D-XTR-DY-A-24 Dell XtremIO Deploy Achievement Questions and Answers

XtremIO management can be performed through the XtremIO Management Server (XMS). The virtual XMS is a scalable solution that can manage multiple X-Brick clusters, specifically up to four. This allows for centralized management of the storage infrastructure, providing flexibility and efficiency. The capability of managing up to four clusters with a virtual XMS makes it a versatile tool for handling large storage environments.

References:

Dell XtremIO Deployment and Learning Course Materials

XtremIO Management and Configuration Guide

1.

For a customer with an 80 TB database that will not benefit from compression and deduplication, and with no projected future growth, the minimum recommended XtremIO X1 offering would be the one that provides at least 80 TB of raw storage capacity.

Based on the options provided:

A. 20 TB 4 X-Brick model

B. 40 TB 4 X-Brick model

C. 10 TB 8 X-Brick model

D. 20 TB 6 X-Brick model

The most suitable option that meets the requirement of providing at least 80 TB of raw storage capacity would be B. 40 TB 4 X-Brick model. This is because each X-Brick in the XtremIO X1 system contributes to the total raw storage capacity, and with a 4 X-Brick model, each X-Brick would need to provide at least 20 TB to meet the 80 TB requirement. Since the 40 TB 4 X-Brick model offers 40 TB per X-Brick, it would exceed the required capacity, ensuring that the customer’s needs are met without any shortfall.

The correct sequence of steps to create a Windows volume backup using the Microsoft VSS Framework with an XtremIO cluster is as follows:

Requestor interacts with the VSS service to start the backup.

VSS service sends a Freeze request to the Writer.

Provider creates an XVC of the file system and exposes the volume to the host.

VSS service sends a Thaw request to the Writer.

Requestor uses the XVC to back up the content of the volume.

The Requestor, typically a backup application, initiates the process by interacting with Microsoft’s Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to commence a snapshot backup.

The VSS service then issues a Freeze request to its Writers, which are responsible for ensuring data consistency for applications during backups.

An XtremIO Provider, which interfaces between the XtremIO storage and VSS, creates an XtremIO Virtual Copy (XVC) of the file system. This copy is then made accessible to the host system for backup purposes.

After the XVC is created, the VSS sends a Thaw request to the Writers, allowing them to resume normal operations while maintaining data integrity.

Finally, the Requestor uses the XVC to back up the content of the volume, ensuring a consistent and recoverable backup is made.

Please note that this sequence is based on the standard operation of Microsoft VSS with storage systems like XtremIO and should be verified against the most current Dell XtremIO Deploy Achievement documentation for any updates or specific instructions related to your environment.

Failed Cluster Creation: When a cluster creation fails, logs need to be collected for troubleshooting.

Debug Command: Running the create-debug-info debug-info-name=initial setup command helps in collecting the necessary logs for analysis.

Log Bundle Collection: This command gathers all relevant information needed to diagnose and fix the cluster creation issue.

References:

Dell XtremIO Command Reference Guide

Dell XtremIO Troubleshooting Guide

Power Requirements for XtremIO X1 Cluster: Each X-Brick in an XtremIO X1 cluster has its own power distribution units (PDUs) to ensure redundancy and reliability.

Calculation for Four X-Brick Cluster:

Each X-Brick has 2 storage controllers, each with its own PDU.

Therefore, 1 X-Brick requires 2 PDUs.

For a four X-Brick configuration: 4 X-Bricks * 2 PDUs per X-Brick = 8 PDUs.

Ensuring Adequate Power Supply: Connecting 8 PDUs to an electrical source ensures that all storage controllers in the cluster are powered reliably.

References:

Dell XtremIO X1 Installation Guide

XtremIO User Guide

Dell XtremIO Deployment Services

Understanding XtremIO XMS Requirements: The XtremIO Management Server (XMS) is a dedicated server that manages one or more XtremIO clusters. Each XMS can manage multiple clusters, but there are limitations depending on the software version.

Software Version Compatibility:

XtremIO Software 4.0.4-41: This version can manage multiple clusters with a single XMS server.

XtremIO Software 3.0.3-11: This version has more stringent requirements and typically requires a separate XMS server for each cluster due to its older architecture and limitations.

Cluster Configuration:

For the two clusters running 4.0.4-41, a single XMS server can manage both.

For the two clusters running 3.0.3-11, each cluster will require its own XMS server.

Calculation of Minimum XMS Servers:

1 XMS server for the two clusters with software version 4.0.4-41.

2 XMS servers for the two clusters with software version 3.0.3-11.

Therefore, the total minimum number of XMS servers required = 1 (for 4.0.4-41) + 2 (for 3.0.3-11) = 3.

References:

Dell XtremIO Deployment Guide

XtremIO Management Server (XMS) Documentation

Dell XtremIO Deployment Services

The Dell XtremIO Deploy Achievement documents specify different numbers for the maximum volumes in various contexts. However, for the XtremIO Consistency Group, the supported and QA certified number of volumes is 512. This is based on the authoritative information provided in the official release notes and support documents from Dell. It’s important to note that while there may be higher numbers mentioned in some technical documents or API responses, such as 60000 or 32000, these are either not recommended or pertain to different aspects of the XtremIO system, not specifically to the Consistency Group1.

Before presenting XtremIO volumes to a new Linux host, it is recommended to disable the I/O elevators. This step is crucial for optimizing performance and ensuring that the storage system works efficiently with the host’s operating system.

