selected. See the Storage Management online help for more information.
Global Tasks
The following global tasks are available when the Storage object is selected. See the Storage Management online help for more information.
Global Rescan: A global rescan updates configuration changes (such as new or removed devices) for all controllers and their attached components.
Enable and Disable Smart Thermal Shutdown: By default, the operating system and server shut down when the PV220S and PV221S enclosures reach a critical temperature of 0 or 50 degrees celsius. Using the Enable Smart Thermal Shutdown task, however, you can specify that only the enclosure and not the operating system and server be shut down when the enclosure reaches a critical temperature. To restore the system to its default setting use the Disable Smart Thermal Shutdown task.
Controller Tasks
The following controller tasks are available when the Controller object is selected. See the Storage Management online help for more information.
Rescan Controller: A rescan controller updates configuration changes (such as new or removed devices) for all components attached to the controller.
Enable, Disable, Quiet, and Test Alarm: These tasks enable you to manage the controller alarm. For example, you can set the alarm to sound in the event of a device failure or quiet the alarm once it is sounding.
Set Rebuild Rate: The rebuild rate refers to how much of the system's resources are dedicated to rebuilding a failed physical disk. This task enables you to adjust this setting.
Reset Configuration: This task erases all information on the controller, so that you can perform a fresh configuration. This operation destroys all virtual disks on the controller.
Export Log File: This task exports the controller log to a text file.
Import Foreign Configuration: This task imports virtual disks that reside on physical disks that have been moved from another controller.
Clear Foreign Configuration: Use the clear foreign configuration task to clear or erase the virtual disk information from the newly attached physical disks.
Set Background Initialization Rate: This task changes the amount of system resources dedicated to the background initialization task.
Set Check Consistency Rate: This task changes the amount of system resources dedicated to the check consistency task.
Set Reconstruct Rate: This task changes the amount of system resources dedicated to the reconstruct task.
Set Patrol Read Mode: This feature identifies disk errors in order to avoid disk failures and data loss or corruption.
Start and Stop Patrol Read: These tasks enable you start a Patrol Read task or stop a running task when the Patrol Read mode is set to manual.
Import/Recover Foreign Configuration: This task imports and recovers virtual disks that resides on physical disks that are moved from another controller.
Battery Tasks
The following battery tasks are available when the Battery object is selected. This task is only available for controllers that have batteries that require reconditioning. See the Storage Management online help for more information.
Recondition Battery: This task fully discharges and recharges the controller battery.
Start Learn Cycle: Use the Start Learn Cycle task to initiate the battery Learn cycle.
Battery Delay Learn Cycle: Use this task to delay the start time of the Learn cycle for up to seven days.
Connector Tasks
The following connector tasks are available when the Connector object is selected. See the Storage Management online help for more information.
Rescan Connector: This task rescans the controller connectors to verify the currently connected devices or to recognize new devices that have been added to the connectors. Performing a rescan on a connector is similar to performing a rescan on the controller.
Enclosure Tasks
The following enclosure tasks are available when the Enclosure object is selected. See the Storage Management online help for more information.
Enable and Disable Alarm: Use these tasks to manage the enclosure alarm. When enabled, the alarm sounds when the enclosure encounters an error condition.
Set Asset Data: Use this task to change the enclosure's asset tag and asset name.
Set Temperature Probe Values: The temperature probes monitor the enclosure's temperature. Each temperature probe has a Warning and a Failure threshold. The Warning threshold indicates that the enclosure is approaching an unacceptably warm or cool temperature. Use this task to modify the Warning threshold.
Blink:Use the Blink task to blink the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the enclosure. You may want to use this task to locate an enclosure. The LEDs on the enclosure may display different colors and blinking patterns.
Temperatures Tasks
The following temperature probe tasks are available when the Temperatures object is selected. See the Storage Management online help for more information.
Set Temperature Probe: The temperature probes monitor the enclosure's temperature. Each temperature probe has a Warning and a Failure threshold. The Warning threshold indicates that the enclosure is approaching an unacceptably warm or cool temperature. Use this task to modify the Warning threshold.
