Release Notes

Abstract
5 Dell PS Series Configuration Guide
Abstract
This configuration guide provides technical guidance for designing and implementing Dell™ PS Series
storage solutions in iSCSI SAN environments.
This guide includes the following:
• Details on the capacity and capabilities of the PS Series family and the FS Series family of NAS
appliances
• iSCSI SAN design guidelines for optimizing redundancy, availability, and performance of PS Series
storage arrays
Dell PS Series arrays provide a storage solution that delivers the benefits of consolidated networked storage
in a self-managing, iSCSI storage area network (SAN) that is affordable and easy to use regardless of scale.
By eliminating complex tasks and enabling fast and flexible storage provisioning, these solutions dramatically
reduce the costs of storage acquisition and ongoing operations.
To be able to leverage the advanced features provided by a PS Series array, a robust, standards-compliant
iSCSI SAN infrastructure must be created. While almost any industry standard, enterprise class Ethernet
switch can be used to connect hosts to the PS Series-based virtual storage volumes, some switches, network
interface controllers (NICs), iSCSI Host Bus Adapters (HBAs), and iSCSI initiators can directly impact the
overall performance of the SAN storage solution. The Dell PS Series Configuration Guide is provided as an
aid to help storage administrators determine how to best build an iSCSI infrastructure for use within a
PS Series SAN solution. This document focuses on network configuration, host integration, and other topics
that help to ensure a smooth deployment with optimum PS Series SAN and FS Series NAS appliance
performance.
Unless otherwise stated, recommendations in this document are applicable to both file and block
environments.
This document should be used strictly as a guide in planning a PS Series storage solution. It should not be
considered a statement of support for any specific configuration. Actual viability of any configuration will
depend on the capabilities of the individual components (for example, switches, network interface controllers,
initiators) that make up the SAN infrastructure.