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About Your Storage Array

Dell™ PowerVault™ Modular Disk Storage Manager User's Guide

This chapter covers basic information about how to manage storage arrays from MD Storage Manager, including adding and removing arrays from the software, performing initial setup tasks, setting passwords on an array, and configuring alert notifications. For information on planning your storage array, see the Installation Guide.

Following is a list of terms that are used throughout this chapter:

• Physical Disk — Non-volatile, randomly-addressable device for storing data.
  
  
• Host — System that accesses a storage array and is mapped to virtual disks.
  
  
• Host Group — Hosts that are logically associated and share access to the same virtual disks.
  
  
• Host-Agent Software — Software installed on the host that provides in-band management and topology discovery.
  
  
• Logical Unit Number (LUN) — Address that identifies individual virtual disks within a storage array.
  
  
• Event Monitor — A feature that, when enabled, monitors activity on managed storage arrays and notifies a host or remote system when critical problems occur.
  
  
• SNMP Alert — Alert (SNMP trap) that is sent from the event monitor to an SNMP-enabled host.
  
  

Access Virtual Disk

Each RAID controller in an MD Storage Array maintains an access virtual disk. The host-agent software uses the access virtual disk to communicate management requests and event information between the storage management station and the RAID controller module in an in-band–managed storage array. The access virtual disk is not available for application data storage. The default LUN is 31.

NOTICE: Removing or manipulating an access virtual disk can cause a loss of management access. If you remove an access virtual disk mapping from an in-band-managed storage array, MD Storage Manager can no longer access the storage array. Do not modify the access virtual disk either in the operating system or with MD Storage Manager.

Out-of-Band and In-Band Management

You can manage a storage array in two ways:

• Out-of-band management
  
  
• In-band management
  
  

For out-of-band management, data is separate from commands and events. Data travels through the host-to-controller interface, while commands and events travel through the management port Ethernet cables.

When you use out-of-band management, you must set the network configuration for each RAID controller module's management Ethernet port, including its Internet Protocol (IP) address, subnetwork mask (subnet mask), and gateway. If you are using a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, you can enable automatic network configuration, but if you are not using a DHCP server, you must enter the network configuration manually.

NOTE: RAID controller module network configurations can be assigned using a DHCP server (the default setting). However, if a DHCP server is not available and the 10-second selection period times out, the RAID controller modules use the 192.168.128.101 static IP address for controller 0. For controller 1, the RAID controller modules use the 192.168.128.102 static IP address.

For in-band management, commands, events, and data travel through the host-to-controller interface. Unlike out-of-band management, commands and events are mixed with data.

For detailed information on setting up in-band and out-of-band management see the Installation Guide.

NOTE: In-band management is not supported on systems running the Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® 3 operating system.

Adding Storage Arrays

To add a storage array to MD Storage Manager, click New in the Array Selector area. A window is displayed that allows you to choose the automatic or manual process to add a new storage array.

NOTE: Verify that your host or management station network configuration—including station IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway—is correct before adding a new storage array using the Automatic option.

NOTE: For Linux, set the default gateway so that broadcast packets are sent to 255.255.255.255. For Red Hat® Enterprise Linux®, if no gateway exists on the network, set the default gateway to the IP address of the NIC.

NOTE: MD Storage Manager uses TCP/UDP port 2463 for communication to the MD Storage Array.

Automatic Discovery of Storage Arrays

The Automatic Discovery process sends out a broadcast message across the local subnetwork (subnet) and adds any storage array that responds to the message. The Automatic Discovery process finds both in-band and out-of-band storage arrays.

Manual Addition of a Storage Array

Use Manual Addition if the storage array resides outside of the local subnet. This process requires specific identification information to manually add a storage array:

• To add a storage array that uses in-band management, specify the host name or IP address of the host.
  
  

When adding a storage array using in-band management with iSCSI, a session must first be established between the initiator on the host server and the storage array. For more information, see "Configuring iSCSI" in the Modular Disk 3000i Systems Installation Guide.

The host agent must be restarted before in-band management communication can be established. See Starting or Restarting the Host-Agent Software in Windows or Starting or Restarting the Host-Agent Software in Linux.

• To add a storage array that uses out-of-band management, specify the host name or IP address of each controller in the storage array.
  
