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500444
December 6th, 2007 19:00
MD3000i and Modular Disk Storage Manager
Howdy Folks,
We have a brand new MD3000i iSCSI array. There are 4 servers connected to the array, via iSCSI, on a separate Cisco 3750 switch. The array management interfaces are on our production network. The configuration has been pretty simple, but I keep running into problems with the Modular Disk Storage Manager (MDSM).
After using the MDSM for a few days, it looses the connection to the storage modules on the MD3000i. I can still ping the management and iSCSI interfaces of the array and iSCSI still works flawlessly from the servers, but I can't manage the array at all.
The MDSM says the storage array is currently unresponsive. Removing the array and trying to add it back doesn't work. I have to physically power down the array to start managing it again.
I have checked all the ports for duplex/speed mis-matches on the network switches, but don't see any problems.
Any suggestions?
We have a brand new MD3000i iSCSI array. There are 4 servers connected to the array, via iSCSI, on a separate Cisco 3750 switch. The array management interfaces are on our production network. The configuration has been pretty simple, but I keep running into problems with the Modular Disk Storage Manager (MDSM).
After using the MDSM for a few days, it looses the connection to the storage modules on the MD3000i. I can still ping the management and iSCSI interfaces of the array and iSCSI still works flawlessly from the servers, but I can't manage the array at all.
The MDSM says the storage array is currently unresponsive. Removing the array and trying to add it back doesn't work. I have to physically power down the array to start managing it again.
I have checked all the ports for duplex/speed mis-matches on the network switches, but don't see any problems.
Any suggestions?
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dzenz
175 Posts
0
February 15th, 2008 14:00
Thanks.
Can you please clarify the exact issue you are seeing? Is it just the MD3000 mgmt ports that are not responding?
Dave
RMAPPJR
11 Posts
0
February 15th, 2008 17:00
Yes, just the management ports.
RMAPPJR
11 Posts
0
February 15th, 2008 18:00
Missed answering part 1 of your previous entry....
The management ports connect to the network and are discoverable (Manually) without issue when the devices were initially installed. At some point afterwards not to exceed one weeks time, starting the MD Storage manager software will report that the device is unresponsive. Ping fails as well. Tried replacing cable, troubleshooting switch ports, swapping devices, upgrading firmware/drivers but nothing brings these management ports back to life. Experienced short term success during a WebEx session with Dell Tech during the SLA install session by swapping the existing cable around. The problem returned a couple of days later. No error log entries. No IT Assistant messages. Just dropped communications. The servers that are connected to the virtual disks never skip a beat and in-band management is possible through the servers.
dzenz
175 Posts
0
February 18th, 2008 13:00
Can you confirm which iSCSI RAID controller module firmware you either?
Is it 06.50.32.60 or 06.70.10.60?
Dave
PleaseUseEmailF
10 Posts
0
February 18th, 2008 14:00
RMAPPJR,
I see that you have all of your iSCSI connections on the same /24 network. This is how I initially setup my array and had the same problems. Try creating 2 networks and putting one connection from each controller into the different networks. For example:
iSCSI Controller 0, Port 0 = Network 1
iSCSI Controller 0, Port 1 = Network 2
iSCSI Controller 1, Port 0 = Network 1
iSCSI Controller 1, Port 1 = Network 2
You wouldn't think this would affect the management ports, but this is what I had to do to fix my issue. I don't think Dell has done much testing with all of the iSCSI ports on the same network.
dzenz
175 Posts
0
February 18th, 2008 15:00
Thanks... I was going to get to the networking best practice when using the MD3000i.
From the MD3000i Support Matrix:
"When using multiple (NICs) in the same server, up to four NICs per host are supported to one MD3000i
array. If multiple NICs are installed, it is recommended that two different subnets be used."
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/md3000i/en/SUPPORTMATRIX/3000isupportmatrix.pdf
Dave
RMAPPJR
11 Posts
0
February 19th, 2008 13:00
I updated the firmware to 06.70.10.60 weeks ago. I talked over creating an additional VLAN to accommodate the NIC ports on the MD3000i and the response from my boss was not repeatable. I will try it just to verify that this will fix the problem, but it will be very disappointing if the use of CHAP and static IP's and an isolated VLAN are not enough to keep the management NIC's happy.