Comments for Marc's thoughts on Dell Storage Solutions

Comment on Rapid EqualLogic Configuration Portal by RobVM

RobVM — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:57:54 +0000

thanks for the link Marc. I’ve already downloaded the Forece10 guide and will be using it in a deployment. This is a really helpful resource.

Comment on EqualLogic Questions by Mark Hodges

Mark Hodges — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:01:23 +0000

I have a question on Security with VSS/VDS (or the lack thereof).
I have a Windows 2008 R2 server with the HIT toolkit installed (which included the VDS component) and because I want SQL to have consistent snapshots I have configured a VDS/VSS record with Chap authentication within the group manager.

However what I found out was that if you install the SAN Manager component of Windows 2008 R2, that server (and windows administrator) now has 100% control of the entire SAN Volumes..up to and including creating and deleting volumes at will.

I opened a support case and their comment was “just don’t install the VDS component of the HIT kit”

I cannot accept that in order to allow an application to have VSS capabilities I have to drop my pants and pray that the Windows administrator doesn’t get ahold of the HIT toolkit and then blow away my SAN.

Is this really a correct implementation or have I missed something basic because in my Mind, VDS and VSS should be 2 completely seperate access lists…not a single access list that gives the junior admin of a company that much potential control..

Comment on Dell TechCenter: EqualLogic SAN Switch Architectures by Margaret

Margaret — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:52:39 +0000

There’s a new URL for these Reference Architectures, and we are regularly publishing new ones. Here is the new URL: http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/storage/w/wiki/3590.san-switch-reference-architectures-by-sis.aspx

Comment on EqualLogic Questions by Mahfuz

Mahfuz — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:59:29 +0000

Hello…

Can any one help me that how to find out the current Firmware version of my ps4100 Equillogic?

And What is the procedure to update my current Firmware?

Thanks in Advance
Mahfuz

Comment on EqualLogic: Planning your IP Addresses by trixboxer

trixboxer — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:58:08 +0000

Hi,

Nice info and thanks for sharing.

I am curious to know whether grouping 6010XV and 4110E is a good idea or not. Can you share your thoughts ?

My aim is to retain the performance of 6010 while adding some NL SAS capacity to its group.

Comment on EqualLogic PS4110 and PS6110 10GB Overview by Kurt Bunker

Kurt Bunker — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:56:21 +0000

Vertical Port Fail over still uses an active and passive port according to Section 2.3.7 in the guide referenced. Although the documentation doesn’t show the 6110 and 4110 graphics, I would assume the rules are the same still? If that is the case, you only have one active port per array. The failure of a switch or port would tripper fail over, but still, you only have one active port which puts all the load on one path. Most switches can put in transceivers to convert to allow a port that was meant for TwinAx to have a 10GBASE-T link, but would you really cable up these new EQL units with two types of cabling just to get two active ports on a controller?

Comment on EqualLogic Questions by Carmen

Carmen — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:35:09 +0000

Hello Marc,

I have a question on consolidation of servers per a particular volume. Is there an approx rule of thumb to use when using an EQL box? I have a ps5000x and a ps6010xv. The 10GbE unit houses my application servers while the 1GbE unit house low overhead servers (dc, file server, small apps).

I was using my old world of thinking and never going over 8 servers in any particular lun. Now that luns are gone and everything is a volume, is there any real benefit at all to breaking up load across multiple volumes?

I am going to run some odometer tests that you have linked here as I have never bench marked my systems.

Environment:
(3) Dell R810s quad proc 6 core
256GB Ram
Dual intel 10GbE network adapters for vm network, guests, vmotion
Dual qlogic 8242 10GbE HBA for ISCSI
Dell 8024f 10GbE switch
VMware 5.0
Per production dell MEM installed.

Comment on NEW: Introducing the Dell DR4000 with De-Dupe, Compression and Replication by Marc Malotke

Marc Malotke — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:04:18 +0000

Good Day….

Please review the link and information on the DR4000 which is specifically for backup. This is not a Production SAN like EqualLogic or Compellent.

Thank you.
Marc

Comment on NEW: Introducing the Dell DR4000 with De-Dupe, Compression and Replication by Magnus

Magnus — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:01:57 +0000

Is it online dedupe?
Maybe possible to have as online-SAN for VMs or fileserver?

Comment on EqualLogic Questions by Marc Malotke

Marc Malotke — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:32:05 +0000

Good Day….

Going through Dell is the only official way that I know of to accomplish what you would like to do.

Thank you.
Marc