  

NOTE: It can take several minutes for MD Storage Manager to connect to the specified storage array.

Naming Storage Arrays

Each storage array should be assigned a unique name. A storage array name has a 30-character limit. All leading and trailing spaces are deleted from the name. A name can consist of letters, numbers, and the special characters underscore (_), dash (–), and pound sign (#). No other special characters are allowed.

To physically locate a storage array:

1. Click the Tools tab.
   
   
2. Click Blink and then click Blink Storage Array or Enclosures.
   
   
3. Select the storage array from the displayed list and click Blink.
   
   

The indicator light on the front of the storage array flashes.

4. Click Stop after you locate the array.
   
   

To rename the selected storage array:

1. Click the Tools tab.
   
   
2. Click Rename Storage Array.
   
   
3. Type a unique, meaningful name that is easy to understand and remember.
   
   
4. Click OK.
   
   

NOTE: Avoid arbitrary names or names that might lose meaning in the future.

Removing Storage Arrays

You can remove a storage array from the list of managed arrays if you no longer want to manage it from a specific storage management station. Removing a storage array does not affect the storage array or its data in any way. Removing a storage array simply removes it from the list of storage arrays that appear in the drop-down list in the Array Selector. If a storage array is accidentally removed, it can be added again (see Adding Storage Arrays).

To remove a storage array:

1. Click Remove located to the right of the drop-down menu in the Array Selector.
   
   
2. Click OK in the Remove dialog box.
   
   

You can still manage the storage array from other storage management stations where it has been added.

Setting Up Your Storage Array

The Perform Initial Setup Tasks link located on the Summary tab provides links to the basic steps you should follow when initially setting up a storage array in MD Storage Manager. Following these steps ensures that you complete all the basic steps to configure your storage array.

Initial setup tasks include:

1. Blink the Storage Array — Find the physical location of the storage array on your network. The storage array can then be identified with a label.
   
   
2. Rename the Storage Array — Provide a unique and memorable name to help you easily identify the storage array.
   
   
3. Set a Storage Array Password — Set a unique password to prevent unapproved manipulation of the storage array, such as deletion of a virtual disk.
   
   
4. Set up alert notifications — Enable e-mail and SNMP alerts to notify administrators about storage array conditions that require attention. See Configuring Alert Notifications for more information.
   
   
   1. Configure Sender E-mail Settings — Provide the SMTP, e-mail address, and contact information MD Storage Manager uses to send e-mail alerts.
      
      
   2. Add or Edit E-mail Addresses — Provide information about accounts that should receive e-mail–based alerts.
      
      
   3. Set up SNMP Alerts — Provide information about hosts that should receive SNMP-based alerts.
      
      
5. Configure iSCSI Host Ports — Configure network parameters for the iSCSI host ports on the RAID controller module(s).
   
   
6. Configure Host Access — Set up one or more hosts to access the storage array. See Configuring Host Access for more information.
   
   
7. Configure storage array (2 options)
   
   
   1. Automatic (Simple) configuration
      
      
      • Step 1: Automatic Configuration — See Creating Disk Groups and Virtual Disks for more information.
        
        
      • Step 2: Create Host-to-Virtual Disk Mappings — See Creating Host-to-Virtual Disk Mappings for more information.
        
        
   2. Manual (Advanced) configuration
      
      
      • Step 1: Create Virtual Disks — See Manual Configuration for more information.
        
        
      • Step 2: Configure Hot Spare Physical Disks — See Manually Configuring Hot Spares for more information.
        
        
8. Manage iSCSI Settings — This option will be present only if your controllers contain iSCSI host ports.
   
   
   1. Change Target Authentication — Choose the authentication methods and permissions (if required) for an initiator to access the target.
      
      
   2. Enter Mutual Authentication Permissions — If initiators require mutual authentication, you can enter permissions for the target to access the initiator.
      
      
   3. Change Target Identification — Define an alias for the target for easy identification.
      
      
   4. Change Target Discovery — Configure parameters for how the target will be discovered on the network.
      
      
9. View and Enable Premium Features (Optional) — You may have purchased premium features, including snapshot virtual disks and virtual disk copies. See which premium features are currently available to you and enable these features if they are currently turned off.
   
