MPIO BehaviorThe server must have at least two FC or iSCSI ports to use MPIO.When MPIO is configured, a server can send I/O to multiple ports on the same storage controller.MPIO Configuration Instructions for Host ServersIf a Storage Manager wizard is used to configure host server access to the Storage Center, the Storage Manager attempts to automaticallyconfigure MPIO with best practices.NOTE: Compare the host server settings applied by the Storage Manager wizard against the latest Storage Center BestPractices documents (listed in the following table) on the Dell TechCenter site (http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/storage/).Table 1. MPIO Configuration DocumentsOperating System Document with MPIO InstructionsLinux • Dell EMC SC Series with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 6x Best Practices• Dell EMC SC Series with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 7x Best Practices• Dell Storage SC Series Arrays with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12VMware vSphere • Dell EMC SC Series Best Practices with VMware vSphere 5.x-6.xWindows Server 2008 R2, 2012,2012 R2, 2016Dell Storage Center: Microsoft Multipath IO Best PracticesConnecting to Host Servers with Fibre Channel HBAsA storage system with Fibre Channel front-end ports connects to one or more FC switches, which connect to one or more host serverswith Fibre Channel HBAs.Fibre Channel ZoningWhen using Fibre Channel for front-end connectivity, zones must be established to ensure that storage is visible to the servers. Use thezoning concepts discussed in this section to plan the front-end connectivity before starting to cable the storage system.Dell recommends creating zones using a single initiator host port and multiple Storage Center ports.WWN Zoning GuidelinesWhen WWN zoning is configured, a device may reside on any port, or change physical ports and still be visible, because the switch isseeking a WWN.List of guidelines for WWN zoning.• Include all Storage Center virtual World Wide Port Names (WWPNs) in a single zone.• Include all Storage Center physical World Wide Port Names (WWPNs) in a single zone.• For each host server HBA port, create a zone that includes the HBA port WWPN and multiple Storage Center virtual WWPNs on thesame switch.• For Fibre Channel replication from Storage Center system A to Storage Center system B:Connect the Front-End Cabling 37
