HP StorageWorks 1500 Modular Smart Array Installation Guide (355901-004, October 2006)

Installation Procedures - All Deployments
30 HP StorageWorks 1500 Modular Smart Array Installation Guide
Plan your storage configuration
Proper planning of the system storage and its subsequent performance is critical to
a successful deployment of your MSA. Improper planning or implementation can
result in wasted storage space, degraded performance, or inability to expand the
system to meet growing storage needs.
Considerations include:
■ System and performance expectations
■ Striping methods
■ RAID levels
■ Hard drive sizes and types
■ Spare drives
■ Array sizing (capacity)
System and performance expectations
To help you determine the best way to configure your storage, you must first rank
the following three storage characteristics in order of importance:
■ Fault tolerance (high availability)
■ I/O performance
■ Storage efficiency
With your priorities established, you can determine which striping method and
RAID level to use.
As highlighted in the following sections on Striping methods and RAID levels,
some configuration methods offer greater fault tolerance, while other
configuration methods offer better I/O performance or storage efficiency.