Replication setup questions

Question

I have 2 VNXe3200. One is just a DPE with 25 x 600 GB disk setup with RAID 10 while the 2nd one is a DPE with DAE and fast cache. This one comes with 32 x 600GB setup as RAID 6 and 6 x 100GB flash setup as RAID 6. The first one has only one Storage pool. The 2nd one has 2 Storage Pool, one for the HDD and the other for the SDD with Storage tiering.

I have 5 VMware Datastore and I like to replicate one of the VMware Datastore on both VNXe. Is that possible?

My next question is in regards to setup. SP A and SP B on both unit have 4 port each. Currently, they are all allocated for ISCSI using 10.10.200.x subnet. Can I just use the same IP address on Ethernet 2 on both SP A and B for Replication? Should I just use the same IP address? Is it better to remove Ethernet 2 from ISCSI and just set it up for Replication?

Thanks for your time and advise.

SunshineGirl1 · Answer

Hi there, I have some very similar questions to you. Would you mind if I add them to your stream as we maybe able to help each other?

VinceTan · Answer

Not a problem. So far however, no reply.

As an FYI, when I initially setup my VNXe3200, I called the EMC Guru for setup help, basically, my system was already up and running and my only question to him was what I wrote above. He told me that it is not possible to replicate to a remote system unless it is exactly the same setup. Meaning number of disk, size of disk, volume size etc. Looking at some the the diagram for replication, I don't think his statement is correct. He did say that he is not a replication expert. I was not really looking for an expert but I thought a Guru would at least have somewhat of a clue of the features of their system.

Anyway, I am not convinced that his statement is accurate that is why I left the message on this board.

I might just call the support line and open a case if I don't get any response soon.

Good luck.

SunshineGirl1 · Answer

I have an additional couple of questions around replication.

1. Subnet masking for live SP A, SP B and dr SP A and SP B. Previous best practice has been to have all of the iSCSI initiators on different subnets. Is this still the case with the VNXe3200?

2. Automatic replication. You can set the RPO level but can you also set times? We will have a number of replications set up and I would like to offset them if possible.

P

Rainer_EMC · Answer

You do not need the exact same hardware setup - however of course LUNs or file systems have to be the same size.

In terms of replication there are a number of different options that differ for file than for block.

Without know knowing i.e. if you are using NFS or FC/ISCSI its difficult

I would suggest to start with the VNXe 3200 replication white paper.

keep in mind that system / replication design and replication is primary a professional services task and not customer service

Rainer

Rainer_EMC · Answer

White papers

https://support.emc.com/docu57828_VNXe3200-Replication-Technologies--A-Detailed-Review.pdf

https://support.emc.com/docu53323_Introduction_to_the_EMC_VNXe3200--A_Detailed_Review.pdf?language=en_US

If you want to replicate in order to do DR failover with vmWare you probably also want to look at vmWare Site Recovery Manager (SRM)

https://www.vmware.com/products/site-recovery-manager/

VNX

Replication setup questions

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