Physical disks can be contained in an enclosure or attached to the system's backplane. An enclosure is attached to the system externally while the backplane and its physical disks are internal.
Backplanes
You can view the Backplane object by expanding the controller and Connector object in the Storage Management tree view. Storage Management displays the status of the backplane and attached physical disks. Although a backplane is similar to an enclosure in that it is attached to a controller connector and has physical disks, it does not have the management features (temperature probes, alarms, and so on) associated with external enclosures.
Enclosures
Storage Management enables management of various enclosures and their components. In addition to managing the physical disks contained in the enclosure, you can monitor the status of the enclosure's fans, power supply, and temperature probes. You can view these components by expanding the controller, Connector, and enclosure objects in the Storage Management tree view.
Storage management allows hot plugging of enclosures. Hot plugging is defined as the adding of a component to a system while the operating system is still running.
NOTE: This feature requires that the physical devices connected to the controller
have the latest firmware. For the latest supported firmware, see the Dell Support
website at support.dell.com.
After you hot plug or hot reconfigure an enclosure, refresh the left tree to display changes in status and configuration; a system reboot is not required.
NOTE: Storage Management does not allow hot removal of enclosures. You must
reboot the system to effect this change in Storage Management.
Storage Management displays the properties of the enclosure's fans, power supply, and temperature probes. Storage Management also notifies you of enclosure status changes through alerts that are displayed in the Alert Log.
The following sections provide more information on the enclosure components and management features provided by Storage Management:
The enclosure's physical disks are displayed under the enclosure object in the tree view. Selecting a disk in the tree view displays the disk's status information.
Enclosure Fans
The fans are a component of the enclosure's cooling module. The fans are displayed by expanding the enclosure object in the tree view. You can select the Fans object to display their status information.
Enclosure Power Supplies
The enclosure's power supplies are displayed under the Power Supplies object in the tree view. You can select the Power Supplies object to display their status information.
Enclosure Temperature Probes
The enclosure's temperature probes are displayed under the Temperatures object. You can select the Temperatures object to display their status information. The status information includes the current temperature in Celsius and the Warning and Failure thresholds for the temperature probe. The Failure threshold has a default value that cannot be changed. You can set the Warning threshold, however. See "Set Temperature Probe Values" for information on setting the warning threshold.
For information related to the enclosure's temperature, see the following:
The Enclosure Management Modules (EMMs) that are installed in the enclosure are displayed under the EMMs object in the tree view. You can select the EMMs object to display the individual EMM modules and their status information.
The enclosure may contain one or more EMMs. The EMM modules monitor components of the enclosure. These components include:
Fans
Power supplies
Temperature probes
The insertion or removal of a physical disk
The LEDs on the enclosure
When the enclosure's alarm is enabled, the EMM activates the alarm when certain conditions occur. For more information on enabling the alarm and the conditions that activate the alarm, see "Enable Alarm (Enclosure)." For more information on EMMs, see the enclosure hardware documentation.
All EMM modules in the enclosure should have the same version of firmware. You can view the properties of each individual EMM module to verify the firmware version.
Enclosure management provides a feature which automatically shuts down the operating system, the server, and the enclosure when the enclosure's temperature reaches dangerous extremes. The temperature when shutdown occurs is determined by the enclosure temperature probe's Minimum Failure Threshold and the Maximum Failure Threshold. These thresholds are default settings that cannot be changed.
Enclosure Management
In addition to the drop-down menu "Enclosure Tasks," the following activities may be required for enclosure management.
Identifying the enclosure's service tag — To identify the enclosure's service tag, select the enclosure in the tree view and click the Information/Configuration tab. The Information/Configuration tab displays the service tag and other enclosure properties.
Preparing a physical disk for removal — The task that enables you to prepare a physical disk for removal is a physical disk command. See "Prepare to Remove."
Troubleshooting — For general information on troubleshooting procedures, see "Troubleshooting."
Removing the wrong physical disk — You can avoid removing the wrong physical disk by blinking the LED display of the disk you intend to remove. See "Blink and Unblink (Physical Disk)."
