Download Dell Midrange Storage Solutions Design 2023.D-MSS-DS-23.PremiumDumps.2025-12-28.173q.vcex

The Dell Unity XT 480 storage system uses the Broadwell CPU family. Broadwell processors are known for their efficiency and performance, making them suitable for storage systems like the Unity XT 480 that require reliable processing power for managing storage tasks.

Dell recommends disabling DelayedACK when configuring ESXi hosts using iSCSI to connect to PowerStore systems. DelayedACK can cause performance degradation and connectivity issues in iSCSI environments. By disabling DelayedACK, the communication between the ESXi host and the PowerStore array becomes more efficient, leading to better performance and reliability.Reference:Dell Technologies documentation on best practices for configuring ESXi hosts with PowerStore using iSCSI.VMware KB article on DelayedACK and its effects on iSCSI performance.

A node can tolerate a single fan module fault, and the surviving fans increase their speed to compensate for the faulted module. If two fan modules fault within the same node, the node performs a protective thermal shutdown. A protective thermal shutdown gracefully powers off the node, and any resource fails over to the surviving node Reference: https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-us/products/storage/industry- market/h18149-dell-emc-powerstore-platform-introduction.pdf

When planning and sizing a Midrange storage solution, two key guidelines for optimal performance are to consolidate workloads and design for resilience. Consolidating workloads helps in maximizing the utilization of storage resources, reducing overhead, and improving performance. Designing for resilience ensures that the storage solution can handle failures and continue to operate effectively, maintaining data availability and performance. These practices are critical for achieving reliable and efficient storage solutions.

"The engineer should design a system to handle all, or nearly all, IOPS in one particular tier"

When designing a system to support an Oracle OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) Workload for a new customer without specific I/O details, the default selections for the I/O profile input in the sizer tool are typically set to "Random Read: 70% at 8 KiB, Random Write: 30% at 8 KiB." Here's a detailed explanation:* Oracle OLAP Workload Characteristics:OLAP workloads generally involve heavy read operations with a focus on retrieving and analyzing large datasets. The read operations are often random due to the nature of querying various parts of the data.* Default I/O Profile Selection:* Random Read:70% - This reflects the high read intensity typical of OLAP workloads, where data is accessed non-sequentially.* Random Write:30% - Although less frequent than reads, writes still occur randomly as new data is added or existing data is updated.* Sizer Tool Configuration:The Dell sizer tool uses these default I/O profile settings to estimate the required storage performance and capacity. This helps in designing a system that can handle the expected workload efficiently.* Performance Optimization:The chosen I/O profile ensures that the storage system is optimized for the specific access patterns of OLAP workloads, providing a balanced approach to handling both reads and writes.References:* Dell Technologies PowerStore Documentation* Dell Entry-Level and Mid-Range Storage Community* Dell Storage Products OverviewBy understanding the default I/O profile settings used by the sizer tool, system designers can ensure that the storage solution is well-suited to meet the demands of Oracle OLAP workloads.

The "Quick Configuration" sizer option supports the configuration of a midrange solution with hybrid dynamic pools. This option allows for a streamlined setup process, making it easier to configure storage pools that combine both SSDs and HDDs for optimized performance and capacity.

According to Dell best practices for PowerStore solutions, when supporting hosts that use both100 Gb/s Ethernet (Eth) connectivity and 16 Gb/s Fibre Channel (FC) connectivity, the I/O modules should be populated as follows:Slot 0: Install the 100 Gb/s Ethernet I/O module. This ensures that the high-speed Ethernet connections are handled by the first slot, which is typically prioritized for network connectivity.Slot 1: Install the 16 Gb/s Fibre Channel I/O module. This setup leverages the capabilities of the second slot to manage Fibre Channel traffic efficiently.This configuration ensures optimal performance and adherence to best practices, providing a balanced distribution of network and storage connectivity within the PowerStore system.

* Dell provides several tools for monitoring and managing Unity environments, each with specific capabilities for performance analysis, anomaly detection, and proactive maintenance.* CloudIQ:* CloudIQ is a cloud-based application that offers proactive monitoring and anomaly detection for Dell storage environments, including Unity.* It leverages advanced analytics and machine learning to provide insights into system health, performance trends, and potential issues before they impact operations.* Other Tools:* InsightIQ: Primarily used for monitoring Isilon and PowerScale systems, not Unity.* Unisphere: Provides management and monitoring for Unity but lacks the advanced anomaly detection capabilities of CloudIQ.* ArrayconfigAnalyzer: Used for specific configuration analysis and not for continuous proactive monitoring.* Dell Midrange Storage References:* Dell Unity XT documentation and CloudIQ guides provide comprehensive details on the capabilities and benefits of using CloudIQ for proactive monitoring.* Community forums and support resources from Dell Technologies offer additional insights and user experiences.References:* Dell CloudIQ Overview* Dell Unity XT Documentation* Dell Storage Product Information

Cascade replication refers to the replication of data from one site to another, in a sequential or cascading manner. In the case of Dell Unity XT, cascade replication refers to the asynchronous replication of a file resource from one site (site A) to another (site B), then from site B to another site (site C) and so on. This means that data is replicated from one site to another in an orderly fashion, and each site functions as both a source and a target for replication. This allows for multiple copies of the data to be kept in different locations, providing increased data availability and disaster recovery capabilities. It's important to note that cascade replication can also be used for block resources but is usually asynchronous.