   
10. Configure Ethernet Management Ports (Optional) — Configure network parameters for the Ethernet management ports managing a storage array for out-of-band Ethernet connections.
    
    

Storage Array Support Data

Aggregated support data can be generated for a storage array to aid in remote troubleshooting and issue analysis. To generate the support data report:

1. Click the Support tab, then click Gather Support Information.
   
   
2. Click Browse to display the Collect All Support Data dialog box.
   
   
3. In the Save in drop-down box, navigate to the location where you want the report saved.
   
   
4. Type a meaningful name in the File name text box and click Save.
   
   
5. Click Start.
   
   

A compressed (zip) file containing support data is saved to the location of your choice.

Setting a Password

You can configure each storage array with a password to protect it from unauthorized access. MD Storage Manager asks for this password when an attempt is made to change the storage array configuration, such as when a virtual disk is created or deleted. View operations do not require a password.

To set, change, or remove a password for a storage array:

1. Click the Tools tab, then click Set or Change Password.
   
   

Text boxes for the current password, the new password, and new password confirmation are displayed.

2. To enter a new password:
   
   
   • Leave the Current password text box blank.
     
     
   • Enter the new password in the New password and Confirm new password text boxes.
     
     

To change a password:

• Enter the current password in the Current password text box.
  
  
• Enter the new password in the New password and Confirm new password text boxes.
  
  

To remove a password:

• Enter the current password in the Current password text box.
  
  
• Leave the New password and Confirm new password text boxes blank.
  
  

If you forget your password, contact Dell for technical assistance.

Password Guidelines

Consider these guidelines when you create a password:

• Use secure passwords for your storage array. A password should be easy for you to remember but difficult for others to determine. Consider using numbers or special characters in the place of letters, such as a 1 in the place of the letter I, or the at sign (@) in the place of the letter a.
  
  
• For increased protection, use a long password with at least 15 alphanumeric characters. The maximum password length is 30 characters.
  
  
• Passwords are case sensitive.
  
  
• For security reasons, you can attempt to enter a password only ten times before the storage array enters a lockout state. Before you can try to enter a password again, you must wait ten minutes for the storage array to reset.
  
  

Resetting a Password

Perform this procedure when you have lost or forgotten your password and you need to reset it.

Connecting the Serial Cable

1. Remove the serial cable from the password reset cable package.
   
   
2. Connect the DB9 (oval) end of the cable to the serial port on the computer to be used to communicate with the RAID Controller module.
   
   
3. Connect the PS2-type (round) end of the cable to the serial port on either of the MD RAID Controller Modules. The flat side of the connector faces down when inserting.
   
   

System Setup for Password Reset

Microsoft® Windows® Operating Systems

1. Click Start ® Programs ® Accessories ® Communication ® HyperTerminal to run HyperTerminal.
   
   

If HyperTerminal is not installed, click Control Panel ® Add/Remove Programs ® Add/Remove Windows Components, find HyperTerminal and click the check-box, then click Apply and OK.

NOTE: The original Windows installation disk may be needed to install HyperTerminal.

NOTE: HyperTerminal is not a component on Windows Server® 2008 operating systems.

2. When HyperTerminal prompts for a name, type MD and click OK.
   
   
3. Select the COM1 port and click OK.
   
   
4. Set the following communication settings, click Apply, then click OK.
   
   

Bits per second: 115200

Data bits: 8

Parity: none

Stop bits: 1

Flow control: none

LINUX Operating System

The following instructions use the Linux application, MINICOM, to connect via the serial port:

1. Open a terminal/command window.
   
   
2. At the prompt, type minicom (all lowercase) and press <Enter>.
   
   
3. Once MINICOM is open, press <Ctrl><A>, then <Z>, then the letter <O> to open the configuration screen.
   
   
4. Select Serial Port Setup and press <Enter>.
   
   
5. Press <F> to change Hardware Flow Control setting to no.
   
   
6. Press <E> to set the Comm Parameters.
   
   
7. Press <I> to set the speed to 115200.
   
   
8. Press <Q> to set the data, parity, and stopbits to 8-N-1, then press <Enter>.
   
   
9. Press <Enter> to exit the Comm Parameters screen.
   
   
10. Select Exit and press <Enter> again to exit the setup screen.
    
    

Reset Password

NOTICE: Failure to stop data I/O to a non-fault-tolerant array before performing the following steps may result in loss of data. Please contact Dell Technical Support for a password reset Username and Password.

