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Dell PowerVault SAN

Dell | EMC SAN

Interoperability

Implementation: Dell PowerVault SAN

Building the SAN

The following provides high-level instructions for installing a Windows based Dell PowerVault SAN. Installation procedures vary depending on the operating system and the storage arrays.

SAN Site Planning

When developing a SAN site plan and during SAN installation, the following factors should be considered:

Operating systems - which operating systems and service packs will be needed to install on the SAN servers.
Requirements for zoning - if zoning is required, determine which SAN components are to be included in each zone.
Zoning in a heterogeneous SAN - if different operating systems are used, zoning may be needed to create logical barriers between the different OSs.
Cables - the number, type, and length of cables must be determined.
Array configuration and mappings - plan how the storage arrays will be configured and the LUNs mapped
Tape Backup - before implementing a SAN, tape capacity sizing, backup software selection, and connectivity schemes must be determined.
Environmental - ensure proper cooling, power, and space requirements are met.

Into Action

For All Servers

Make sure to complete each of the following steps in this order:

Unpack and install all hardware (including mounting in a rack) and connect all power and LAN cables but do not connect any SAN cables.
Install the operating system on each server.
Install all Fibre Channel HBAs.
Install QLogic drivers. The execution throttle settings may need to be adjusted depending on your SAN configuration.
Install the QL Config utility.
Install Storage C.
Install failover software on all servers. The software must be installed in the following order if the server uses both types of storage systems.
- Install ATF on all servers to which 650F LUNs will be assigned.
- Install QL Direct on all servers to which 660F LUNs will be assigned.

SAN Cables

Make sure to complete each of the following steps in this order:

Connect all switches.
Connect all servers.
Connect all storage arrays.
Connect all bridges.

NOTE: At this point, reboot all of the servers.

Failover Paths

If you are using a PowerVault 660F, set the failover path in the QLConfig utility on the servers that are to be assigned 660F LUNs and reboot the server.
NOTE: Windows 2000 will require an additional reboot when it discovers new devices.

LUN Management

On one or two of the servers (two are recommended for redundancy) to which 650F LUNs will be assigned, install Data Managed Node and Data Supervisor.
On one of the servers to which 660F LUNs are assigned, install Array Manager.

NOTE: You need to install Data Managed Node for 650Fs and Array Manager for 660F
on only one server per zone.

LUN Creation

First, bind 650F LUNs.
Next, create 660F virtual disks.

NOTE: Once all LUNs have transitioned to owner status and you have verified their status
by using Data Supervisor (for the 650F) or Array Manager (for the 660F), reboot all of the servers.

LUN Assignment

Assign LUNs and virtual disks to servers by using Storage C.

Systems Management

Install all systems management software. In addition to the SAN management tools, systems management will allow you to manage SAN servers. SAN backup software should also be installed for SAN backups.