PowerStore Clustering:PowerStore appliances can be clustered to form a single management entity. However, adding different models within the same cluster follows specific guidelines.Cluster Compatibility:PowerStore 1000T and 5000X are different models with potentially different hardware configurations and capabilities.Dell recommends creating a new cluster with the PowerStore 5000X instead of mixing models within an existing cluster to ensure compatibility and optimal performance.Adding Appliances:Using the PowerStore CLI or PowerStore Manager to add appliances within the same model range is common, but mixing models generally requires creating a separate cluster.

* Grab Tool Overview:* The Grab tool is used for collecting diagnostic information from host systems to aid in troubleshooting and performance analysis.* Supported Operating Systems:* The Grab tool can run on a variety of host operating systems, including Windows, UNIX, and ESXi.* This broad support ensures that administrators can gather necessary diagnostic data across different environments.* Other Options:* Linux, macOS, and Tru64: Not all these operating systems are supported by the Grab tool.* OS/390, Windows, and Linux: OS/390 is not commonly supported.* ESXi, ChromeOS, and OS/390: ChromeOS and OS/390 are not typically supported by the Grab tool.* Dell Midrange Storage References:* Dell documentation provides detailed instructions on using the Grab tool and lists the supported operating systems.* Community forums and support resources from Dell Technologies offer additional insights and user experiences.References:* Dell Grab Tool Documentation

The command supportshow is used to gather comprehensive data from Brocade switches. This command collects extensive diagnostic information about the switch, including configuration details, hardware status, and various operational statistics. Here's a step-by-step explanation of the supportshow command:Access the Brocade Switch: Connect to the Brocade switch via SSH or through a console connection.Enter the Command: Type supportshow in the command line interface (CLI) and press Enter.Data Collection: The command will begin collecting a wide array of information from the switch.This includes:Hardware and firmware versionsPort status and configurationsZoning informationError logs and statisticsEnvironmental data (temperature, power supply status, etc.)Output Review: The gathered data is typically extensive and can be used for troubleshooting, performance analysis, and ensuring the switch is operating correctly.Save the Output: The output can be redirected to a file for later review or analysis by technical support teams.

ENS24 Expansion Enclosure is an NVMe expansion enclosure. - The ENS24 uses NVMe over Fabric (NVMe/oF) standards. Delivers an end-to-end NVMe solution. - Slots for 24 2.5-inch, NVMe drives. - Performance equal to the local PCIe NVMe drives with a 10-microsecond delay. - Requires that the base enclosure includes the v2 embedded module and a 100 GbE 2-port card. - Not supported on systems that include SAS expansion enclosures. - Does not support NVMe SCM drives and is not supported with SCM-only base enclosures.

Reference: https://www.delltechnologies.com/en-gb/collaterals/unauth/technical-guides-support- information/products/storage/docu94617.pdf

In Dell Unity XT storage processors, SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) ports are used to move data to and from the backend drives. SAS ports provide a high-speed and reliable connection between the storage processors and the physical drives, ensuring efficient data transfer and access. This connectivity is crucial for maintaining the performance and scalability of the storage system.

The tool used to remediate issues discovered during a site evaluation is ECT (ESRS Configuration Tool).ECT is a diagnostic and remediation tool provided by Dell that assists in configuring and troubleshooting ESRS (Secure Remote Services), which is essential for proactive monitoring and support of Dell EMC systems. ECT helps ensure that any identified issues during site evaluations are addressed effectively.Reference:Dell ESRS Overview

During the preconfigure step of a PowerStore block import migration, network connectivity is set up. This step is crucial for ensuring that the source system can communicate with the PowerStore system, which is necessary for a successful data transfer during the migration process. Here are the detailed steps involved in this phase:* Assess Network Requirements:Evaluate the existing network infrastructure to ensure it meets the requirements for a PowerStore migration. This includes checking the bandwidth, latency, and network topology.* Configure Network Settings:Set up the network settings on both the source and destination systems.This involves configuring IP addresses, subnet masks, gateways, and any other network parameters required for connectivity.* Verify Connectivity:Use network diagnostic tools to verify that the source system can communicate with the PowerStore system. This might involve ping tests, traceroutes, and other connectivity checks.* Secure the Network:Implement necessary security measures to protect the data during migration. This can include setting up firewalls, VPNs, or other security protocols to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.* Establish Data Paths:Create and configure data paths between the source system and the PowerStore system. This ensures that data can be transferred efficiently and without interruption during the migration process.* Test Network Performance:Conduct performance tests to ensure that the network can handle the data transfer load. This helps identify and mitigate any potential bottlenecks that could affect the migration.References:* Dell Technologies PowerStore Documentation* Dell Entry-Level and Mid-Range Storage Community* Dell Storage Products OverviewBy ensuring that network connectivity is properly set up, the preconfigure step lays the foundation for a smooth and successful migration of block data to the PowerStore system.

