best practise when adding another EQL

Question

hi there,

I am looking to add another EQL to my existing pool and was wondering what the best practise is.

Am I right in thinking that I don't need to create a separate storage pool as the EQL is aware of the different characteristics of the drives and will move data according to is usage?

Or should I create a separate storage pool and manually move LUNs?

Cheers,

A

huwy · Answer

Thanks for replying Don.

We will update all FW to 5-2-4

The current EQL is PS4000x, 8 x 450GB 10K

Total iSCSI connections are 16

We are adding EQL DellPS4100E 6x 2TB, 7.2k

Thanks for your help with this.

-Huw

huwy · Answer

Current EQL is RAID 50 and plan to make the new one RAID 50 also.

Its just exchange really. The systems are very complicated although we are expecting the company to grow rapidly.

I don't have SAN HQ installed but can install it.

Cheers,

Huw

Origin3k · Answer

Also for your 2nd. environment i would suggest to place all 3 EQL within the same pool. I prefer to create a new pool and not to use the "default" one. In the "default" pool we deploy and setup the new EQLs and running them for some tests and a "burn in". After a short period of time we move them into the production pool(s).

I have 4xPS6010 within a pool and the performance is great. Keep in mind that you can specify a RAID preference for a volume to you can adjust the placement in a pool which have different EQL/Raidlevels.

Regards

Joerg

huwy · Answer

Thanks Don. Can I just pick your brain about 1 more thing.

I've also been asked to setup 3 EQL for another customer. They are having....

Dell Equallogic PS6110XV 24 X 600GB 15k SAS,

10Gb Dual Controllers,

Capacity – 14.4 Tb Raw, 5.7 Tb in RAID 10

Dell Equallogic PS6110X 24 X 900GB 10k SAS,

10Gb Dual Controllers,

Capacity – 21.6 Tb Raw, 14.0 Tb in RAID 50

Dell Equallogic PS6110X 24 X 900GB 10k SAS,

10Gb Dual Controllers,

Capacity – 21.6 Tb Raw, 14.0 Tb in RAID 50

Force10 10GB 48 Port switches

Would you recommend different storage pools for the above. This company makes heavy use of SQL.

Cheers I appreciate your help

Huw

huwy · Answer

Thanks guys appreciate the advice

andublin · Answer

My approach is to first configure the new EQL as a separate pool, and check hardware is operational, firmware up-to-date and so on. Upgrade firmware if not. Make sure existing pool and members at same firmware level, update if not. Then reset the new EQL to factory defaults and proceed.

Do be clear first on the the terminology meanings: Storage Group (one or more EQL boxes); Array=Member=EQL box ; One or more Pools within the Storage group; Volume=LUN, in one of the pools

Dell have a document on how they load-balance the pool, Maybe read that first if you want to decide your options. Search for "USING TIERED STORAGE IN A PS SERIES SAN"

Hope that gets you started.

EqualLogic

best practise when adding another EQL

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