Deployment Guide

MPIO Configuration Instructions for Host Servers

If a Storage Manager wizard is used to configure host server access to the Storage Center, the Storage Manager attempts to

automatically configure MPIO with best practices.

NOTE: Compare the host server settings applied by the Storage Manager wizard against the latest Storage Center Best

Practices documents (listed in the following table) on the Dell TechCenter site (http://en.community.dell.com/

techcenter/storage/).

Table 1. MPIO Configuration Documents

Operating System Document with MPIO Instructions

Linux

• Dell EMC SC Series with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 6x Best Practices

• Dell EMC SC Series with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 7x Best Practices

• Dell Storage SC Series Arrays with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12

VMware vSphere

• Dell EMC SC Series Best Practices with VMware vSphere 5.x-6.x

Windows Server 2008 R2, 2012,

2012 R2, 2016

Dell Storage Center: Microsoft Multipath IO Best Practices

Connecting to Host Servers with Fibre Channel

HBAs

A storage system with Fibre Channel front-end ports connects to one or more FC switches, which connect to one or more host servers

with Fibre Channel HBAs.

Fibre Channel Zoning

When using Fibre Channel for front-end connectivity, zones must be established to ensure that storage is visible to the servers. Use the

zoning concepts discussed in this section to plan the front-end connectivity before starting to cable the storage system.

Dell recommends creating zones using a single initiator host port and multiple Storage Center ports.

WWN Zoning Guidelines

When WWN zoning is configured, a device may reside on any port, or change physical ports and still be visible, because the switch is

seeking a WWN.

List of guidelines for WWN zoning.

• Include all Storage Center virtual World Wide Port Names (WWPNs) in a single zone.

• Include all Storage Center physical World Wide Port Names (WWPNs) in a single zone.

• For each host server HBA port, create a zone that includes the HBA port WWPN and multiple Storage Center virtual WWPNs on the

same switch.

• For Fibre Channel replication from Storage Center system A to Storage Center system B:

• Include all Storage Center physical WWPNs from system A and system B in a single zone.

• Include all Storage Center physical WWPNs of system A and the virtual WWPNs of system B on the particular fabric.

• Include all Storage Center physical WWPNs of system B and the virtual WWPNs of system A on the particular fabric.

NOTE:

Some ports may not be used or dedicated for replication, however ports that are used must be in these zones.

Fibre Channel Replication

Storage Center System A (Virtual Port Mode) to Storage Center System B (Virtual Port Mode)

• Include all Storage Center physical WWPNs from system A and system B in a single zone.

• Include all Storage Center physical WWPNs of system A and the virtual WWPNs of system B on the particular fabric.

• Include all Storage Center physical WWPNs of system B and the virtual WWPNs of system A on the particular fabric.

Connect the Front-End Cabling