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

The XMCLI command show-ssds is used to display information about the SSDs in the XtremIO system. This command includes details about the encryption capabilities of the DAE (Disk Array Enclosure) drives, allowing administrators to verify if the drives are capable of encryption and ensuring that the data is secure.

References:

Dell XtremIO Deployment and Learning Course Materials

XtremIO X2 Command Line Interface Guide

The image provided shows the back of an XtremIO X1 storage system with numeric labels next to the communication cable ports. To ensure the correct communication cables are connected:

Locate the ports on the back of the X-Bricks corresponding to the numeric labels.

Match each communication cable to its respective port based on the numeric label:

The right-side Battery Backup Unit (BBU) communication cable for X-Brick 5 (X5-BBU-COM-R) connects to port labeled 3.

The left-side BBU communication cable for X-Brick 5 (X5-BBU-COM-L) connects to port labeled 1.

The right-side BBU communication cable for X-Brick 6 (X6-BBU-COM-R) connects to port labeled 4.

The left-side BBU communication cable for X-Brick 6 (X6-BBU-COM-L) connects to port labeled 2.

After connecting the cables as per the matching, verify the connections according to the Official Dell XtremIO Deploy Achievement document to ensure they are correct and secure1.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please refer to the latest Official Dell XtremIO Deploy Achievement documents or consult with Dell support.

In XtremIO, configuring email notifications involves several steps, including setting up the email server and defining alert definitions. While the email server may be correctly configured and tested, notifications will not be sent unless the alert definitions are also set up. Alert definitions specify the conditions under which notifications are sent, including the severity level of issues. If major severity alerts are not defined, the email server will not trigger notifications for those events.

References:

Dell XtremIO Deployment and Learning Course Materials

Understanding XtremIO X1 DAE Power Cables: The Disk Array Enclosure (DAE) power cables are critical components in ensuring that the storage system remains operational. Removing these cables disconnects power to the DAE, which should only be done under specific circumstances.

Scenarios for Power Cable Removal:

Normal Shutdown Procedure: In a normal shutdown, the system is powered down gracefully using management interfaces and proper shutdown commands. Physical removal of power cables is typically not part of this process.

Shutdown after Initial Installation: After the initial installation, the system is powered on and configured. A shutdown would again follow a graceful procedure and not involve removing power cables unless there's a specific issue.

Shutdown due to Power Loss: In the event of power loss, the system would already be down, and there would be no need to remove the power cables as the system has lost power.

Emergency Shutdown Procedure: In an emergency, where the system must be immediately powered down to protect data or hardware, it may be necessary to remove the power cables quickly.

Best Practices and Safety:

Removing power cables as part of an emergency shutdown is typically a last resort measure when immediate power disconnection is required to prevent damage or ensure safety.

Following manufacturer guidelines for emergency shutdown ensures that the system is protected and can be safely restarted when the emergency is resolved.

References:

Dell XtremIO Safety and Emergency Procedures

Dell XtremIO Deployment Services

XtremIO X1 User and Maintenance Guide

Backup Policy and XtremIO Virtual Copy: The system administrator needs to ensure that the backup policy using XtremIO Virtual Copy (XVC) can store the required read-only copies without exceeding the storage limits.

Calculating Days of Storage:

500 production volumes are backed up 4 times a day.

Total copies created per day: 500 volumes * 4 backups/day = 2000 copies/day.

Assuming the array can store a specific number of copies before older ones are deleted, let's determine the duration:

Duration Calculation:

If the array can store copies for 5 days, it can handle: 2000 copies/day * 5 days = 10,000 copies.

Thus, the array can store the backup copies for 5 days before the original backups are deleted to make space for new ones.

References:

Dell XtremIO 6.x User Guide

XtremIO Virtual Copy and Protection Copies Features

Dell XtremIO Deployment Services

Data Protection Group (DPG) in XtremIO X2: The DPG is designed to tolerate multiple disk drive failures while continuing to provide data services.

Failure Tolerance: In a fully-populated DPG with sufficient capacity, it would require 7 disk drives to fail sequentially to stop the data services, as XtremIO is designed with high fault tolerance and redundancy.