Physical Disk Tasks
The following physical disk tasks are available when the Physical Disks object is selected. See the Storage Management online help for more information.
Blink and Unblink: The Blink task allows you to find a disk within an enclosure by blinking one of the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the disk. The Unblink task cancels the Blink task.
Remove Dead Segments: In certain circumstances, this task enables you to recover disk space that is currently unusable.
Cancel Rebuild: Use the Cancel Rebuild task to cancel a rebuild while it is in progress.
Cancel Reconfigure: Use the Cancel Reconfigure task to cancel a virtual disk reconfiguration while it is in progress.
Format and Initialize; Slow and Fast Initialize: Use the Format or Initialize; Slow and Fast Initialize task to erase files and remove the file systems on a virtual disk.
Cancel Background Initialization: On some controllers, background initialization of redundant virtual disks begins automatically after the virtual disk is created. Use this task if you need to cancel the background initialization.
Restore Dead Segments: Use the Restore Dead Segments task to recover data from a RAID-5 virtual disk that has been corrupted.
Delete. Use this task to destroy all data on the virtual disk.
Blink and Unblink: The Blink and Unblink tasks blink or unblink the lights on the physical disks included in the virtual disk.
Rename: Use this task to rename a virtual disk.
Change Policy: Use this task to change a virtual disk's read, write, or cache policy.
Split Mirror: Use this task to separate mirrored data originally configured as a RAID 1, RAID 1-concatenated, or RAID 10 virtual disk.
Unmirror: Use this task to separate mirrored data and restore one half of the mirror to free space.
Additional Storage Management Features and Documentation
For complete documentation on the Storage Management Service, see the Storage Management online help and the Dell OpenManage Server Administrator Storage Management User's Guide. For information on how to launch the online help, see "Displaying Online Help."
Migrating from Array Manager to the Storage Management
If you replace an existing Array Manager installation with Storage Management, the following migration considerations apply:
Virtual Disk Preservation: You can preserve the virtual disk names when migrating from Array Manager to Storage Management. To do so, however, you must not uninstall Array Manager prior to installing Storage Management. If Array Manager is uninstalled prior to installing Storage Management, then Storage Management will rename the virtual disks created with Array Manager. Whether or not Array Manager is uninstalled, Storage Management will be able to identify and manage the virtual disks created with Array Manager.
SNMP Traps: The architecture for handling the SNMP traps and the Management Information Base (MIB) is different in Storage Management than Array Manager. You may need to modify applications that have been customized to receive SNMP traps from Array Manager.
Event Numbering: The numbering scheme for Storage Management alerts or events is different than the numbers used for the corresponding Array Manager events. See the Storage Management online help for more information.
Storage Management Command Line Interface
See the Server Administrator Command Line Interface User's Guide for information about running the Storage Management Service from the command line. If you have the Storage Management installed, you can also refer to the online help for information about the expanded omreport and omconfig command line options.
Displaying Online Help
Server Administrator provides context-sensitive online help. To access the online help, click Help on the global navigation bar. This navigation is available for all windows accessible to the user based on user privilege level and the specific hardware and software groups that Server Administrator discovers on the managed system.
The Storage Management provides additional online help. This help is available when the Storage or a lower-level tree object is selected.
The online help of the Storage Management Service:
Provides conceptual information on storage concepts such as virtual disks, RAID, and so on
Describes the graphical user interface components in the various windows of the application
Gives detailed, step-by-step instructions on the tasks that you can perform in the graphical user interface
Describes the available CLI commands and their subcommands
The Storage Management online help is available in two formats:
Context-sensitive Help: To access the context-sensitive online help, click Help on the global navigation bar.
Table of Contents: The help screens for the context-sensitive help contain links to the online help Table of Contents. To access the Table of Contents, first click Help on the global navigation bar. Next, click the Back to Storage Management Contents Page link to display the Table of Contents. This link is displayed at the top and bottom of each help screen. Use the Table of Contents to access all topics covered in the online help.
