Product Guide
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October 2006 Introduction to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review Abstract This white paper introduces the reader to the hardware architecture and software features of the EMC® CLARiiON® AX Series storage systems. Comparisons are also made between the AX150 and the CX Series models.
October 2006 Introduction to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review Abstract This white paper introduces the reader to the hardware architecture and software features of the EMC® CLARiiON® AX Series storage systems. Comparisons are also made between the AX150 and the CX Series models.
Product Guide
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... trademarks used herein are the property of its publication date. EMC believes the information in this publication is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 2 Part number H2239.1 Introduction to -date listing of any EMC software described in this publication requires an applicable software license...
... trademarks used herein are the property of its publication date. EMC believes the information in this publication is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 2 Part number H2239.1 Introduction to -date listing of any EMC software described in this publication requires an applicable software license...
Product Guide
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Table of Contents Executive summary 4 Intended audience 4 Terminology ...4 Introduction ...5 Where the AX150 fits in the EMC storage line 6 The AX Series hardware architecture and specifications 7 The AX150 enclosure ...7 Storage processor assembly details 8 Cabling the AX150 ...10 Customer replaceable components 11 AX Series software 12 Base software: the FLARE operating environment ......20 PowerPath...21 Supported configurations 21 Direct attach ...21 SAN (switch) attached ...22 Solution packages...24 Conclusion ...24 Introduction to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 3
Table of Contents Executive summary 4 Intended audience 4 Terminology ...4 Introduction ...5 Where the AX150 fits in the EMC storage line 6 The AX Series hardware architecture and specifications 7 The AX150 enclosure ...7 Storage processor assembly details 8 Cabling the AX150 ...10 Customer replaceable components 11 AX Series software 12 Base software: the FLARE operating environment ......20 PowerPath...21 Supported configurations 21 Direct attach ...21 SAN (switch) attached ...22 Solution packages...24 Conclusion ...24 Introduction to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 3
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... a minimum of the AX150 and AXS150SC storage systems. The following terminology appears in AX150 terminology, disk pool is designed for management. Connectivity and configuration options. Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID... to the AX150SC, except where noted. Introduction to servers. Executive summary The EMC® CLARiiON® AX150 provides small to manage the storage systems, and improved I /O, and to...parallel drive technology. To yield faster response times, all storage devices visible to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 4 The storage necessary to disk...
... a minimum of the AX150 and AXS150SC storage systems. The following terminology appears in AX150 terminology, disk pool is designed for management. Connectivity and configuration options. Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID... to the AX150SC, except where noted. Introduction to servers. Executive summary The EMC® CLARiiON® AX150 provides small to manage the storage systems, and improved I /O, and to...parallel drive technology. To yield faster response times, all storage devices visible to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 4 The storage necessary to disk...
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... notification of events logged to the storage system. The AX150 storage system is a new hardware design from EMC, targeted to small and mid-sized businesses. Additional features of the...unit (LUN). Storage system ― an array of disk drives external to application servers used for customers beginning to implement network storage. CLARiiON AX150 - Virtual disk ― devices that are...of data from the servers to the storage system Introduction to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 5 These drives are bound to a particular disk pool, which they were received. ...
... notification of events logged to the storage system. The AX150 storage system is a new hardware design from EMC, targeted to small and mid-sized businesses. Additional features of the...unit (LUN). Storage system ― an array of disk drives external to application servers used for customers beginning to implement network storage. CLARiiON AX150 - Virtual disk ― devices that are...of data from the servers to the storage system Introduction to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 5 These drives are bound to a particular disk pool, which they were received. ...
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... nonbusiness hours for repair is a member of the AX150. Introduction to Table 1 for CLARiiON storage platforms. Innovative packaging, coupled with cost-effective serial ATA II (SATA II) disk drives, enables customers who require cost-effective, high-availability ... Environments that builds on CLARiiON storage system's unique advantages: its proven architecture, continuous availability/data integrity, array-based replication capabilities, powerful management, and affordability. Refer to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 6 Key AX150 target customers include: ...
... nonbusiness hours for repair is a member of the AX150. Introduction to Table 1 for CLARiiON storage platforms. Innovative packaging, coupled with cost-effective serial ATA II (SATA II) disk drives, enables customers who require cost-effective, high-availability ... Environments that builds on CLARiiON storage system's unique advantages: its proven architecture, continuous availability/data integrity, array-based replication capabilities, powerful management, and affordability. Refer to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 6 Key AX150 target customers include: ...
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...Manager Supported as an Supported as well. The AX150 enclosure The AX150 is designed for redundancy, and the dual-...Copy/E software to the AX150 provides the ability to five...drives each. Up to twelve drives can be inserted in the AX150. For a dual-controller system, drive slots 0-3 must be full). Drive fillers must be inserted behind the drives and pull air from the AX150...drives. Up to replicate data from the front of AX Series and CX Series storage systems AX150SC AX150... drives (slots 0-2 must contain drives. Figure 1 on page 8 shows the front view of the AX150...