This screen displays the status of the enclosure or backplane and the components attached to the enclosure or backplane.
Enclosure and Backplane Status
Component status is indicated by the severity. A component with a Warning or Critical/Failure status requires immediate attention to avoid data loss if possible. A component's status may indicate the combined status of the component and its lower-level objects. See "Determining the Health Status for Storage Components" for more information.
It may be useful to review the Alert Log for events indicating why a component has a Warning or Critical status. For additional troubleshooting information, see "Alert Messages" and "Troubleshooting."
Severity
Component Status
Normal/OK. The component is working as expected.
Warning/Non-critical. A probe or other monitoring device has detected a reading for the component that is above or below the acceptable level. The component may still be functioning, but it could fail. The component may also be functioning in an impaired state. Data loss is possible.
Critical/Failure/Error. The component has either failed or failure is imminent. The component requires immediate attention and may need to be replaced. Data loss may have occurred.
Enclosure and Backplane Information
For information on enclosures and backplanes, see the following topics:
Use this window to view information about the enclosure or backplane and execute enclosure tasks.
Enclosure and Backplane Properties
The enclosure or backplane properties can vary depending on the model of the controller. Enclosure or backplane properties may include:
Property
Definition
These icons represent the severity or health of the storage component. See "Storage Component Severity" for more information.
NOTE: If the enclosure is connected to the controller in
redundant path mode (see "Redundant Path Configuration" for
more information), the loss of connection to any one EMM
may cause the enclosure status to be displayed as degraded.
Name
This property displays the name of the enclosure or backplane.
State
This property displays the current status of the enclosure or backplane. Possible values are:
Ready — The enclosure or backplane is functioning normally.
Degraded — The enclosure has encountered a failure and is operating in a degraded state. The Degraded state does not apply to backplanes.
Failed — The enclosure or backplane has encountered a failure and is no longer functioning.
Connector
This property displays the number of the connector to which the enclosure or backplane is attached. This number matches the connector number on the controller hardware.
Enclosure ID
This property displays the enclosure ID assigned to the enclosure by Storage Management. Storage Management numbers the enclosures attached to the controller starting with zero.
Configuration
This property displays the mode in which the enclosure is operating. Possible values are:
Joined — Indicates that the enclosure is operating in joined-bus mode.
Split — Indicates that the enclosure is operating in split-bus mode.
Unified — Indicates that enclosure is operating in unified mode.
Clustered — Indicates that the enclosure is operating in cluster mode. Clustered mode is only available on cluster-enabled RAID controllers.
For more information on joined, split, and cluster modes, see the enclosure hardware documentation. For information on how to cable the enclosure to accommodate these different modes, see the enclosure hardware documentation.
Firmware Version
This property displays the version of the enclosure firmware.
Service Tag
This property displays the enclosure's service tag number. This number is required when talking to Dell™ support. You can use this number to identify a specific enclosure in your environment by matching this number with the number on the service tag affixed to the enclosure. For example, if you have multiple enclosures and one of them experiences a failure, you can use the service tag number to identify which enclosure has failed.
Asset Tag
This property displays the asset tag information for the enclosure. You can change this property using the "Set Asset Data" task.
Asset Name
This property displays the name assigned to the enclosure. You can change this property using the "Set Asset Data" task.
Backplane Part Number
This property displays the part number of the enclosure's backplane.
SAS Address
This property displays the SAS address of the SAS backplane.
Split Bus Part Number
This property displays the part number of the enclosure's split bus module. A split bus is indicated by a single triangle symbol on the back of the enclosure.
Enclosure Part Number
This property displays the part number of the enclosure.
Enclosure Alarm
This property displays whether the enclosure's alarm is enabled or disabled.
Enclosure Tasks
Do the following to execute a drop-down menu enclosure task:
Expand the Storage tree object to display the controller objects.
Expand a controller object.
Expand a Connector object.
Select the enclosure object.
Select the Information/Configuration subtab.