References:

Dell XtremIO X2 Data Protection Guide

XtremIO Architecture and Fault Tolerance Documentation

Dell XtremIO Deployment Services

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.

 Power the PDUs

 Power on the BBUs

 Power on the Storage Controllers

 Power on the physical XMS Server

Power the PDUs: The Power Distribution Units (PDUs) need to be powered first as they supply power to all the other components.

Power on the BBUs: The Battery Backup Units (BBUs) are powered on next to ensure that the system has emergency power in case of a power failure.

Power on the Storage Controllers: The storage controllers are responsible for managing the storage array, so they need to be powered on before the server.

Power on the physical XMS Server: Finally, the XMS server, which provides management and monitoring capabilities, is powered on.

References:

Dell XtremIO Deployment Services

Dell XtremIO Deployment Guide and official documentation for detailed step-by-step procedures.

 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

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.

When deploying Connect Home using FTPS at a customer site, the TCP ports that must be open between the XtremIO Management Server (XMS) and the Dell Technologies FTP server are 989 and 990. These ports are typically used for FTPS to secure the control channel (port 989) and the data channel (port 990).

The process for configuring these ports is as follows:

Identify FTPS Requirements: Understand that FTPS requires specific ports for secure communication. Port 989 is used for the FTPS control connection, and port 990 is used for the data transfer.

Configure Firewall Settings: On the customer’s firewall, configure the settings to allow outbound connections on ports 989 and 990 to the Dell Technologies FTP server.

Verify Connectivity: After configuring the firewall, verify that the XMS can establish a connection to the Dell Technologies FTP server over these ports.

Test Connect Home Functionality: Use the Connect Home feature to ensure that the XMS can communicate securely with the Dell Technologies FTP server using FTPS.

Consult Official Documentation: For detailed instructions and best practices, refer to the official Dell XtremIO Deploy Achievement document1. This document provides comprehensive guidance on all aspects of setting up and managing XtremIO systems, including the deployment of Connect Home using FTPS.

By following these steps and referring to the official documentation, you can ensure that the necessary ports are open for the Connect Home feature to function correctly in an XtremIO deployment.

 Click, Create/Modify Mapping

 Select the volume

 Select an Initiator group

 Assign a LUN number

 View/verify the results

Click, Create/Modify Mapping: Start by navigating to the section where you can create or modify mappings in the XtremIO WebUI.

Select the volume: Choose the volume you want to map to a host from the list of available volumes.

Select an Initiator group: Pick the appropriate initiator group, which represents the host or group of hosts to which the volume will be mapped.

Assign a LUN number: Assign a Logical Unit Number (LUN) to the volume, which the host will use to access it.

View/verify the results: Finally, review the mapping configuration to ensure that everything is set up correctly and verify that the host can access the mapped volume.

References:

Dell XtremIO User Guide

XtremIO WebUI Documentation

Dell XtremIO Deployment Services

Best practices for managing volumes and host mappings in XtremIO environments

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.

show-clusters-info Command: This command is used to display the status and information of an XtremIO cluster.

Healthy State: For a healthy XtremIO cluster, the state displayed is "Active and enabled".

Verification: This state indicates that the cluster is operational and all services are functioning as expected.

References:

Dell XtremIO Command Reference Guide

Dell XtremIO Troubleshooting Guide

2.

When configuring Linux hosts to support XtremIO storage, it is recommended to set the LUN queue depth to 64. This setting helps to optimize the performance of the host when communicating with the XtremIO storage system.

Access Host Configuration: Log into the Linux host that will be connected to the XtremIO storage.

Modify HBA Parameters: Locate the HBA (Host Bus Adapter) parameters within the host’s configuration files.

Set Queue Depth: Adjust the queue depth parameter for the HBA to 64. This can typically be done by editing the options.conf file or similar, depending on the HBA driver in use.

Apply Changes: Save the changes and reload the HBA driver or reboot the host to apply the new configuration.

Verify Configuration: Confirm that the new queue depth setting is active and functioning as expected.