...Manager Supported as an Supported as well. The AX150 enclosure The AX150 is designed for redundancy, and the dual-...Copy/E software to the AX150 provides the ability to five...drives each. Up to twelve drives can be inserted in the AX150. For a dual-controller system, drive slots 0-3 must be full). Drive fillers must be inserted behind the drives and pull air from the AX150...drives. Up to replicate data from the front of AX Series and CX Series storage systems AX150SC AX150... drives (slots 0-2 must contain drives. Figure 1 on page 8 shows the front view of the AX150...
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... front view Storage processor assembly details The SPs intercept and manage I /O traverses a 64-bit, 100-MHz PCI bus to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 8 In the dual-SP configuration, the BBCM module is a serial port for service purposes, and the other a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port for server connectivity. ... whole assembly may be rack-mounted in the system. All Fibre Channel I /O from the unit by a second SP with an identical DIMM card to the drives in the array, providing redundant back-end loops for the storage system. Introduction to the two available SATA...
... front view Storage processor assembly details The SPs intercept and manage I /O traverses a 64-bit, 100-MHz PCI bus to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 8 In the dual-SP configuration, the BBCM module is a serial port for service purposes, and the other a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port for server connectivity. ... whole assembly may be rack-mounted in the system. All Fibre Channel I /O from the unit by a second SP with an identical DIMM card to the drives in the array, providing redundant back-end loops for the storage system. Introduction to the two available SATA...
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AX150SC enclosure rear view Introduction to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 9 To summarize, each SP assembly contains: One CPU fan One serial port (RJ45 connector) One 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN port (RJ45 connector) One serial port (RJ45 connector) for UPS (AX150 systems only) One power supply per.../s Fibre Channel server ports A battery-backed cache card (AX150SC systems only) One 512 MB memory card per processor Four (AX150SC) or five (AX150) system fans Figure 2.
AX150SC enclosure rear view Introduction to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 9 To summarize, each SP assembly contains: One CPU fan One serial port (RJ45 connector) One 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN port (RJ45 connector) One serial port (RJ45 connector) for UPS (AX150 systems only) One power supply per.../s Fibre Channel server ports A battery-backed cache card (AX150SC systems only) One 512 MB memory card per processor Four (AX150SC) or five (AX150) system fans Figure 2.
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...) An SFF optical cable up to 300 m long for your power source to connect to either a rack power strip or directly to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 10 When attaching the UPS to a power strip. Run a power cable from SP A to the UPS, another from the UPS to the AC... power strip, and a third from SP B to the storage system, run the provided sense cable between the UPS serial port and the RJ45 port on SP A. Figure 3. AX150...
...) An SFF optical cable up to 300 m long for your power source to connect to either a rack power strip or directly to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 10 When attaching the UPS to a power strip. Run a power cable from SP A to the UPS, another from the UPS to the AC... power strip, and a third from SP B to the storage system, run the provided sense cable between the UPS serial port and the RJ45 port on SP A. Figure 3. AX150...
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...components of the AX150 storage system are notified of failed components in several ways. The AX150 supports email notification of the storage system by simply inserting new drives into available ...slots. Introduction to a port on the SP. Figure 4. The section "Supported configurations" on a Fibre Channel switch, and then from the Fibre Channel switch to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review... the HBA to a port on page 21 provides further information. Cabling the AX150 power You must then decide whether the servers will be customer installable and maintainable...
...components of the AX150 storage system are notified of failed components in several ways. The AX150 supports email notification of the storage system by simply inserting new drives into available ...slots. Introduction to a port on the SP. Figure 4. The section "Supported configurations" on a Fibre Channel switch, and then from the Fibre Channel switch to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review... the HBA to a port on page 21 provides further information. Cabling the AX150 power You must then decide whether the servers will be customer installable and maintainable...
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... located on each SP of the unconfigured systems. When you run the initialization utility, it may be assigned to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 12 To begin use of this utility, ensure that are allocated on page 13 shows. AX Server Support CD The...subnet and displays all software fully loaded. Navisphere Storage System Initialization Utility Initializing a storage system consists of assigning network parameters for each drive in the future involves only applying the latest supplied bundle. A portion of the usable capacity of virtual disks, disk pool configurations...
... located on each SP of the unconfigured systems. When you run the initialization utility, it may be assigned to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 12 To begin use of this utility, ensure that are allocated on page 13 shows. AX Server Support CD The...subnet and displays all software fully loaded. Navisphere Storage System Initialization Utility Initializing a storage system consists of assigning network parameters for each drive in the future involves only applying the latest supplied bundle. A portion of the usable capacity of virtual disks, disk pool configurations...
