Total noob needs help configuring storage network

Question

Hi. Here's my situation. My boss has gone on vacation and told me that when he gets back he expects to see our new network configured and running. We have an Equallogic PS6000E with twin controllers/eight NIC ports which needs to be connected to two PowerConnect 5524 switches that are stacked, and those need to be connected to three PowerEdgeR510 servers, each server having six NIC ports. The servers are currently running VMware vSphere 4.1 ESXi Essentials Plus, and they are hosting VM's that host websites for our clients. All the VM's have public IP addresses (to complicate matters we just ran out of public IP's and had to buy another subnet rage...which, of course, are totally different from our existing subnet, so I somehow have to set up a 'secondary' primary gateway on our router). The R510's connect through a dumb D-Link switch to a Juniper J2350 and from there to our ISP. My job quite literally depends on getting the following done ASAP: 1. configure PC5524's & create appropriate VLAN's 2. configure PS6000E as shared storage 3. configure VMware to communicate with the iSCSI SAN via the switches 4. move the existing VM's from the R510's to the SAN to take advantage of the new storage I've never done this before and frankly I'm at a loss as to where to start. What I really need are step-by-step instructions on what to do...e.g. do I configure the SAN first or the switches? Do I wait to plug in network cables until after I'm done with the configuration or before? When do I turn on the NICs on the R510's? What IP addresses should I use for my VLANS? I understand how to cable this up for fault-tolerance - it is the actual configuration of the boxes and the VMware I'm confused about. Again, what I need is a step-by-step, do this then this then this description of how to proceed. In other words...help!!

JOHNADCO · Answer

Are these recent purchases from Dell? Dell offers free remote install on this stuff.

Unless you a totoal JunOS guy, you will need one to get that router working with the new public subnet.

Isn't there a best practices guide to install or something on the PS6000E?

This is pretty premo equipment from Dell here, I am sure you have support services that will help you..

DELL-Mike C · Answer

Hello,

This is Mike with EqualLogic Technical Support.

As JOHNADCO mentioned, Dell does offer a remote installation option. I'm in Support, not Sales, so I'm not privy to the fees associated with that service. If you'd like to email me with your contact information, I'd be happy to engage a Technical Account Manager who can work with you & your sales representative to get that piece sorted out. My email is: michael_cynewski@dell.com

As to your technical questions:

Have you got a login on the EqualLogic Support Site? Here is the login page: https://support.equallogic.com/secure/login.aspx

Once you've logged in, you'll want to download the following docs:

Installation & Setup Guide (PS6000 Family) https://support.equallogic.com/support/download_file.aspx?id=697
Group Administration Guide https://support.equallogic.com/support/download_file.aspx?id=930
Host Integration Tools (HIT) Kit & HIT User's Guide https://support.equallogic.com/support/download.aspx?id=10243
Tech Report: Selecting a Member RAID Policy https://support.equallogic.com/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=5231
Assorted VMware-related Tech Reports https://support.equallogic.com/support/tech_reports.aspx
EqualLogic Configuration Guide http://support.equallogic.com/resourcecenter/assetview.aspx?id=9831

On your switches:

- enable flow control
- disable unicast storm control
- enable jumbo frames (if supported)

On your servers

- I'd suggest that you connect to your volumes from the server, using the ESX initiator, and not from the VM's themselves. In this way, iSCSI storage is 'seen' by the VM's as local storage. You don't have to do this, but many people choose this option (known as Storage Direct) because it's easier to administer.

FluidFS

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