2 questions on Symmetrix

1. Symmetrix only contains storage disks? How is the management done.
Does it have OS of its own? Does it have a file system, if not then how
is the storage managed.

2. Connectrix connects servers with the Symmetrix machine. Is all logic
in the Connectrix which specifies which disk to access for the
corresponding server (say, DB server). How does it map the storage of
the data of the DB server with the disk in Symmetrix.

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

You're really into the whole EMC thing, aren't you?  ;)

On 14 Feb 2006 20:05:55 -0800, sharadjain@gmail.com wrote:

>1. Symmetrix only contains storage disks? How is the management done.
>Does it have OS of its own? Does it have a file system, if not then how
>is the storage managed.

Management can be performed using a variety of methods.

EMC used to prefer that you don't do any management on a Symmetrix...
it gives the Customer Engineer something to do, and they can bill you
for it.  The Symmetrix has a laptop permanently connected it, known as
the Service Processor (SVP).  The Customer Engineer is the only person
who should use this device.

EMC have become a little more enlightened towards allowing customers
to manage their own storage and there are now a range of tools
available to manage a Symm.

In most day-to-day instances you'd use EMC Control Center (ECC) to
monitor the Symm and your SAN environment.  There are other tools such
as Symmetrix Manager and Symmetrix Optimizer that provide direct
control over the Symm.  Even though these can be standalone tools they
are usually used in combination with ECC.

ECC will give you a single console of your entire storage environment.

To answer your other questions...

- Yes, the Symm has an operating system.  It's called Enginuity.  It's
more akin to firmware, but it's an OS.

- No, the Symm does not have a file system and it doesn't need one.
It's purely a disk array.  It provides and manages storage.  You carve
up the disk the way you want it and then present it your your hosts.
Your host (server - and/or Celerra in your case) is the responsible
for creating any file systems you need.

>2. Connectrix connects servers with the Symmetrix machine. Is all logic
>in the Connectrix which specifies which disk to access for the
>corresponding server (say, DB server). How does it map the storage of
>the data of the DB server with the disk in Symmetrix.

This is where things get complex...

Volumes created on the Symmetrix are presented only to certain ports -
Fibre Channel (most commonly) or otherwise.

Your Connectrix switches can control access to the ports in the
switch.  You'd typically use this to only present the correct ports to
your servers - but it's only part of the solution.

You also need to configure your hosts HBA to tell it what to do with
the volumes presented to it.  This is especially important in
multi-path configurations where it will see the same volume over
multiple paths.  This can confuse a server, in a really bad way, if
not configured correctly.

So... the Connectrix isn't a one-stop-shop for all your access
control.  You have to have an understanding of the big picture and
design the appropriate architecture from the beginning.  Get it wrong
here and it can end up as a disaster!

You are talking about very high-end storage products, and if you'll
forgive me, you don't seem to know very much about them.  That
concerns me.

Perhaps you'd like to tell us what you are doing and why.  The group
may be able to advise you better that way.

HVB

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

Hi,

Symmetrix not only contain Disk, It has Front end director, Disk
Director, Global Memory card. All the internal hardware managed by
PowerPC processors. The symmwin Inline Commands is used to configure
the Symmetrix Hardwares. For Externally we can manage symmetrix by EMC
Control Center. The symmetrix disks are independent of file system. It
means If your  connect Windows host you can format with NTFS , for
solaris VxFS etc.

Connectis is SAN switch.Zoning Technology used for Host and Disk Array
connectivity.  EMC control center or SYMCLI used for Disk mapping.

Please refer EMC topology document for more details.

Regards

Nagarajan Varatharajan

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

sharadjain@gmail.com wrote:
> 2 questions on Symmetrix
>
> 1. Symmetrix only contains storage disks? How is the management done.
> Does it have OS of its own? Does it have a file system, if not then how
> is the storage managed.