1. Stop all I/O to the array.
   
   
2. From the HyperTerminal (Windows) or MINICOM (Linux) window, send a <BREAK> from the terminal shell. This action is accomplished by <Ctrl><PAUSE/BREAK> within HyperTerminal or <Ctrl><A>, then <F> from within Minicom.
   
   
3. When prompted for input within 5 seconds, press <S> for the service interface menu.
   
   
4. When prompted for a login and password, use the login username and password provided by Dell Technical Support (see the notice above).
   
   
5. Upon successful login, the Service Interface Main Menu is displayed in the terminal window.
   
   
6. At the prompt, select <3> from the menu and press <Enter>.
   
   
7. When prompted if you wish to reset the storage array password, type <Y> and then press <Enter>.
   
   
8. Logout of the terminal by typing <Q> and then <Enter>.
   
   
9. Close HyperTerminal or MINICOM.
   
   
10. Remove the password reset cable.
    
    
11. To set a new password, go to the Modular Disk Storage Manager software under the Tools tab and click Set Or Change Password Link.
    
    
12. Leave the Current Password blank, enter the new password twice, and click OK.
    
    

NOTE: If you require help with this procedure, contact Dell for technical assistance. For more information on contacting Dell, see the "Getting Help" chapter of the Hardware Owners Manual.

Changing Expansion Enclosure ID Numbers

When an MD1000 expansion enclosure is attached to an MD3000/MD3000i storage array for the first time, an enclosure ID number is assigned and maintained by the MD1000. This enclosure ID number is also shown in the MD Storage Manager, but it is not an indicator of the enclosure's physical location. It may appear that MD Storage Manager is reporting the expansion enclosures in improper order.

You can change the enclosure ID numbers in the MD Storage Manager by clicking the Tools menu and then clicking Change Enclosures ID Numbers. Any ID number you assign will not conflict with the enclosure IDs.

Configuring Alert Notifications

MD Storage Manager can send an alert for any condition on the storage array that requires your attention, such as the failure of a storage array component or the occurrence of an adverse environmental condition. Alerts can be sent as e-mail messages or as SNMP messages.

You can verify whether alerts are currently set by looking at the Alert status line in the Status area of the Summary tab.

Configuring E-mail Alerts

To configure e-mail alerts, click the Tools tab and then click Set up e-mail alerts. The Content Area displays two links: Configure Sender E-mail Settings and Add or Edit E-mail Addresses.

NOTE: These settings apply to all storage arrays currently managed by the management station.

Sender e-mail settings include the SMTP and e-mail address information MD Storage Manager uses to send e-mail alerts. To configure sender e-mail settings:

1. Click the Tools tab, then click Set Up Email Alerts.
   
   
2. Enter the following information:
   
   
   • Sender email address — The e-mail address that appears as the sender on every e-mail alert, such as that of the network administrator.
     
     
   • Mail (SMTP) server — The name of the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) gateway of the mail server from which e-mail alerts will be sent. For example, smtp.mycompany.com.
     
     
   • Edit Sender Contact Information (Optional) — Additional information about the sender such as the sender's name, company, and phone number. This information is optional; e-mail alerts will work if contact information is not provided.
     
     

To specify to whom alerts are sent:

1. Click the Tools tab, then click Set Up Email Alerts.
   
   
2. Type an e-mail address in the Recipient email addresses text box and click Add to add it to the list of configured e-mail addresses.
   
   
3. Specify the following for each e-mail address in the list (to choose a different setting, click the down arrow to the right of the field):
   
   

Information To Send — Select one of the following options from the drop-down list:

• Event Only — The alert e-mail contains only the event information. This alert type is the default.
  
  
• Event + Profile — The alert e-mail contains the event information and the storage array profile.
  
  
• Event + Support — The alert e-mail contains the event information and a compressed file that contains complete support information for the storage array that has generated the alert.
  
  

Frequency — Select one of the following options from the drop-down list:

• Every event — Sends an e-mail whenever an event occurs. This option is the default.
  