When the administrator adds 4x 3.84 TB SSD drives to a RAID 5 dynamic pool in a Dell Unity XT380F system, the full capacity of the new drives will be available. Dell Unity XT systems support mixing different drive sizes within a dynamic pool, allowing administrators to expand the storage capacity seamlessly.

https://www.delltechnologies.com/resources/en-us/asset/white-papers/products/storage/h18151- dell-emc-powerstore-data-efficiencies.pdf Deduplication uses algorithms to analyze, perform pattern detection, and attempts to store only a single instance of data. In general deduplication can work at the block, bit-level, or file level. In PowerStore, deduplication works at the block level at 4 KB granularity.

FAST Cache Mechanism:FAST (Fully Automated Storage Tiering) Cache in Dell Unity systems temporarily holds frequently accessed data to improve read and write performance.The data moved to FAST Cache is managed in chunks to optimize storage efficiency and performance.Chunk Size for FAST Cache:Dell Unity systems use a chunk size of 128 KB for data moved to FAST Cache. This size is optimized for balancing performance and storage management overhead.Smaller chunks, such as 32 KB or 64 KB, might increase management overhead, while larger chunks like 256 KB could reduce the granularity of data movement and efficiency.

The minimum requirements for PowerSizer Block workloads include Capacity Growth and Performance.These parameters are essential to ensure that the PowerSizer tool can accurately size and configure the storage system to meet the anticipated data growth and performance demands of the workload.

Dell PowerStore supports media devices that carry a FIPS Type D certification to ensure data security and compliance with Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS). The certified media devices include:* SAS SSD:Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) Solid State Drives are commonly used in enterprise storage solutions for their reliability and performance.* NVMe SSD:Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) Solid State Drives offer high-speed storage access and are optimized for performance.* NVMe SCM:NVMe Storage Class Memory provides a new tier of storage that bridges the gap between DRAM and traditional SSDs, offering both speed and persistence.* NVRAM:Non-Volatile Random Access Memory combines the speed of RAM with the persistence of flash storage, ensuring data is retained even after power loss.These devices are FIPS Type D certified, ensuring they meet stringent security standards for data protection.References:* Dell Technologies PowerStore Documentation* Dell Entry-Level and Mid-Range Storage Community* Dell Storage Products Overview

Reference: https://wuchikin.wordpress.com/2016/11/14/emc-unity-sizer/

SAS Flash 2 drives can be used in a FAST Cache pool configuration for Dell Unity XT solutions. FAST Cache (Fully Automated Storage Tiering Cache) allows frequently accessed data to be moved to high-performance SSDs, improving overall system performance. SAS Flash 2 drives are suitable for this purpose, providing a balance of performance, endurance, and cost. Reference:Dell Unity XT FAST Cache Overview

The assisted migration allows you to move data to a new storage pool with more capacity. This process can be done while the data is still online and accessible to hosts, and it allows you to add or replace drives, expand pools, and move data to a new array without any disruption.

The recommended maximum cable length for PowerStore back-end NVMe cabling to avoid performance issues is 10 meters. This recommendation helps to ensure signal integrity and optimal performance across the NVMe interface, which is critical for maintaining the high throughput and low latency characteristics of NVMe storage.

The minimum number of drives in a RAID 5 dynamic pool is 5. RAID 5 requires at least 3 drives for data striping with parity, but Dell's implementation in Unity systems requires a minimum of 5 drives to ensure optimal performance and reliability.

When connecting Disk Array Enclosures (DAEs) to SAS ports on a Dell Unity XT DPE (Disk Processor Enclosure) with only two ports available on each SP (Storage Processor), the recommended order is DAE 1 to SAS Bus 0, DAE 2 to SAS Bus 1, and DAE 3 to SAS Bus 0. This configuration helps in balancing the load across the available SAS ports, ensuring optimal data flow and performance. Reference:Dell Unity XT Configuration Guide

Reference: https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-us/products/storage/industry- market/h16289-dell_emc_unity-dynamic_pools.pdf

When sizing a Dell Unity XT 480F using the System Design method, you can select one of four workload types and Drive count and RAID level. This workload type selection will take into account the specific IOPS and capacity requirements of the environment. The drive count and RAID level will determine the overall capacity and level of data protection required.

Both Dell PowerStore T and Dell PowerStore X support the 10 GbE BaseT optional I/O module card type. This card provides 10 Gbps Ethernet connectivity and can be used to connect the storage array to a network. The other options are not supported by both models. 25 GbE and 32 Gb Fibre Channel are generally faster and used for high-performance systems, while 8 Gb Fibre Channel is an older standard, and not supported by Dell PowerStore T and Dell PowerStore X.

