Deployment Guide
Table Of Contents
- Dell EMC PowerVault ME4 Series Storage System Deployment Guide
- Contents
- Before you begin
- Mount the enclosures in the rack
- Connect to the management network
- Cable host servers to the storage system
- Cabling considerations
- Connecting the enclosure to hosts
- Host connection
- Connect power cables and power on the storage system
- Perform system and storage setup
- Record storage system information
- Using guided setup
- Web browser requirements and setup
- Access the PowerVault Manager
- Update firmware
- Use guided setup in the PowerVault Manager Welcome panel
- Perform host setup
- Host system requirements
- Windows hosts
- Configuring a Windows host with FC HBAs
- Configuring a Windows host with iSCSI network adapters
- Configuring a Windows host with SAS HBAs
- Linux hosts
- Configuring a Linux host with FC HBAs
- Configure a Linux host with iSCSI network adapters
- Attach a Linux host with iSCSI network adapters to the storage system
- Assign IP addresses for each network adapter connecting to the iSCSI network
- Register the Linux host with iSCSI network adapters and create volumes
- Enable and configure DM Multipath on the Linux host with iSCSI network adapters
- Create a Linux file system on the volumes
- SAS host server configuration for Linux
- VMware ESXi hosts
- Fibre Channel host server configuration for VMware ESXi
- iSCSI host server configuration for VMware ESXi
- Attach an ESXi host with network adapters to the storage system
- Configure the VMware ESXi VMkernel
- Configure the software iSCSI adapter on the ESXi host
- Register an ESXi host with a configured software iSCSI adapter and create and map volumes
- Enable multipathing on an ESXi host with iSCSI volumes
- Volume rescan and datastore creation for an ESXi hosts with iSCSI network adapters
- SAS host server configuration for VMware ESXi
- Citrix XenServer hosts
- Fibre Channel host server configuration for Citrix XenServer
- iSCSI host server configuration for Citrix XenServer
- Attach a XenServer host with network adapters to the storage system
- Configure a software iSCSI adapter on a XenServer host
- Configure the iSCSI IQN on a XenServer host
- Enable Multipathing on a XenServer host
- Register a XenServer host with a software iSCSI adapter and create volumes
- Create a Storage Repository for a volume on a XenServer host with a software iSCSI adapter
- SAS host server configuration for Citrix XenServer
- Troubleshooting and problem solving
- Locate the service tag
- Operators (Ops) panel LEDs
- Initial start-up problems
- Cabling for replication
- SFP+ transceiver for FC/iSCSI ports
- System Information Worksheet
- Setting network port IP addresses using the CLI port and serial cable
Host ports and replication
ME4 Series Storage System controller modules can use qualified 10Gbase-T connectors or CNC-based ports for replication.
CNC ports must use qualified SFP+ transceivers of the same type, or they can use a combination of qualified SFP+ transceivers
supporting different interface protocols. To use a combination of different protocols, configure host ports 0 and 1 to use FC,
and configure ports 2 and 3 to use iSCSI. FC and iSCSI ports can be used to perform host I/O or replication, or both.
NOTE: ME4 Series 5U84 enclosures support dual-controller configurations only. ME4 Series 2U controller enclosures
support single controller and dual-controller configurations.
● If a partner controller module fails, the storage system fails over and runs on a single controller module until the
redundancy is restored.
● In dual-controller module configurations, a controller module must be installed in each slot to ensure sufficient airflow
through the enclosure during operation. In single-controller module configurations, a controller module must be installed
in slot A, and controller module blank must be installed in slot B.
Example cabling for replication
Simplified versions of controller enclosures are used in the cabling figures to show the host ports that are used for I/O or
replication.
● Replication supports FC and iSCSI host interface protocols.
● The 2U enclosure rear panel represents ME4 Series FC and iSCSI host interface ports.
● The 5U84 enclosure rear panel represents ME4 Series FC and iSCSI host interface ports.
● Host ports that are used for replication must use the same protocol (either FC or iSCSI).
● Blue cables show I/O traffic and green cables show replication traffic.
Once the CNC-based systems or 10Gbase-T systems are physically cabled, see the Dell EMC PowerVault ME4 Series Storage
System Administrator’s Guide or online help for information about configuring, provisioning, and using the replication feature.
Single-controller module configuration for replication
Cabling two ME4 Series controller enclosures that are equipped with a single controller module for replication.
Multiple servers, multiple switches, one network
The following diagram shows the rear panel of two controller enclosures with I/O and replication occurring on the same
network:
Figure 34. Connecting two storage systems for replication – multiple servers, multiple switches, one network
1.
2U controller enclosures 2. Two switches (I/O)
3. Connection to host servers 4. Switch (Replication)
For optimal protection, use multiple switches for host I/O and replication.
● Connect two ports from the controller module in the left storage enclosure to the left switch.
● Connect two ports from the controller module in the right storage enclosure to the right switch.
● Connect two ports from the controller modules in each enclosure to the middle switch.
Cabling for replication
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