Configuring and servicing storage systems
To avoid performance issues, you must ensure that your SAN-attached storage systems and switches are correctly configured to work efficiently with SAN Volume Controller symmetric virtualization.
Virtualization provides many benefits over direct-attached or direct SAN-attached storage systems. However, virtualization is more susceptible to performance hot spots than direct-attached storage. Hot spots can cause I/O errors on your hosts and can potentially cause a loss of access to data.
- Identifying your storage system
The serial number that is presented by the command-line interface (CLI) and the management GUI for the system is the serial number of the device. - Configuration guidelines for storage systems
You must follow these configuration guidelines and procedures for your storage system to maximize performance and to avoid potential I/O problems. - Configuring a balanced storage system
The attachment of a storage system to SAN Volume Controller requires that specific settings are applied to set the characteristics of a balanced system. - Storage system requirements
The performance of applications at the local clustered system can be limited by the performance of the storage systems at the remote system. - Discovering logical units
System initialization includes a process called discovery. - Expanding a logical unit using the CLI
You can use the command-line interface (CLI) to expand a logical unit. - Modifying a logical unit mapping using the CLI
You can modify a logical unit (LU) mapping by using the command-line interface (CLI). The LUN ID and unique identifier (UID) are linked and cannot be changed dynamically when SAN Volume Controller is managing the MDisk. - Accessing storage systems with multiple remote ports
If a managed disk (MDisk) logical unit (LU) is accessible through multiple storage system ports, the SAN Volume Controller system ensures that all nodes that access this LU coordinate their activity and access the LU through the same storage system port. - Determining a storage system name from its SAN Volume Controller name by using the CLI
You can determine a storage system name from its SAN Volume Controller name by using the command-line interface (CLI). - Renaming a storage system using the CLI
You can use the command-line interface (CLI) to rename a storage system. - Changing the configuration of an existing storage system using the CLI
You can use the command-line interface (CLI) to change the configuration of an existing storage system. You must change the configuration for a storage system when you want to delete and replace logical units (LUs). - Adding a new storage system to a running configuration using the CLI
You can add a new storage system to your SAN at any time using the command-line interface (CLI). - Removing a storage system using the CLI
You can remove a storage system using the command-line interface (CLI). The system supports both Fibre Channel and iSCSI-attatched external storage systems. - Removing MDisks that represent unconfigured LUs using the CLI
You can use the command-line interface (CLI) to remove MDisks from the clustered system (system). - Quorum disk creation and extent allocation
A quorum disk is used to resolve tie-break situations when the voting set of nodes disagree on the current state of the clustered system (system). - Manual discovery
When you create or remove LUNs on a storage system, the managed disk (MDisk) view is not automatically updated. To update this view, you must enter a CLI command or use the management GUI. - Servicing storage systems
Storage systems that are supported for attachment to the SAN Volume Controller system are designed with redundant components and access paths to enable concurrent maintenance. Hosts have continuous access to their data during component failure and replacement. - External storage system configuration with Fibre Channel connections
The system supports external storage systems with Fibre Channel connections. - External storage system configuration with iSCSI connections
The system supports iSCSI connections to Storwize® family, IBM Spectrum Accelerate™, and Dell EqualLogic systems that are used as external storage systems.
Parent topic: Configuring