For a customer preparing for a data center maintenance window and wanting to test their disaster recovery plan, the recommended PowerStore Manager replication option is a planned failover from the source site. This process involves initiating the failover from the source site, ensuring a controlled transition of applications and services to the disaster recovery site. Planned failover allows for testing the disaster recovery plan while maintaining data integrity. Reference:Dell PowerStore Replication Best Practices

A migration import allows data to be transferred from an existing storage platform to a Dell PowerStore cluster. The platforms that support migration import to a Dell PowerStore cluster include Unity, VNX2, Dell EqualLogic PS series and Dell Compellent SC Series. These platforms are EMC storage systems, which are now owned by Dell Technologies.

When designing a Metro Volume, placing the witness at a third site is crucial to avoid unnecessary storage and compute resource usage. The witness helps in maintaining quorum and ensuring the consistency of the Metro Volume in case of a site failure. Here's how it works:* Witness at Third Site:Placing the witness at a separate, third site ensures that it can independently verify the status of the primary and secondary sites, maintaining high availability and failover capabilities without consuming significant resources.* Avoids Resource Usage:By offloading the witness function to a third site, the primary and secondary sites can focus their resources on storage and compute tasks without the overhead of managing quorum.References:* Dell Technologies Metro Volume Configuration Guide* Dell Entry-Level and Mid-Range Storage Community

* Dell Unity XT offers both synchronous and asynchronous replication to protect data and ensure business continuity.* Synchronous replication is used for zero RPO, ensuring no data loss, but it is typically limited to shorter distances due to latency concerns.* Asynchronous replication is suitable for longer distances and provides near real-time data protection with a minimal RPO.* Distance Considerations:* The distance between Boston and Cambridge (8 km) is suitable for synchronous replication, providing zero RPO.* The distance between Boston and New York (342 km) is better suited for asynchronous replication due to latency, ensuring data recovery with a minimal RPO, such as 15 minutes.* Optimal Replication Strategy:* Synchronous replication from Boston to Cambridge ensures zero RPO for critical data protection.* Asynchronous replication from Boston to New York provides additional data protection with a15-minute RPO, suitable for longer-distance disaster recovery.* Dell Midrange Storage References:* Dell Unity XT documentation and best practices provide detailed guidelines on configuring synchronous and asynchronous replication.* Community forums and support resources from Dell Technologies offer insights into real-world implementation strategies.References:* Dell Unity XT Replication Guide* Dell Community on Data Protection

The Dell PowerStore appliance provides two methods to migrate storage resources within the same cluster: Assisted Migration and Volume Motion.Assisted Migration: This method allows the administrator to manually initiate and control the migration process, and it allows for the migration of individual resources such as LUNs, file systems and snapshots.Volume Motion: This method allows the administrator to move a LUN or file system from one storage pool to another on the same PowerStore appliance or within the same cluster. This is done without any disruption to the hosts accessing the data and it can be automated with the use of policies. It's important to note that the Live Migrate and Migrate options are not available to migrate storage resources within the same cluster in Dell PowerStore.

Reference: https://www.delltechnologies.com/en-us/collaterals/unauth/white- papers/products/storage/h15093-dell-emc-unity-best-practices-guide.pdf

DataDobi is a tool that can be used to migrate file data for Windows hosts from a legacy VNX array to a new Dell Unity XT array. DataDobi offers efficient and reliable data migration capabilities, ensuring minimal downtime and data integrity during the migration process.

This option provides the smallest drive configuration possible for both the 3000T and 9000T models, and allows for single drive upgrades, which is more flexible for the customer.

"Whether gathering information or designing a system, it is important to understand two commonly used terms: Latency and queue depth"

The reason there is such a large range in the number of IOPS delivered by SSDs is the IOPS are truly dependent on the type of traffic the SC Series was designed to handle. The two biggest factors that will determine IOPS in an SSD environment are block size of the application and overall throughput. Reference: https://downloads.dell.com/manuals/common/sc-series- performance-availability-best-practices-dell-emc-4024-bp-sc_en-us.pdf

"As a standard, tier 3 drives should encompass a minimum of 20% system IOPS potential."

The tool that a Solution Architect must use to check the compatibility of a new storage solution with an existing infrastructure is E-Lab Navigator. E-Lab Navigator is a comprehensive online database provided by Dell that includes compatibility information for various hardware and software configurations. It helps ensure that new storage solutions are compatible with existing infrastructure, reducing the risk of integration issues.Reference:Dell E-Lab Navigator Overview

A customer has two Dell Unity arrays, a Dell Unity 550F, and a Dell Unity XT 480. They are undergoing a network refresh and would like to modernize to a 25 GbE network. The customer has asked the technical architect about adding 25 GbE network cards to the Unity systems. Both systems have free slots.

