EqualLogic / Migrating RAID for 2 members

Question

Hello, My current setup is the following: . Site A, Storage Group of 2 EqualLogic Members (6100XV). Each Member are configured with RAID10, and with automatic performance load sharing. I'm setting up a new site (let's call it Site B), with the same hardware. I want to replicate almost all LUNs from A to B and from B to A. Problem is: I don't have enough space on site A for replication. Changing my 2 members to RAID50 will help me with this issue (adding 7.2 TB free space, 3.6 TB by member) So i decided to online migrate each members of the storage group on site A to RAID50. I'm just wondering how the process work ... Following different documentation, this should be easy as the following: From the GUI, migrate member A to RAID50, wait for full completion From the GUI, migrate member B to RAID50, wait for full completion And that's it... ! Is the process correct ? Having 2 members with different RAID type is not making any problem with performance load sharing ? Thanks in advance for your answer. Regards, Baptiste

Joe S586 · Accepted Answer

Yes, selecting the new RAID policy in the GUI and selecting ok to start the process is all that is required (you can also do this in the CLI). Just ensure (like you indicated) to wait until the conversion is complete on one member before starting the second member.

Regarding the volume load balancing, provided that you don’t have any raid preference setup for a volume(s), they will still remain balanced across both members after the RAID conversion.

-joe

Rasmus Haslund · Accepted Answer

Hello Baptiste!

The process is as easy as you outlined.

You did not mention what firmware level you are currently at, but I would recommend upgrading to 6.0.2 before starting the process.

You can migrate both members of site A from RAID 10 to 50 if you want, or you could leave one at RAID 10 if you do not need the full space yet.

If you decide to keep one member at RAID 10 and migrate the other member to RAID 50, then verify your volumes are set to AUTO.

When you have enough space on site A you are ready to setup replication between A and B.

Dell has a great paper available on configuring replication here: en.community.dell.com/.../download.aspx

Regarding performance load sharing you will not see issues if you make sure to upgrade the firmware. It will use the auto-tiering system to move cold/warm/hot blocks back and forth between the RAID 10 and RAID 50 unit.

If you have a specific volume, fx a database, you can also lock it to RAID 10 storage.

mryoungfr · Answer

Thanks a lot for your answers Regards, Baptiste

FluidFS

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