  
• Every x hours — Sends an e-mail at the specified interval if an event occurred during that period. You can select this option only if the Information to send option is set to Event + Profile or Event + Support.
  
  
• Click Save.
  
  

Configuring SNMP Alerts

To add a management console to the list of addresses configured to receive SNMP alerts:

NOTE: The Management Information Base (MIB) for the MD Storage Array is copied to the client directory as part of a Full or Management Station installation selection. DellMDStorageArray.mib can be compiled on an SNMP Management Console using the interface provided by the console.

1. Click the Tools tab, then click Set up SNMP Alerts.
   
   
2. Enter the Community name.
   
   

NOTE: The community name is an ASCII string that identifies a known set of management consoles and is set by the network administrator in the management console. The default community name is public.

3. Enter the Trap destination.
   
   

NOTE: The trap destination is the IP address or the host name of a management console that runs an SNMP service.

4. Click Add to add the management console to the Configured SNMP addresses list.
   
   
5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 until you have added all management consoles that should receive SNMP alerts.
   
   
6. Click OK.
   
   

NOTE: You must install an SNMP service on every system included in the list of addresses configured to receive SNMP alerts.

NOTE: You do not have to install MD Storage Manager on a system in order to display SNMP alerts. You need only install an appropriate SNMP service and application (such as the Dell IT Assistant).

Battery Settings

A smart battery backup unit (BBU) can perform a learn cycle. The smart BBU module includes the battery, a battery gas gauge, and a battery charger. The learn cycle calibrates the smart battery gas gauge so that it provides a measurement of the charge of the battery module. A learn cycle can only start when the battery is fully charged.

The learn cycle completes the following operations:

• Discharges the battery to a predetermined threshold
  
  
• Charges the battery back to full capacity
  
  

A learn cycle starts automatically when you install a new battery module. Learn cycles for batteries in both RAID controller modules in a duplex system occur simultaneously.

NOTE: It might take several hours for a learn cycle to complete.

NOTE: Write caching on all virtual disks is disabled during this time.

Learn cycles are scheduled to start automatically at regular intervals, at the same time and on the same day of the week. The interval between cycles is described in weeks.

Use the following guidelines to adjust the interval:

• You can use the default interval.
  
  
• You can run a learn cycle at any time.
  
  
• You can set the learn cycle earlier than the currently scheduled time.
  
  
• You cannot set the learn cycle to start more than seven days later than the currently scheduled time.
  
  

To modify the settings, click the Tools tab ® Change Battery Settings.

Starting or Restarting the Host-Agent Software in Windows

The host-agent software module is the software component that resides on the server or management station that communicates with the MD3000 or MD3000i external storage enclosures. The SMagent software automatically starts after you reboot the host. If you add a storage array after the host server has started, or iSCSI sessions are created while the SMagent is running, or the server or management station is unable to communicate with the MD3000 or MD3000i, you must restart the SMagent software manually using the following procedure:

1. Click Start ® Settings ® Control Panel ® Administrative Tools ® Services.
   
   

or

Click Start ® Administrative Tools ® Services.

2. In the Services dialog, select Modular Disk Storage Manager Agent.
   
   
3. If the Modular Disk Storage Manager Agent is running, click Action ®Stop, then wait approximately 5 seconds.
   
   
4. Click Action ® Start.
   
   

Starting or Restarting the Host-Agent Software in Linux

The SMagent software automatically starts after you reboot the host. If you add a storage array after the host server has started, or if iSCSI sessions are created while the SMagent is running, you must restart the SMagent software manually using the following procedure.

To start or restart the host-agent software, enter the following command at the prompt:

SMagent start

The SMagent software might take a little time to initialize. The cursor is shown, but the terminal window does not respond. When the program starts, the following message is displayed:

SMagent started.

After the program completes the startup process, text similar to the following messages is displayed:

Storage Manager Agent, Version 09.1x.00.00 Built Wed Aug 15

16:54:46 CDT 2006 Copyright (C) 2006. All rights reserved.

checking device /dev/rdsk/c0t0d0s2 : skipping checking device

/dev/rdsk/c2t3d18s2 : skipping checking device

/dev/rdsk/c2t3e16s2 : skipping checking device

/dev/rdsk/c2t3d14w2 : skipping

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