Dell PowerStore allows you to create a NAS file sharing environment for several clients by configuring multiprotocol access to the required file system. This means that the same file system can be accessed by both Linux and Windows clients using either the NFS or SMB protocols. This can be achieved by creating a file system, and configuring it to allow access using both the NFS and SMB protocols. Once the file system is set up, you can assign permissions and share the file system with the appropriate clients. This way, the clients will be able to access the same data simultaneously, regardless of whether they are running Linux or Windows and which protocol they are using. It's not necessary to replicate data for access by different client types, it would be an extra step that would consume more resources and would be unnecessary

Reference: https://www.delltechnologies.com/resources/en-us/asset/white- papers/products/storage/h18157-dell-emc-powerstore-clustering-high-availability.pdf

The maximum number of data drives that can be put in to a Dell PowerStore 1000T base enclosure is 21. The Dell PowerStore 1000T has a 2U form factor, and it supports a maximum of21 drives in the base enclosure. The drives can be either SAS or NVMe, and it's important to keep in mind that the maximum capacity of the system depends on the type of drives that are used. It's important to note that the PowerStore 1000T supports up to 2 expansion shelves that can hold an additional 21 drives each, for a maximum of 63 drives in total. Also, the PowerStore1000T supports up to 4 NVRAM modules that are used to cache metadata and improve performance.

Reference: https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-gb/products/storage/industry- market/h15093-dell_emc_unity-best_practices_guide.pdf

* Connecting ESXi Hosts to PowerStore:* When connecting ESXi hosts to PowerStore, it is crucial to follow best practices to ensure optimal performance and reliability.* Round Robin Multipathing:* Dell recommends configuring Round Robin Multipathing with an IOPS limit of 1024. This setting helps balance the load across multiple paths, preventing any single path from becoming a bottleneck and improving overall performance.* Other Options:* DelayedACK: Generally not recommended for iSCSI configurations due to potential performance issues.* Two NAS Servers for vVol Datastores: Not a standard recommendation for general PowerStore-ESXi connectivity.* Default 8k host I/O size for NFS: Not a specific recommendation for this context.* Dell Midrange Storage References:* Dell PowerStore documentation and VMware integration guides provide detailed best practices for connecting ESXi hosts, including multipathing configurations.References:* Dell PowerStore Best Practices Guide* Dell Community on PowerStore and VMware

16 Gb Fibre Channel (FC) front-end port connectivity on Dell Unity XT DPE can support up to 30,000 IOPS per port and up to 1,700 MB/s. This level of performance makes it suitable for high-demand enterprise applications that require robust and fast storage networking.

An install of the PowerStore ImportKIT is required on the hosts to support import to PowerStore.Reference: https://docplayer.net/188347142-Dell-emc-powerstore-importing-external-storage-to- powerstore-guide.html

In a scenario where a customer needs to design a DR site with a 15-minute RPO using storage-based asynchronous replication, creating a single protection policy assigned to 30 volumes with a five-minute shift between each volume is the most stable design. This approach ensures that the replication load is evenly distributed over time, minimizing the impact on storage performance.

Reference: https://advance.biz-tech-insights.com/whitepaper/h15387-cloudiq-top-reasons.pdf

The issue arises because File Operations were entered into the PowerSizer tool, but MiB/s (Megabytes per second) was not entered. This causes the tool to translate File Operations into IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) for the cluster and appliance summary details, but since MiB/s was not entered, it does not impact the summary throughput (MiB/s). Here's the detailed explanation:* File Operations Entry:When file operations are entered, the tool calculates the corresponding IOPS to summarize the workload's impact on the system.* MiB/s Entry Missing:If the MiB/s value is not provided, the tool cannot incorporate this metric into the overall summary, leading to a mismatch where IOPS are calculated but do not affect the MiB/s summary.References:* Dell Technologies PowerSizer Tool Documentation* Dell Entry-Level and Mid-Range Storage Community

"Volume and Volume Group Snapshots: Snapshots cannot be mapped to a host. To view the contents of a snapshot, you must first clone the snapshot then map the clone to a host."

Higher capacity drives in a Dell Unity All Flash array provide the benefit of using less physical space. This is particularly advantageous in data centers where space is at a premium. By utilizing higher capacity drives, more storage capacity can be achieved within the same physical footprint, leading to greater efficiency and potential cost savings. Here's why higher capacity drives are beneficial:* Space Efficiency:Higher capacity drives allow for more data to be stored in fewer drives, conserving rack space.* Cost Savings:Fewer drives can reduce power and cooling requirements, leading to operational cost savings.* Scalability:Higher capacity drives enable easier scalability as storage needs grow, without requiring additional physical space.References:* Dell Technologies Unity All Flash Array Benefits* Dell Entry-Level and Mid-Range Storage Community

In Dell Unity XT storage processors, SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) ports are used to move data to and from the backend drives. SAS ports provide a high-speed and reliable connection between the storage processors and the physical drives, ensuring efficient data transfer and access. This connectivity is crucial for maintaining the performance and scalability of the storage system. Reference:Dell Unity XT Architecture

