Configuring a Redundant Pair of VMA SAN Gateways - Process Guide

6
being paired with a secondary gateway will not be available. This gateway pairing process should
be done during a maintenance period when data on the VMA Arrays can be offline.
CAUTION: As with any storage device maintenance, it is highly recommended that any data needing
to be retained be fully backed up for protection prior to performing any maintenance or re-
configuration.
For the initial release of the Redundant Gateway Pair feature, the supported versions of VMA Array
firmware and VMA SAN Gateway software are:
Component
Firmware or Software Version
VMA3205 & VMA3210 Arrays
Array firmware version A5.1.3 or newer. Use the SLC
dual x4 version of firmware for connecting to redundant
gateways; i.e.,
v3000‐a5‐1‐3‐x4‐slc.upg
VMA SAN Gateway
Gateway software OE version G5.1.0 or newer
The initial release of redundant pairs of VMA SAN Gateways only supports up to two VMA Arrays
dually connected to a redundant gateway pair; each array will have one connection to each of the
gateways.
VMA PCIe Cable and Pass-Thru Card considerations
For connection of dually connected VMA Arrays to redundant VMA SAN Gateways, you will need
two VMA PCIe Cables per VMA Array to be connected; one to connect to each gateway. Note that
with each VMA Array ordered, one PCIe cable is included with the array. For dually connected
arrays, an additional PCIe cable (P/N 463A) is required per array. At this time there is a maximum
of two VMA Arrays supported per redundant VMA SAN Gateway pair.
When ordering VMA Arrays, one PCIe pass-thru card per array is required to be included in the
order. When dually connecting a VMA Array to two gateways, an additional PCIe pass-thru card
(P/N AM464A) is also required, for a total of two PCIe Pass-Thru cards per array.
VMA Array Considerations
For connection of VMA Arrays to a redundant pair of VMA SAN Gateways you will be instructed to
update the VMA Array firmware to a dual x4 connectivity mode version of the array firmware.
CAUTION: You cannot backdate or downgrade firmware on a VMA Array to an earlier (older)
version of firmware; you can only update to the same or newer versions.
When VMA Arrays are connected to the VMA SAN Gateway, ‘containers’ are created on the array
by initializing the media from the gateway CLI. In order for the correct container layout to be present
on the VMA Array media for use with redundant gateways, it is required that any pre-existing
containers on the array media was initialized with VMA SAN Gateway software version G5.0.2 or
newer.
VMA SAN Gateway Considerations
As part of configuring a redundant pair of VMA SAN Gateways, you will need to update each VMA
SAN Gateway to the same gateway software OE version, minimally G5.1.0. Note that only VMA
SAN Gateways running G5.0.2 can be updated to G5.1.0 gateway software.