Dell PowerVault MD3400 series Deployment Manual

Also see for PowerVault MD3400: Getting started guide Owner's manual

Contents

Dell PowerVault MD3400 series Deployment Manual Manual pdf 6 page image

• Host server — On a host server system, MDSM and the storage array communicate managementrequests and event information using in-band or out-of band-connections.• Management station — On a management station, MDSM communicates with the storage array eitherthrough an Ethernet connection to the storage array management port or through an Ethernetconnection to a host server. The Ethernet connection passes management information between themanagement station and the storage array connectivity.Using MDSM, you can configure the physical disks in the storage array into logical components calleddisk groups or dynamic disk group and then divide the disk groups into virtual disks. Disk groups arecreated in the unconfigured capacity of a storage array. Virtual disks are created in the free capacity of adisk group.Unconfigured capacity comprises physical disks not already assigned to a disk group. When a virtual diskis created using unconfigured capacity, a disk group or dynamic disk group is automatically created. If theonly virtual disk in a disk group is deleted, the disk group is also deleted. Free capacity is space in a diskgroup that is not assigned to any virtual disk.Data is written to the physical disks in the storage array using RAID technology. RAID levels define howdata is written to physical disks. Different RAID levels offer different levels of accessibility, redundancy,and capacity. You can set a specified RAID level for each disk group and virtual disk on your storage array.For more information about using RAID and managing data in your storage solution, see the Owner’sManual at dell.com/support/manuals.Related DocumentationNOTE: For all PowerVault documentation, go to dell.com/powervaultmanuals and enter thesystem Service Tag to get your system documentation.NOTE: For all Dell OpenManage documents, go to dell.com/openmanagemanuals.NOTE: For all storage controller documents, go to dell.com/storagecontrollermanuals.Your product documentation includes:• Dell PowerVault MD3400/3420/3800i/3820i/3800f/3820f Storage Arrays Getting Started Guide —Provides an overview of system features, setting up your system, and technical specifications. Thisdocument is also shipped with your system.• Dell PowerVault MD3400 and 3420 Storage Arrays Owner’s Manual — Provides information aboutsystem features and describes how to troubleshoot the system and install or replace systemcomponents.• Rack Installation Instructions — Describes how to install your system into a rack. This document isalso shipped with your rack solution.• Dell PowerVault MD Series Storage Arrays Administrator's Guide — Provides information aboutconfiguring and managing the system using the MDSM GUI.• Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Arrays CLI Guide — Provides information about configuring andmanaging the system using the MDSM CLI.• Dell PowerVault MD3400 and 3420 Storage Arrays Deployment Guide — Provides information aboutdeploying the storage system in the SAN architecture.• Dell PowerVault MD34xx/38xx Series Support Matrix — Provides information about the software andhardware compatibility matrices for the storage array.6