Reference: https://downloads.dell.com/manuals/common/sc-series-performance-availability-best- practices-dell-emc-4024-bp-sc_en-us.pdf (15)

* Understanding Storage Performance Saturation:* In the Configurations tab of the PowerStore sizing tool, the Storage Performance Saturation field provides crucial information about the overall performance demand placed on the storage solution.* Multi-Appliance Solution Context:* When working with a multi-appliance PowerStore solution, it is important to assess the combined performance demands of all workloads across the appliances.* Aggregate of All Workloads:* The Storage Performance Saturation field shows the aggregate performance demand of all workloads combined. This helps in determining if the current configuration can handle the cumulative IOPS and throughput requirements or if additional resources are needed.* Dell Midrange Storage References:* Dell Technologies documentation on PowerStore and its sizing tools provide detailed guidelines on how to interpret and utilize performance metrics, including the Storage Performance Saturation field.References:* Dell PowerStore Sizing Guide* Dell Community on PowerStore Configurations

Access-based enumeration is the attribute that must be used at the share level to restrict the share content visibility of a Dell Unity file system based on the access rights. Access-based Enumeration (ABE) is a feature that allows you to hide files and folders from users who do not have the necessary permissions to access them. When ABE is enabled, users only see the files and folders that they have permission to access. This helps to prevent users from accidentally accessing data that they should not have access to, and it helps to maintain the security and integrity of the data on the file system.

A storage container is used to present vVol storage from a PowerStore cluster to vSphere.vSphere mounts the storage container as a vVol datastore and makes it available for VM storage.When a PowerStore cluster is used to provide VM storage, user VMs should be provisioned on the vVol datastores. The default storage container is mounted automatically on the nodes of the cluster.

For a PowerStore 3200T running block workloads, the Sizer tool takes into consideration several factors to equate the performance for each workload. The two main options are:* Throughput:This refers to the amount of data that can be processed by the system in a given period. It is a critical measure of the storage system's capability to handle large volumes of data efficiently.* Response Time:This metric measures the time taken to complete an I/O operation from the moment it is initiated. It is essential for assessing the performance of latency-sensitive applications.These parameters help ensure that the storage solution is designed to meet the performance requirements of the workload, balancing between high throughput and low response times.References:* Dell Technologies PowerStore Sizer Tool Documentation

* Understanding DRR (Data Reduction Ratio):* The Data Reduction Ratio (DRR) is a measure used in storage solutions to determine the efficiency of data reduction technologies such as deduplication and compression.* In NVMe-based systems like PowerStore, achieving an optimal DRR is crucial for balancing capacity and performance.* Sizing PowerStore Solutions:* When sizing a PowerStore solution, it's essential to align the provided capacity and performance (IOPS) with the customer's requirements.* If the recommended solution vastly exceeds the requested capacity (10 times more in this case), it indicates an overly conservative DRR assumption.* Recommended Action:* The architect should adjust the DRR to reflect a more accurate estimate that aligns with the customer's actual data reduction potential.* This adjustment ensures that the solution is cost-effective and meets the performance criteria without excessive over-provisioning.* Dell Midrange Storage References:* Dell Technologies documentation on PowerStore solutions provides detailed guidelines on DRR configurations and best practices.* Resources include sizing tools, system editor settings, and real-world case studies that illustrate appropriate DRR adjustments.References:* Dell PowerStore Overview* Dell Community on Midrange Storage* Dell Storage Product Information

Recovery Point ObjectiveWhen you set up an asynchronous replication session, you can configureautomatic synchronization based on the RPO. You can specify an RPO from a minimum of 5 minutes up to a maximum of 1440 minutes (24 htours).

https://delltechnologies.techdata.nl/app/uploads/2019/02/dell-emc-unity-xt-selling-guide.pdf

7% is the recommended minimum amount of Flash that a technical architect should specify when designing a Dell Unity XT 480 using the System Designer option of Sizer. This is because, Unity XT storage systems require a certain amount of flash storage to handle system-wide functions such as metadata, snapshots and other storage services.

When planning and sizing a Midrange storage solution, two key guidelines for optimal performance are to consolidate workloads and design for resilience. Consolidating workloads helps in maximizing the utilization of storage resources, reducing overhead, and improving performance. Designing for resilience ensures that the storage solution can handle failures and continue to operate effectively, maintaining data availability and performance. These practices are critical for achieving reliable and efficient storage solutions. Reference:Dell Midrange Storage Planning Guide

The Dell PowerStore supports a variety of media devices, including NVMe SCM, NVMe SSD, SAS SSD, SAS HDD, and NVRAM. Of these, NVMe SCM, NVMe SSD, and SAS SSD carry a FIPS Type D certification. This certification is a Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) certification that indicates that the device has passed a set of security standards established by the US government for use in sensitive, but unclassified data.

