Introduction; Introduction To Storage Arrays - Dell PowerVault MD3600f Deployment Manual

Introduction

NOTE:
Throughout the document, Dell PowerVault MD3600f series storage array
refers to both Dell PowerVault MD3600f and Dell PowerVault MD3620f.
This guide provides information about deploying Dell PowerVault MD3600f
and MD3620f storage arrays. The deployment process includes:
• Hardware installation
• Modular Disk Storage Manager (MDSM) software installation
• Initial system configuration
Other information provided include system requirements, storage array
organization, and utilities.
NOTE:
For more information on product documentation, see
support.dell.com/manuals.
MDSM enables an administrator to configure and monitor storage arrays for
optimum usability. The version of MDSM included on the MD3600f series
resource media can be used to manage both the MD3600f series and the
earlier generation MD3000 series storage arrays. MDSM is compatible with
both Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems.

Introduction to Storage Arrays

An enclosure containing physical disks accessed through RAID controller
modules is called a storage array. One or more host servers attached to the
storage array can access the data on the storage array. You can also establish
multiple physical paths between the host(s) and the storage array so that loss
of any single path (for example, through failure of a host server port) does not
result in loss of access to data on the storage array.
The storage array is managed by MDSM running on a:
• Host server—On a host server system, MDSM and the storage array
communicate management requests and event information using Fibre
Channel (FC) connections.
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Introduction
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