Deployment Guide

Perform host setup

This section describes how to perform host setup for Dell EMC PowerVault ME4 Series storage systems.

Dell EMC recommends performing host setup on only one host at a time.

For a list of supported HBAs or iSCSI network adapters, see the Dell EMC PowerVault ME4 Series Storage System Support Matrix.

For more information, see the topics about initiators, hosts, and host groups, and attaching hosts and volumes in the Dell EMC

PowerVault ME4 Series Storage System Administrator’s Guide.

Topics:

• Host system requirements

• Windows hosts

• Linux hosts

• VMware ESXi hosts

• Citrix XenServer hosts

Host system requirements

Hosts connected to ME4 Series controller enclosures must meet the following requirements:

Depending on your system configuration, host operating systems may require that multipathing is supported.

If fault tolerance is required, then multipathing software may be required. Host-based multipath software should be used in any

configuration where two logical paths between the host and any storage volume may exist simultaneously. This includes most

configurations where there are multiple connections to the host or multiple connections between a switch and the storage.

About multipath configuration

ME4 Series storage systems comply with the SCSI-3 standard for Asymmetrical Logical Unit Access (ALUA).

ALUA-compliant storage systems provide optimal and non-optimal path information to the host during device discovery. To implement

ALUA, you must configure your servers to use multipath I/O (MPIO).

Windows hosts

Ensure that the HBAs or network adapters are installed, the drivers are installed, and the latest supported BIOS and firmware are installed.

Fibre Channel host server configuration for Windows

Server

The following sections describe how to configure Fibre Channel host servers running Windows Server:

Prerequisites

• Complete the PowerVault Manager guided system and storage setup process.

• Refer to the cabling diagrams within this guide before attaching a host to the storage system; careful planning ensures a successful

deployment.

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