Think of a Symmetrix as a very expensive disk controller.  It contains
a CPU and memory to carve up the storage into separate LUNS to present
to individual hosts.  It has no file system - it only knows about
blocks.  The storage is managed from the individual hosts, just like it
would be from any other RAID controller.

> 2. Connectrix connects servers with the Symmetrix machine. Is all logic
> in the Connectrix which specifies which disk to access for the
> corresponding server (say, DB server). How does it map the storage of
> the data of the DB server with the disk in Symmetrix.

The Connectrix is like an Ethernet switch but for fibre.  The
Connectrix is actually made by McData and you can peruse their web site
for documentation.

The two work together to determine which host can see which LUN.

../Ed

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

"HVB" <hvbnntp@googlemail.com> wrote in message
 news:qiu5v19prv191crhpj1j72r9979bcdkjls@
4ax.com...
> You're really into the whole EMC thing, aren't you?  ;)
>
> On 14 Feb 2006 20:05:55 -0800, sharadjain@gmail.com wrote:
> 
>
> Management can be performed using a variety of methods.
>
> EMC used to prefer that you don't do any management on a Symmetrix...
> it gives the Customer Engineer something to do, and they can bill you
> for it.

At the time EMC insisted that only the CE work on the symm, there werent any
sophisticated tools available for management, and the service was provided
as part of the hardware maintenance contract, so the customer wasnt being
charged for it.

> The Symmetrix has a laptop permanently connected it, known as
> the Service Processor (SVP).  The Customer Engineer is the only person
> who should use this device.

That is nice, dont open the hardware. If there is something that you can
complete with the available tools, its best to engage EMC and let them fix
it.

>
> EMC have become a little more enlightened towards allowing customers
> to manage their own storage and there are now a range of tools
> available to manage a Symm.

There are far more sophisticated tools available now, and in a way, the
customers are paying for only hardware support now.

>

> In most day-to-day instances you'd use EMC Control Center (ECC) to
> monitor the Symm and your SAN environment.  There are other tools such
> as Symmetrix Manager and Symmetrix Optimizer that provide direct
> control over the Symm.  Even though these can be standalone tools they
> are usually used in combination with ECC.

Get used to CC/OE and you would be well served.

>
> ECC will give you a single console of your entire storage environment.
>
> To answer your other questions...
>
> - Yes, the Symm has an operating system.  It's called Enginuity.  It's
> more akin to firmware, but it's an OS.
>
> - No, the Symm does not have a file system and it doesn't need one.

It has and OS and therefore I am sure there is a filesystem, just that it is
not presented outside, and it doesnt need to be presented outside.


>
> You are talking about very high-end storage products, and if you'll
> forgive me, you don't seem to know very much about them.  That
> concerns me.

I agree, but unless s/he is in your (or mine) data center, I am not too
worried ;-), ,everyones gotta learn someplace.

>
> Perhaps you'd like to tell us what you are doing and why.  The group
> may be able to advise you better that way.

So very true.
>
> HVB

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]

sharadjain@gmail.com napisaƂ(a):
> 2 questions on Symmetrix
>
> 1. Symmetrix only contains storage disks? How is the management done.
> Does it have OS of its own? Does it have a file system, if not then how
> is the storage managed.
>
> 2. Connectrix connects servers with the Symmetrix machine. Is all logic
> in the Connectrix which specifies which disk to access for the
> corresponding server (say, DB server). How does it map the storage of
> the data of the DB server with the disk in Symmetrix.

Hello,

Ad 1. Symmetrix has firmware and soft and DB (VCM) too. There is logic.
Ad 2. No - connectrix has info about zoning - so which FC port in server
connect with which FC port in array. Logic and disk mapping is in
Symmetrix database - see some SYMCLI command - e.g. symmask and symmaskdb.

Hope this helps some.

Best Regards,
Blazej Antczak

Attachment: mortician.vcf
This has been downloaded 0 time(s).

[ Post a follow-up to this message ]