Select a task from the Available Tasks drop-down menu.
Use the Enable Alarm task to enable the enclosure alarm. When enabled, the audible alarm sounds whenever the fault LED lights. This may occur to signal events such as:
The enclosure temperature has exceeded the warning threshold.
A power supply, fan, or enclosure management module (EMM) has failed.
The split bus is not installed. (A split bus is indicated by a single triangle symbol on the back of the enclosure.)
Use the Disable Alarm task to disable the enclosure alarm. When disabled, the alarm does not sound when the enclosure exceeds a warning threshold for temperature or experiences other error conditions such as a failed fan, power supply, or controller. If the alarm is already sounding, you can turn it off with this task.
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. Refer to the enclosure hardware documentation for more information on what the blink colors and patterns indicate.
Use the Set Temperature Probe Values task to specify the Warning and Failure thresholds for the enclosure's temperature probes. See "Set Temperature Probe Values" for more information.
If you have not yet attached the enclosure to an open connector, you may need to identify a connector on the controller that can be used for this purpose. To identify an open connector:
Expand the Storage Management tree view until the controller object is
expanded. When the controller object is expanded, the tree view displays
the controller's connectors. These connectors are numbered starting from
zero.
Identify a connector that is not attached to storage. If the connector is
already attached to storage, then the Connector object can be expanded
to display an enclosure or backplane and the attached physical disks. A
Connector object that cannot be expanded in the tree view is an open
connector not currently attached to storage. Storage Management displays
a number for each connector. These numbers correspond to the connector
numbers on the controller hardware. You can use these numbers to
identify which open connector displayed in the tree view is the open
connector on the controller hardware.
The firmware for the Enclosure Management Modules (EMMs) must be at the same level. The status of the EMMs is displayed as degraded if there is a mismatch between the EMM firmware.
To verify the EMM firmware version:
Expand the tree view until the EMMs object is displayed.
Select the EMMs object. The firmware version for each EMM is displayed
in the Firmware Version column in the right pane.
You can change the enclosure's asset tag and asset name. The new asset tag and asset name that you specify are displayed on the enclosure's Information/Configuration subtab.
To change the enclosure's asset tag and asset name:
Type the new asset tag name in the New asset tag text box. You can specify
an inventory number or other useful information for your environment.
The asset tag typically refers to the enclosure hardware.
Type the new asset name in the New asset name text box. You can specify
a name useful to you for organizing your storage environment. For
example, the asset name could refer to the type of data stored on the
enclosure or to the enclosure's location.
Click Apply Changes. If you want to exit and cancel your changes, click
Go Back To Enclosure Information Page.
To locate this task in Storage Management:
Expand the Storage tree object to display the controller objects.
Expand a controller object.
Expand a Connector object.
Select the enclosure object.
Select the Information/Configuration subtab.
Select Set Asset Data from the Available Tasks drop-down menu.
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. You can modify the Warning threshold.
The Failure threshold indicates that the enclosure has reached a dangerous temperature that may cause damage and data loss. You cannot change the default values for the Failure threshold.
To change the temperature probe's Warning threshold:
The enclosure's temperature probes are listed in the Temperature Probes
section of the screen. Select the probes that you want to change.
Select Set new values in the Set New Temperature Probe Values section
of the screen.
Type the lowest acceptable temperature in Celsius for the enclosure in the
Minimum Warning Threshold text box. The text box label indicates the
range that you can specify.
Type the highest acceptable temperature in Celsius for the enclosure in
the Maximum Warning Threshold text box. The text box label indicates
the range that you can specify.
Click Apply Changes.
If you want to return the temperature probe's Warning threshold to the default values, select the Reset to default values button and click Apply Changes. The default values are displayed in the Minimum Warning Threshold and Maximum Warning Threshold text boxes.
This property displays the current state of the EMMs.
Ready — The EMM is functioning normally.
Degraded — The EMM has encountered a failure and is operating in a degraded state.
