Windows Host Installation and Integration for Block

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Windows Host Installation and Integration for Block

Upon completion of this module, you should be able to:• Identify Windows connectivity limits and guidelines• Describe the implementation of VNX Fibre Channel

connections to a Windows host• Describe the implementation of VNX iSCSI connections to a

Windows host

Windows Host Installation and Integration for Block 1



This lesson covers the following topics:• Windows system limits and guidelines• Windows HBA utilities• Windows data alignment

Lesson 1: Windows Storage Connectivity



Windows Connectivity: Requirements• One or more VNX storage systems• One or more Windows hosts• Supported HBAs, HBA drivers, switches and cables• Correctly configured switch zoning• Correctly configured network• A management station in the environment

Supported host and OS Supported browser Supported JRE Network connectivity to storage systems

3Windows Host Installation and Integration for Block


Windows Connectivity: Best PracticesUse storage system-based RAID

RAID type should be based on Application I/O pattern

Use basic disks

8 kB page size for MS 2007 Exchange and 16kB for MS 2010 Exchange

Align LUN on a 1024 kB boundary with Diskpart when needed



OneCommand Manager: Port Information Tab



OneCommand Manager: Target Mapping tab



Qlogic SANsurfer: Information

VNX port WWPN



Data Alignment• Alignment of data to LUN structure• Important when OS writes data to beginning of LUN• Misaligned data

causes disk crossings may not allow stripe alignment of large, uncached writes

• Windows 2008 and 2012 automatically aligns partitions at the 1 MB boundary no user intervention is required Refer to Microsoft KB Article 929491



Aligning Data with diskpart

2,048 sectors (specified with diskpart) reserved by Windows 4KB user data block

First 5 stripes on a 4+1 R5 LUN



Disk Alignment: Diskpart on a Windows 2008




During this lesson the following topics were covered:• Windows system limits and guidelines• Windows HBA utilities• Windows data alignment

Lesson 1: Summary




This lesson covers the following topics:• VNX Fibre Channel connections to a Windows Host• VNX FCoE connections to a Windows Host• VNX iSCSI connections to a Windows Host

Lesson 2: Windows FC and iSCSI Connectivity



Viewing Block Storage PortsClick icon to add picture



Initiator Registration Records: Fibre

Number of initiators is model dependent

An initiator is an HBA or CNA port that can access the storage system• Some HBAs and CNAs have two ports• Each path consumes one initiator recordAccess from a server to an SP in a storage system can be: • Single path• Multipath• Alternate path



Initiator Registration Records Format: Fibre Channel• Hostname• Host IP address• Host HBA WWNs

128 bit number - WWNN + WWPN• VNX port WWNs

128 bit number - WWNN + WWPN• Operating system type

Allows appropriate response to host SCSI commands



Unisphere Host Initiators: Fibre



Initiator Information: Fibre



Viewing SP Fibre Channel Port Properties



Windows Server and FCoE CNA Adapters



Initiator Registration Records: iSCSI Names• iSCSI address

Uniquely identifies nodes Two variations

iqn. – iSCSI Qualified Name (IQN) iqn.1992-04.com.emc:cx.fnm00130702376.a5 iqn.1992-04.com.emc:cx.fnm00130702376.b5

eui. – Extended Unique Identifier (EUI) eui.50060162AEA5574E



Unisphere Host Initiators: iSCSIClick icon to add picture



Initiator Information: iSCSI



Viewing iSCSI Front-end Port Properties




During this lesson the following topics were covered:• VNX Fibre Channel connections to a Windows Host• VNX FCoE connections to a Windows Host• VNX iSCSI connections to a Windows Host

Lesson 2: Summary




This lesson covers the following topics:• Implementing Windows FC connectivity• Implementing Windows iSCSI connectivity

Lesson 3: Implementing Windows Connectivity



Windows Connectivity Steps

Check and validate all host to VNX connectivity (FC and iSCSI)•OCManager utility (Emulex)

•SANsurfer (Qlogic)

•Unisphere Host Initiator option

•Unisphere Server Utility

Create a storage

group, add LUNs and connect

your Windows

host

Run Windows Disk Management•Rescan or reboot may be required

Initialize the disk•Write signature on disk (LUN)

Add drive letter(s)

Format the disk (LUN)

Write data to the disk

(LUN)



Host Registration

• Automatically• Manually

Registration makes a host known to the storage system

• Fabric logins tell the VNX which ports and HBAs are connected

• iSCSI logins tell the VNX which ports and initiators (hardware or software based) are connected

Connectivity depends on the protocol being used:



Unisphere Host Agent• The Unisphere Host Agent tells the VNX about either the:

Hostname and HBA WWNs Hostname and Host IQN or EUI



EMC Unisphere Server Utility



Creating a Storage Group



Adding LUNs to a Storage Group



Adding Hosts to a Storage Group



Windows 2012 Disk Management: Online Disk



Window 2012 Disk Management




During this lesson the following topics were covered:• Implementing Windows FC connectivity• Implementing Windows iSCSI connectivity

Lesson 3: Summary



SummaryKey points covered in this module:• Connectivity requirements include:

Supported HBAs, HBA drivers, vendor management software, and proper cabling to the fabric switches.

Fabric switches properly configured and zoned Management station with supported OS, Web Browser, Java, and

network connectivity to the VNX.• Several configuration are key to successful host integration, such

as initiator records and port properties• Steps to implement Windows connectivity in both a Fibre

Channel and iSCSI environment


Documents

Windows Host Installation and Integration for Block