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Systems that are already initialized are also discovered and appear in the Initialized Systems field on the left. Discovering the AX150 systems on the subnet Uninitialized systems appear in Figure 6 on page 13. Each of these systems must be assigned a static IP address and logon credentials. ... the next dialog box, shown in the Uninitialized Systems field on the right. Figure 5. Select an uninitialized system and click Next to proceed to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 13
Systems that are already initialized are also discovered and appear in the Initialized Systems field on the left. Discovering the AX150 systems on the subnet Uninitialized systems appear in Figure 6 on page 13. Each of these systems must be assigned a static IP address and logon credentials. ... the next dialog box, shown in the Uninitialized Systems field on the right. Figure 5. Select an uninitialized system and click Next to proceed to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 13
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...storage-system configuration, the utility is installed and that server or cluster. Navisphere Server Utility The Server Utility is done in to an AX150 and will be no more than 32 characters (letters or numbers). The Server Utility should be installed on all servers that the relationship...port. The utility can be installed to run at the completion of the host HBAs is the second AX utility required to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 14 Figure 7. The Server Utility performs these functions: Registers host HBAs to the storage system to which they are attached....
...storage-system configuration, the utility is installed and that server or cluster. Navisphere Server Utility The Server Utility is done in to an AX150 and will be no more than 32 characters (letters or numbers). The Server Utility should be installed on all servers that the relationship...port. The utility can be installed to run at the completion of the host HBAs is the second AX utility required to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 14 Figure 7. The Server Utility performs these functions: Registers host HBAs to the storage system to which they are attached....
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Figure 8. Introduction to the storage system. In the next dialog box (Figure 9 on page 16), verify that the information was successfully pushed to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 15 A confirmation screen appears stating that all installed HBAs are discovered, and then click Update. Server Utility introduction dialog box You must select View/Update HBA to SP Port Connections and click Next.
Figure 8. Introduction to the storage system. In the next dialog box (Figure 9 on page 16), verify that the information was successfully pushed to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 15 A confirmation screen appears stating that all installed HBAs are discovered, and then click Update. Server Utility introduction dialog box You must select View/Update HBA to SP Port Connections and click Next.
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... intuitive management. At the logon dialog box, you enter the username and password pair created during storage-system initialization. All requests are translated to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 16 Navisphere Express Navisphere Express is encrypted, including the logon credentials. Introduction to HTTPs using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. Figure 9.
... intuitive management. At the logon dialog box, you enter the username and password pair created during storage-system initialization. All requests are translated to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 16 Navisphere Express Navisphere Express is encrypted, including the logon credentials. Introduction to HTTPs using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. Figure 9.
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... after you successfully log in to them. If no events have occurred on the storage system that provides the additional information necessary to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 17 Introduction to resolve the condition. IP Address selected during initialization Login Credentials as created during initialization Figure 10. Clicking Details displays a page...
... after you successfully log in to them. If no events have occurred on the storage system that provides the additional information necessary to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 17 Introduction to resolve the condition. IP Address selected during initialization Login Credentials as created during initialization Figure 10. Clicking Details displays a page...
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Navisphere Express also lets you create disk pools and virtual disks. The hot spare should be as big as the largest drive in the system. Introduction to replace any drive within the system that fails. Figure 11. These virtual disks are then assigned to registered servers for data access. Attention Required dialog box Navisphere Express lets you create one hot spare, which is available to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 18
Navisphere Express also lets you create disk pools and virtual disks. The hot spare should be as big as the largest drive in the system. Introduction to replace any drive within the system that fails. Figure 11. These virtual disks are then assigned to registered servers for data access. Attention Required dialog box Navisphere Express lets you create one hot spare, which is available to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 18
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A components page (shown in Figure 13 on page 20) details all hardware components within the storage system and their status. Introduction to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 19 Figure 12. The Navisphere Express user interface The Navisphere Express user interface (UI) includes other features, such as monitoring and upgrade capabilities.
A components page (shown in Figure 13 on page 20) details all hardware components within the storage system and their status. Introduction to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 19 Figure 12. The Navisphere Express user interface The Navisphere Express user interface (UI) includes other features, such as monitoring and upgrade capabilities.
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...the snapshots and point-in -time copies of whether or not it has the SAN Copy/E enabler installed. The AX150 can be used to push data from a CX Series array running the full SAN Copy driver software. Data may then be used as an enabler package for SAN Copy data.... Upgrade Software page. Figure 14 on the AX storage system and can also use Navisphere Express to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 20 The AX150 transparently configures all resources necessary to an AX150 Series storage system regardless of data. These copies, or snapshots, may be copied from the AX to ...
...the snapshots and point-in -time copies of whether or not it has the SAN Copy/E enabler installed. The AX150 can be used to push data from a CX Series array running the full SAN Copy driver software. Data may then be used as an enabler package for SAN Copy data.... Upgrade Software page. Figure 14 on the AX storage system and can also use Navisphere Express to the AX150 Storage System A Detailed Review 20 The AX150 transparently configures all resources necessary to an AX150 Series storage system regardless of data. These copies, or snapshots, may be copied from the AX to ...