Dell EMC Unity OE version 5.0, asynchronously replicated file resources can also be configured in advanced replication topologies. This allows for configurations such as fan-out and cascading replication at the granularity of a NAS Server and its associated file resources. Reference:https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-us/products/storage/industry-market/h17827-dell-emc- unity-operating-environment.pdf

"When positioning the 380 and 380F, keep in mind that they are not NVMe-ready and will not be upgradeable to support NMVe in the future.".

* SSD Wear Alerts in Unity XT:* Dell Unity XT systems monitor SSD wear and issue alerts at various intervals (180, 90, 60, and 30 days) before the predicted end of life.* Action at 30 Days:* At the 30-day alert, the system automatically initiates Proactive Copy Operations to copy data from the wearing SSD to a spare drive, ensuring data integrity and continuity.* Proactive Copy Operations:* This proactive measure helps prevent data loss and maintains system performance by preparing for SSD replacement in advance.* Dell Midrange Storage References:* Dell Unity XT documentation provides detailed guidelines on SSD wear monitoring and the associated proactive measures.* Community forums and support resources from Dell Technologies offer additional insights into system maintenance and proactive data protection.References:* Dell Unity XT SSD Wear Guide* Dell Community on Storage Maintenance

(Converged Network Adapter for iSCSI) is the front-end protocol card in Dell Unity XT 380 that offloads processing to save CPU cycles for other operations. It enables the Unity XT 380 to handle iSCSI traffic, which reduces the workload on the host server's CPU and improves overall system performance.

Based on the customer's monthly data access profile, where block data is accessed infrequently but frequently during month-end reporting, the technical architect should recommend a hybrid solution using FAST VP and FAST Cache. FAST VP (Fully Automated Storage Tiering for Virtual Pools) is a feature that automatically tiers data across different types of storage media based on access patterns. With FAST VP, frequently accessed data will be automatically moved to faster storage media such as flash, while infrequently accessed data will be moved to slower, less expensive storage media such as disk. FAST Cache is a feature that increases the performance of Unity storage systems by caching frequently accessed data on flash storage. With this hybrid solution, the customer will have the best of both worlds:high-performance flash storage for frequently accessed data, and lower-cost disk storage for infrequently accessed data. This will help the customer to improve performance during month-end reporting and save costs for infrequently accessed data. It's important to note that this design should be evaluated based on the specific requirements, workloads and expected growth of the customer.

My Work Environmental Reports" typically cover essential configuration details relevant to Dell storage solutions, including switch configuration and host configuration. These reports are designed to ensure that the environment is set up correctly for optimal performance and interoperability with Dell storage products.

Deduplication is a feature that reduces storage capacity usage by eliminating duplicate data.PowerStore and Unity both have deduplication function, but one key difference is the size of the deduplication block. PowerStore uses a smaller block size which allows for a higher level of granularity and more efficient deduplication. On the other hand, Unity uses a larger block size which is less granular, but it is still efficient for large sequential data workloads.

The minimum recommended Flash capacity is at least 5% of the pool capacity.Reference: https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-pk/000010691/dell-emc-unity-difference- between-fast-cache-and-fast-vp-configurations-user-correctable

Reference: https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-us/products/storage/industry- market/h18157-dell-emc-powerstore-clustering-high-availability.pdf

DELL PDF document about dynamic pools: h16289-dell_emc_unity-dynamic_pools.pdf Page 20-21. The smallest RAID 5 stripe width the system supports is a 4+1. The smallest dynamic pool created with the RAID 5 4+1 configuration is 6 drives. The minimum drive count includes the number of drives specified in the stripe width, plus the hot spare capacity. The hot spare capacity is selected by the user at pool creation, and can either be set to 1 or 2 drives for every 32 drives in the pool.

This provides improved security and encryption traffic performance for SMB3 by changing the encryption algorithm from AES-CCM-128 to AESGCM-128.Page 40: https://www.delltechnologies.com/en-zm/collaterals/unauth/white- papers/products/storage/h15572-dell-emc-unity-nas-capabilities.pdf

Explanation: https://www.dell.com/community/VNX/FAST-VP/td-p/6953079

Dell is providing native support of NVMe to the midrange of the market, which improves performance. Reference: https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/dell-emc/dell-launches-new- midrange-all-flash-enterprise-storage-arrays

Dell Unity XT MetroSync replication topology is a multi-site replication solution that allows you to replicate data synchronously between two or more Unity XT systems. In this topology, a source file resource is replicated synchronously from Site A to Site B, and also replicated synchronously from Site A to Site C; This means that data is written to the primary site and immediately replicated to the secondary site, ensuring that both sites have an exact copy of the data at all times. This type of topology is useful in cases where data loss is not acceptable and a zero RPO is needed. This topology ensures that the data is fully protected and that the environment is highly available, as in case of a primary site failure, the secondary site can take over.

