The following is a preview of an Nfina storage system with an embedded LSI RAID controller using MegaRAID Storage Manager software.

Transcription

1 Nfina Technologies uses RAID technology to increase performance, storage capacity, and fault tolerance in our storage systems. Nfina RAID network servers use only best-in-class components like Enterprise-class drives and LSI RAID Controllers. Nfina uses MegaRAID Storage Manager to provide an easy-to-use way to monitor individual devices and the health of the network. MegaRAID Storage Manager software displays the status of controllers, virtual drives, and drives on the server or workstation that you are monitoring. Special device icons appear on the window providing notification of a drive failure and other events that require immediate attention. The system errors and events are recorded in an event log but alerts can also be configured to sound an audible alarm (if enabled) or send an . MegaRAID Storage Manager software can be used to perform system maintenance tasks, such as running patrol read operations, updating firmware, and running consistency checks on drive groups that support redundancy. The following is a preview of an Nfina storage system with an embedded LSI RAID controller using MegaRAID Storage Manager software.

2 Server Details / Host View When the program is launched, the Host View window appears. The Host View will display a health status icon for each server that has MegaRAID Storage Manager software installed. The server s health status is color-coded using the following key: Green Yellow Orange Red The server is operating properly. The server is running in a partially degraded state (possibly a drive in a virtual drive has failed). The server is running in a degraded state. The server storage configuration has failed.

3 Configure Host The Configure Host screen allows selection of the servers to be displayed in the Host View screen. These selected servers can then be monitored and managed. The options available are: Display only the local server of the IP address that was entered on the host view page. have entered into the Favorites list. in the network of local server. Login After selecting the icon of the desired server the server login page will appear. Log in to the server and continue.

4 Dashboard The Storage Manager Dashboard displays a basic overview of the Nfina server, LSI RAID controller, and other attached devices. This window provides information regarding the health status, number of drives, drive groups, and virtual drives, as well as drive capacity for the server system. The settings for The MegaRAID Advanced Software Options and the RAID levels for the Nfina server are displayed and can be managed in this panel. Using the Actions menu in the Dashboard, firmware for the RAID controller can be updated and alarms can be managed. Links to online help are available under the Help menu on the Dashboard. The systems event log is displayed at the bottom of the page under the Dashboard, Physical View and Logical View tabs.

5 Physical View The Physical View shows the tree of physical devices in the Nfina storage system. The Nfina server is displayed first, followed by the LSI RAID controller, the physical drives and their location in the server, and other attached devices. The battery backup unit (BBU) is displayed at the bottom. Upon selection, the properties for each item appear in the panel to the right.

6 Logical View The Logical View shows the hierarchy of the Nfina storage system including the LSI RAID controller, the virtual drives and the drive groups that make up the virtual drives. Upon selection, the properties for each item appear in the panel to the right.

7 Virtual Drive Properties in Logical View Under Logical View, when a virtual drive is selected from the tree, properties are displayed in the panel on the right. These include active RAID level and data information. Depending upon the RAID level configured the data information displayed will be as follows: Raid 0 RAID 5, 6, 50, 60 RAID 1, 10 Size, Strip Size Size, Parity Size, Strip Size Size, Mirror Data Size, Strip Size Metadata Size can be viewed in the properties panel by highlighting the RAID controller in the tree.

8 Physical Drive Properties and Temperature Upon selecting a drive from the tree in Physical or Logical view, general information about the drive is displayed in the panel on the right. Items displayed include the capacity, speed, serial number of the drive, and temperature. The drive temperature is located at the bottom of the menu and can be accessed using the scroll bar.

9 SSD Caching When the CacheCade option is enabled on the RAID controller, Logical View will display the SSD Caching Drive Group, the drives that make up this drive group and the RAID level assigned to the group. The name of the Virtual Drive and the Write Policy operation parameters can be modified by highlighting the SSD Caching Virtual Drive and right clicking on Set Virtual Drive Properties in the menu. Nfina Technologies highly recommends using SSD Caching to increase storage system performance, redundancy, and reliability.