The I/O elevator is a Linux kernel feature that controls the order in which I/O operations are submitted to storage devices. It’s designed to optimize the way the Linux kernel handles write and read requests. However, in the context of high-performance storage systems like XtremIO, the default I/O scheduling might not be optimal. Disabling the I/O elevators allows the XtremIO storage system to manage the I/O requests more efficiently, leveraging its built-in capabilities for performance optimization.

This information is corroborated by the Official Dell XtremIO Deploy Achievement document, which outlines the best practices for configuring XtremIO systems in various environments, including Linux hosts1.

In an Oracle environment integrated with XtremIO, it is a best practice to increase the queue depth and execution throttle to the maximum values supported by the HBA (Host Bus Adapter) drivers. This configuration helps to optimize the performance by allowing more I/O operations to be processed simultaneously, which is crucial for handling the demanding workloads typically associated with Oracle databases. References := Dell Deployment Services

Power Connectors for XtremIO X2 Dual X-Brick Configuration: Each X-Brick typically requires multiple power connections for redundancy and reliability. A dual X-Brick configuration without a physical XMS would need to account for these requirements.

Calculation:

Each X-Brick has 2 storage controllers, each requiring 2 power connections, totaling 4 power connections per X-Brick.

For a dual X-Brick configuration: 4 power connections per X-Brick * 2 X-Bricks = 8 power connections.

Each DAE (Disk Array Enclosure) typically requires 2 power connections. In a dual X-Brick setup, there are 4 DAEs, totaling 8 power connections.

Total power connections: 8 (for X-Bricks) + 8 (for DAEs) = 16 power connections.

References:

Dell XtremIO X2 Installation Guide

XtremIO User Guide

Dell XtremIO Deployment Services

The XtremIO Management Server (XMS) requires DNS configuration to resolve Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDN) used in ESRS (Electronic Support Services) configurations. If the DNS is not configured on the XMS, it will not be able to resolve the ESRS FQDN, leading to a failure in connecting home. Configuring DNS on the XMS ensures that all network addresses, including the ESRS server, can be resolved correctly.

References:

Dell XtremIO Deployment and Learning Course Materials

XtremIO X2 Configuration Guide

Cable Management: Proper cable management is crucial for maintaining an organized and efficient data center environment.

Rack Units: For an XtremIO X2-R four X-Brick cluster, it is recommended to allocate 6U for the cable management ducts.

Space Allocation: This ensures that there is enough space to manage and organize cables without causing congestion or interfering with airflow.

References:

Dell XtremIO Hardware Installation Guide

Dell XtremIO Rack and Cable Management Documentation

Understanding Execution Throttle: The Execution Throttle setting controls the maximum number of concurrent I/O operations that can be sent from a host to a storage array. This setting is crucial for optimizing performance and preventing overloading of the storage array.

QLogic Fibre Channel HBAs: QLogic Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) are used for connecting servers to Fibre Channel storage networks. The recommended settings for these HBAs can significantly impact the performance and reliability of the storage network.

Best Practices for XtremIO and VMware:

According to best practices for connecting VMware clusters to XtremIO arrays, especially when using QLogic Fibre Channel HBAs, the Execution Throttle value is set to optimize performance.

The recommended value for the Execution Throttle setting for QLogic HBAs in a VMware environment connected to an XtremIO array is 65535. This value helps ensure that the host can handle a high number of I/O operations efficiently without overwhelming the storage array.

References:

Dell XtremIO Best Practices Guide for VMware

QLogic HBA Configuration and Performance Tuning Guides

Dell XtremIO Deployment Services

VMware and XtremIO Integration Documentation.

 Install the XMS Server

 Install the Storage Controllers

 Initialize the Cluster Services

 Configure ESRS

 Generate an XtremIO Log Bundle

Install the XMS Server: The XtremIO Management Server (XMS) must be installed first, as it is the central management point for the XtremIO storage array.

Install the Storage Controllers: After setting up the XMS, the next step is to install the storage controllers, which are the main components of the XtremIO array responsible for handling data operations.

Initialize the Cluster Services: Once the storage controllers are installed, you need to initialize the cluster services to configure and prepare the storage array for operation.

Configure ESRS (EMC Secure Remote Services): After the cluster services are initialized, configure ESRS for remote support and monitoring, ensuring that the system can be supported remotely by Dell EMC.

Generate an XtremIO Log Bundle: Finally, generate an XtremIO log bundle for initial diagnostics and baseline information. This step ensures that all necessary logs are collected and can be reviewed if needed.

References:

Dell XtremIO X1 Storage Array Software Installation and Upgrade Guide

Dell XtremIO Deployment Services

XtremIO X1 User and Maintenance Guide

The delay in the quick formatting process of a 2 TB LUN from an XtremIO storage array when installing a new Microsoft Windows 2012 host is likely caused by the UNMAP feature being enabled. The UNMAP command is part of the SCSI thin provisioning set, which allows the host to inform the storage array which blocks are no longer in use and can be reclaimed. When UNMAP is enabled, the quick format process may take longer because the storage array needs to process these UNMAP commands and perform the necessary space reclamation tasks1.

It’s important to note that while UNMAP can improve storage efficiency, it can also introduce overhead during operations like formatting, which can lead to delays. For detailed procedures and best practices, it is recommended to consult the Official Dell XtremIO Deploy Achievement document or reach out to Dell support for the most accurate guidance.