Failed — The EMM has encountered a failure and is no longer functioning. Storage Management may also be unable to communicate with the enclosure using SES commands. The Failed state is displayed when the enclosure does not respond to a status query from Storage Management for any reason. For example, disconnecting the cable would cause this state to be displayed.
Missing — The EMM is not present in the enclosure.
Not Installed — The EMM is not present in the enclosure.
Part Number
This property displays the part number of the EMM module.
Firmware Version
This property indicates the version of the firmware loaded on the EMM. All EMM modules in the enclosure should have the same level of firmware.
Fan Properties
Use this window to view information about the enclosure's fans.
The fans are a component of the enclosure's cooling module. The following table describes the fan properties.
Property
Definition
Status
These icons represent the severity or health of the storage component.
This property displays the current status of the fan.
Ready — The fan is functioning normally.
Degraded — The fan has encountered a failure and is operating in a degraded state.
Offline — The fan or power supply has been removed from the enclosure.
Failed — The fan has encountered a failure and is no longer functioning. Storage Management may also be unable to communicate with the enclosure using SES commands. The Failed state is displayed when the enclosure does not respond to a status query from Storage Management for any reason. For example, disconnecting the cable would cause this state to be displayed.
Missing — The fan is not present in the enclosure.
Part Number
This property displays the part number of the fan.
This property is not displayed for the PowerVault™ 22xS enclosures that have E.17 firmware or later.
Speed
This property indicates the fan speed. Possible values are Fast, Medium, Slow, and Stopped. If the fan is in Offline state, the value for the Speed property is Unknown.
For information on events that cause the fan speed to change, refer to the hardware documentation.
Power Supply Properties
Use this window to view information about the enclosure's power supplies.
Property
Definition
Status
These icons represent the severity or health of the storage component.
This property displays the name of the power supply.
State
This property displays the current status of the power supply.
Ready — The power supply is functioning normally.
Degraded — The power supply has encountered a failure and is operating in a degraded state.
Failed — The power supply has encountered a failure and is no longer functioning. Storage Management may also be unable to communicate with the enclosure using SES commands. The Failed state is displayed when the enclosure does not respond to a status query from Storage Management for any reason. For example, disconnecting the cable would cause this state to be displayed.
Missing — The power supply is not present in the enclosure.
Part Number
This property displays the part number of the power supply.
This property is not displayed for the PowerVault™ 22xS enclosures that have E.17 firmware or later.
This property displays the name of the temperature probe.
State
This property displays the current status of the temperature probe.
Ready — The temperature probe is functioning normally.
Degraded — The temperature probe has encountered a failure and is operating in a degraded state.
Failed — The temperature probe has encountered a failure and is no longer functioning. Storage Management may also be unable to communicate with the enclosure using SES commands. The Failed state is displayed when the enclosure does not respond to a status query from Storage Management for any reason. For example, disconnecting the cable would cause this state to be displayed.
Minimum Warning Threshold Exceeded — The enclosure's temperature has dropped below the minimum warning threshold. See "Set Temperature Probe Values" for more information.
Maximum Warning Threshold Exceeded — The enclosure's temperature has risen above the maximum warning threshold. See "Set Temperature Probe Values" for more information.
Missing — The temperature probe is not present in the enclosure.
Inactive — The temperature probe is present in the enclosure, but the EMM that it monitors is not installed.
Reading
This property displays the current temperature of the enclosure as reported by the temperature probe.
Warning Threshold
The Minimum and Maximum properties indicate the temperatures currently set for the Warning threshold. See "Set Temperature Probe Values" for more information.
Failure Threshold
The Minimum and Maximum properties indicate the temperatures currently set for the Failure threshold. See "Set Temperature Probe Values" for more information.
Set Temperature Probe Properties and Tasks
Click the Set Temperature Probe button to launch the wizard for changing the temperature probe's Warning threshold. You can change the Warning threshold for each of the temperature probes included in the enclosure. See "Set Temperature Probe Values" for more information.
Do the following to launch the Set Temperature Probe wizard:
Expand the Storage tree object to display the controller objects.