10 Quick Management Tool Access Shortcut management functions including: silencing an alarm, scanning foreign configurations, or updating RAID controller firmware can be accessed under the Physical or Logical View tabs. Simply right click the LSI RAID controller in the device tree. Renaming a virtual drive and taking a drive offline can also be performed in this manner.

11 Configuring Alerts The Configure Alerts settings can be accessed using the Tools Menu. There are four severity levels. Specific alert delivery methods can be configured for each level, from a notation in a log for a minor alert to an to specific personnel for an alert requiring immediate attention. Customizing the alert notification methods provides a means to easily assess the health of the storage system and avoid failures and downtime. If the audible Alarm is not enabled in the RAID controller, it is highly recommended that an alternative alert method be used.

12 Patrol Read The Patrol Read function is a useful tool providing a scan and assessment of the network to detect possible drive errors that could lead to physical and virtual drive failures. This powerful function can help detect a possible failure before it occurs. Patrol Read can be set for manual or automatic operation. To enable the Patrol Read function, highlight the RAID controller in either the Physical or Logical View screen and select Set Patrol Read Properties. Select the desired Patrol Read mode, the number of physical drives to be read, and add the virtual drives that should be included in the read. Set the frequency of the Patrol Read and the desired starting date and time. The drives can also be scanned manually at any time by highlighting the RAID controller and selecting Start Patrol Read from the menu.

13 System Alerts If the system detects a problem or communication loss of a physical drive, an error message will be displayed in the Dashboard, Physical View, and Logical View menus of the software as well as the systems event log. In the example above the status is displaying a yellow triangle and is in a partially degraded state. This usually indicates a drive or virtual drive has failed or is offline.

14 Shield State and Replacing a Drive In the event a drive or virtual drive loses communication with the RAID controller the system moves the drive to an interim state called a Shield State. This protects the system and allows diagnostics to take place. If an error is found, the system then transitions the drives to an Unconfigured Bad or failed state and preparations must be made to replace the drive. After the faulty drive is replaced it will still appear in the tree as Unconfigured Bad. Its state must be changed to Unconfigured Good in order for it to be accepted back into the system. This can be accomplished by highlighting the drive, right clicking the mouse, and selecting Change to Unconfigured Good from the menu.

15 Replacing a Drive Continued After changing the state to Unconfigured Good a green lightning bolt appears and the system should be scanned for any Foreign Configurations that may be present on the new drives. Afterwards the Re-Configuration of the RAID array can be started by highlighting the RAID controller from the tree and right clicking Scan Foreign Configuration from the menu. The logical configuration may be imported or cleared from the drive.

16 Configuring the New Drive To configure the new drive/s highlight and right click on the RAID controller, and select Create Virtual Drive from the menu. In order to create a Virtual Drive, the drive group that makes up the virtual drive must be created. Selecting the Advanced mode is recommended because it allows configuration of the drives and parameters for the Virtual Drive. In simple mode the system makes those selections automatically. Next the desired RAID level must be selected along with drive security method and drives; then they are added to the Drive Group. Select Create Drive Group and proceed.

17 Configuring the New Drive Continued Enter the Virtual Drive name, capacity, Initialization state, strip size, read and write policy, etc. and select Create Virtual Drive. A Summary page will appear showing the configuration. If the information is correct, select finish. A dialog box will appear stating the virtual drive was successfully created. Select OK. If SSD Caching is Enabled on the system the Enable SSD Caching on New Virtual Drives dialog box will appear. Select OK and continue. The new drive should be successfully configured and actively participating in the RAID Drive Group. This document is intended to be an overview of the basic functions of MegaRAID Storage Manager software as it would be received in its pre-configured state on an Nfina Technologies server. It is not intended as use as an installation guide or replacement for LSI MegaRAID SAS Software User Guide.