HP SureStore Virtual Array 7100 on the HP e3000
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Product Brief
The HP SureStore Virtual Array 7100 is HP's newest mid-range fibre channel disk storage system that is the replacement for the 12H AutoRAID. The VA7100 holds from 4 to 15 disk drives. The array has scalable capacities from 72 GB to 270 GB (211 GB usable) with all 18-GB disk drives and from 144 GB to 540 GB (428 GB usable) with all 36-GB disk drives and from 292 GB to 1.1 TB with 73-GB disk drives. Capacities and spindle speeds can also be mixed. For added reliability and redundancy the array should be ordered in a dual controller configuration. Each controller has two DIMM slots available to hold NVRAM. The NVRAM is used for read/write caching and for storing array memory maps. The VA7100 can operate in either RAID 1+0 mode or AutoRAID mode, which eliminates the requirement for the system administrator to understand and configure RAID levels. AutoRAID dynamically adapts to the system's workload, optimizing performance and cost. Users will find configuration significantly easier than other array products, since RAID levels don't need to be configured or managed. The VA7100 supports one redundancy group, and all drives belong to that group. Using Virtual Storage Array (VSA) technology, when configured in AutoRAID mode the array controller automatically selects RAID 1+0 (disk striping and mirroring) or RAID 5DP (RAID 5 Double Parity) depending on the usage patterns of the data. RAID 5DP provides superior data redundancy by protecting against the simultaneous failure of two member disks by using independent error correction schemes.
Site, Software and Hardware Requirements
Device installation and support is to be provided by HP. For detailed information on the support and configuration of the Virtual Array 7100, field support personnel should consult the updated versions of the following documents:
HP SureStore Virtual Array 7100 Disk Array Quick Start Guide http://www.hp.com/products1/storage/disk_arrays/midrange/va7100/infolibrary/index.html. Then click on technical support
HP SureStore Command View SDM http://www.hp.com/products1/storage/disk_arrays/modular/
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NOTE: The Command View SDM software is currently required on an NT PC or HP-UX workstation. |
VA7100 Configuration Requirements
Firmware version HP13.
Port behavior set to HPUX.
Port Topology should be set to Private Loop.
Use controller 1 as the primary access port.
Rebuild Priority should be set to Low.
Logical Unit Number (LUN) (0) must be configured for Command View SDM to work properly.
Ldev 1 as a boot device is supported.
Host Hardware/Firmware Requirements
SCSI HBA (NIO based machines):
F/W SCSI Device Adapter HP28696A. Firmware version 3728
SCSI-FC Fabric Router A5814A #003. Firmware version 8.01.0A
HSSDC Gigabit Interface Converters (GBIC)
Fibre optic cable: 62- or 50-micron fibre optic cable with dual SC connector
Ultra SCSI I/O Device Adapter HP A4800A or A5159A
SCSI-FC Fabric Router A5814A #003. Firmware version 8.01.0A
HSSDC Gigabit Interface Converters (GBIC)
Fibre optic cable: 62- or 50-micron fibre optic cable with dual SC connector
A6795A PCI- 2Gbit Card - LC Cable interface
No additional GBIC for Card, Device still requires one.
LC/SC Fibre Channel Cable such as A5750A-008 or C7530A.
Host Software Requirements
The VA7100 is supported on MPE/iX release 7.0 express 1 and 7.5 releases.
The SYSGEN product ID is HPDARRAY.
Host Diagnostic Support
No host based diagnostics are supported. Diagnostic functions are accomplished via Command View SDM Product running on NT or HP-UX host. Offline Diagnostic Support. No specific support for Offline Diagnostic support. Basic functions such as "ODE Mapper" will be able to identify and the Logical Units configured on the VA7100 as SCSI Disks.
Configuring the VA7100 for Performance on the HP e3000
It is recommended that you purchase the VA7100 in a dual controller configuration. The second controller increases your reliability and availability. In the event of a controller failure the second controller will have a backup copy of the disk array maps and can be used to gain access to the storage array by reconnecting to the second port.
Depending on your application's I/O characteristics, you may chose to set the VA7100 in RAID 1+0 mode or trade some performance for capacity with a setting to AutoRAID. AutoRAID versus RAID 1+0 is set on an array bases not on a LUN bases.
Some users have reported slow performance times when doing the first restore to the array. This problem can be corrected by changing the Data Resiliency Mode, from the Command View SDM utility, to Performance Mode only during the restore. Remember to reset the mode back to Normal when the restore has completed.
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Using HP Support Tools Manager (STM) with Fibre Channel Adapters |
HP SCSI-FC Fabric Router for the HP e3000 |