* Understanding Write-Order-Consistency:* Write-order-consistency ensures that all writes are completed in a specific order to maintain data integrity, particularly important for applications that rely on consistent data states across multiple volumes.* Consistency Groups in PowerStore:* Consistency Groups in Dell PowerStore allow multiple volumes to be managed together as a single entity.* When snapshots are taken of a Consistency Group, all member volumes are captured simultaneously with write-order-consistency, ensuring data integrity across the group.* Other Options:* Volume Groups: Typically used to group volumes for management purposes but do not ensure write-order-consistency for snapshots.* Snapshot Groups: Focus on managing snapshots but without the guaranteed consistency across multiple volumes.* Data Groups: Not a feature in Dell PowerStore specific to this requirement.* Dell Midrange Storage References:* Dell PowerStore documentation provides detailed guidelines on using Consistency Groups for applications requiring write-order-consistent snapshots.* Additional resources from Dell Technologies' support and community forums further validate this feature.References:* Dell PowerStore Consistency Groups* Dell Community on PowerStore Features

* Understanding CPU Utilization Levels:* Dell Unity XT systems categorize CPU utilization to help administrators assess the performance and health of their storage systems.* Utilization levels typically include categories like low, normal, high, and extremely high to simplify performance monitoring.* CPU Utilization in Dell Unity XT:* According to Dell Unity XT documentation, CPU utilization percentages are used to determine the performance state of the system.* A CPU utilization of 68% is considered high but not critical. This is because the system is handling a significant load but still within operational parameters.* Operational Thresholds:* Low Utilization: Below 30%* Normal Utilization: 30% - 60%* High Utilization: 60% - 80%* Extremely High Utilization: Above 80%* Given these thresholds, 68% falls into the "High Utilization" category.* Dell Midrange Storage References:* Dell Technologies Partner Program documentation on midrange storage provides detailed metrics and thresholds for system performance. This information is crucial for administrators to make informed decisions about system capacity and performance tuning.* Additional resources on Dell's community forums and official product pages for entry-level and midrange storage also support these utilization thresholds.By categorizing CPU utilization as "High" at 68%, administrators can take necessary actions to optimize system performance or plan for additional capacity if needed.References:* Dell Unity XT Overview* Dell Entry-Level and Mid-Range Community* Dell Storage Products

Reference: https://docplayer.net/77745477-Dell-emc-unity-snapshots-and-thin-clones.html

Reference: https://muj.autocont.cz/Content/dellweb/pdf/Dell-EMX-Unity-XT- prezentace.pdf?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

When designing a Dell Unity XT 480 using the System Designer option of Sizer, the recommended minimum amount of Flash to specify is 15%. This ensures that there is sufficient flash capacity to handle performance-intensive workloads and provides a good balance between performance and cost. Flash storage is crucial for achieving high IOPS and low latency in the storage system. Reference:Dell Unity XT Sizing Guide

It's important to check if more NVRAM is needed before adding new capacity to ensure that the system has enough resources to handle the increased workload. The Dell PowerStore Manager UI can provide information on the current NVRAM usage and capacity, and can also be used to order additional NVRAM if needed.

* Dynamic Pool Configuration with RAID 5:* RAID 5 (4+1) protection involves 4 data drives and 1 parity drive.* Minimum Drive Count:* For creating a dynamic pool with RAID 5 (4+1), the configuration must include at least 2 RAID 5 (4+1) groups to ensure redundancy and performance.* The minimum drive count for this setup would be 2 * (4 + 1) + 1 (hot spare) = 11 drives.* RAID 5 Requirements:* This configuration ensures that the dynamic pool has enough drives to maintain performance and data protection according to Dell's best practices.* Dell Midrange Storage References:* Dell Unity XT documentation provides detailed guidelines on RAID configurations and the minimum drive requirements for dynamic pools.* Community forums and support resources from Dell Technologies offer insights into best practices for configuring RAID and dynamic pools.References:* Dell Unity XT RAID Configuration Guide* Dell Community on Storage Configurations

(Input/Output Operations Per Second) is a key consideration when sizing a Dell EMC SC Series system for capacity. IOPS is a measure of the performance of a storage system, and a higher number of IOPS generally indicates better performance. Other factors to consider would be the number of disk drives, RAID configuration, and storage capacity required for the specific use case.

Assisted migration -In the background, the system periodically monitors storage resource utilization across the appliances. Migration recommendations are generated based on factors such as drive wear, appliance capacity, and health. If you accept a migration recommendation, a migration session gets automatically created.Reference: https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-pk/powerstore-1000t/pwrstr-cfg- vols/migrate-storage-resources-to-another-appliance?guid=guid-2c5f6014-60e4-43ee-928f- b537c59da869=en-us

The Dell Unity XT 380F has a default spare space allocation of 4% of the total number of drives in a dynamic pool. So with 90x 1.92 TB SSDs, 4 drives will be allocated as spare space. These spare drives are used to automatically replace a failed drive, ensuring data availability and protection.

Table 3. Dell EMC Unity X80/F Model ComparisonReference: https://www.delltechnologies.com/asset/en-us/products/storage/industry- market/h17782-dell-emc-unity-xt-introduction-to-the-platform.pdf