Adding DAE to CX300

you do not need to stop the i/o from hosts where array is online. But if you are taking backups and can affoard to shut down the services, thats the only way to stop i/o. to be on safer side, perform the addition when there is less i/o load from the hosts.

since this is cx300, you may need to install the "sixty drive enabler" if its not already installed on the array. without this, array will not recognise the new enclosure.

its also assumed here that the existing DAEs are set to 0 and 1 respectively.

also do not change the enclosure address on new array when its power on.

Hi Kiran: Thanks for the response. How do I install the "sixty drive enabler"? Does it have to be done by EMC SE?

Kiran,
Are you sure the "sixty drive enabler" is needed. Adding a third enclosure to the array will only make that forty-five drives. I thought it was required before adding the fourth enclosure, Enclosure 3.

TC,
The process for adding a DAE is different depending on whether it is a DAE2 or a DAE2P. With the DAE2 you set the enclosure address before powering on the enclosure. With the DAE2P you set the enclosure address after powering on the enclsoure. The newer models, the DAE2P do not have a power switch, so plugging the cord will power on the enclsoure. Some of the older DAE2 models had a power switch which controlled the power.

The official answer from EMC will be to stop i/o from hosts when performing any maintenance even though most of the maintenance processes are non-disruptive. All that means is taking a database offline, or any applications that access the data. I have added dozens of DAEs to live in-production CLARiiON arrays during business hours and have never had a problem that affected production enclosures or data. Just double and tripple check your enclosure and bus addresses before plugging in the HSSDC cable!

There is a decent white paper on adding a DAE to a CX or CX3 series array on PowerLink at:
Support > Documentation/White Paper Library > Hardware/Platforms > CLARiiON CX Series Systems > CLARiiON CX300 > Migration/Upgrades

The document is called:
CX3 UltraScale Series and CX-Series ¿ Adding a Disk-Array Enclosure

Hope all this helps,
Aran

Hi AranH:

Thanks for clarifying about the sixty drive enabler option. I did check my configuration and I am good with that option active so there is one less thing to research about how to install it.

You have mentioned about there is difference among DAE2 and DAE2P. Could you tell me the difference? The product number that I got quote is

EMC CX DAE FC 2GB EXPANSION EMD-CX-2PDAE-FD

Thanks.

It looks like you were quoted for a DAE2P. I have seen the Point-to-Point enclosures referred to as "2PDAE" in some documentation, which is the item at the end of the quote. I would clarify with your vendor because it will affect how you connect and setup the enclosure if you have DAE2 enclosures in your existing configuration and are adding DAE2P enclosures.

The reason being that the DAE2P enclosures use the HSSDC2 cable while the DAE2 enclosures use the HSSDC cable which are physically different. To connect a DAE2P to a DAE2 enclosure will require a HSSDC-HSSDC2 cable. You will want to specifically ask for this when you order the enclosure. The EMC document "EMC CLARiiON 2-Gigabit Point-to-Point Disk-Array Enclosure (DAE2P)" states that you can integrate DAE2 and DAE2P enclosures so this should not be an issue as long as you get the correct cables.

On PowerLink under the section:
Support > Documentation/White Paper Library > Hardware/Platforms > CLARiiON CX Series Systems > CLARiiON CX300 > Migration/Upgrades
..are two reference documents, one for DAE2P enclosures and one for DAE2 enclosures. You can read these to see the physical differences so that you can tell what you have deployed in your environment.

I wasn't sure about the "sixty drive enabler", which is why I asked about it. I cannot remember if it was needed for drives 31-60 or just for drives 46-60.

Glad I could help,
Aran

I think there are just two enables...30drives and 60 drives...so assume that 31-60 needs 60drive...by default cx200/300 ships with 1 enclosure so no enabler is required but for second enclosure 30drive is required.

DAE2 and DAE2P are both 2Gigabit enclosure. (backend speed)
DAE2 internally connects the drives into a loop configuration
DAE2P uses a point to point switch to connect drives...

this is internal connection and cannot be differentiated by external connections, apart from different cables used to connect them

oh ya...DAE2P can be visually identified by bright blue LEDs on them

Kiran,
Thanks for clarifying the "sixty drive enabler" requirement, I have only deployed and supported the larger arrays so never ran across the actual use of the enabler.

However you can differentiate between a DAE2 and a DAE2P as they are physically different from the rear.

With the DAE2 the A and B power supply/cooling modules are on the top of the enclosure with A on the right and B on the left. The DAE2 LCCs are on the bottom with A on the right and B on the left. The enclosure address for a DAE2 can and should be changed when the enclosure is powered off.

The DAE2P has the B power supply/cooling module on the top of the enclosure spanning the whole width of the enclosure, and the A power supply/cooling module is on the bottom. The DAE2P LCCs are in the middle of the enclosure between the power supply/cooling modules with the B LCC on top and the A LCC on the bottom. The enclosure address for a DAE2P can only be changed when power is supplied to the enclosure.

Aran

To AranH and Kiran:

You two are offering excellent tips and suggestions. I really appreciated the help.
I think I have the answers that I want from both of your answers. I think I will be good to move on to implement the project. Thanks again