Hi SKT,

I believe the configuration of FAST related setting in VMAX should depend on your real environments and workload. If you're looking for the best practices documents, I think the following documents are good to go:

https://support.emc.com/docu31003_FAST_VP_for_Symmetrix_VMAX_Theory_and_Best_Practices_for_Planning_and_Performance.pdf?language=en_US

https://support.emc.com/docu9318_FAST_Theory_and_Best_Practices_for_Planning_and_Performance_Technical_Notes.pdf?languag…

I'd like also recommend you go through the ATE of FAST VP on VMAX Array which may also help

https://community.emc.com/thread/177118

Hi Frenglin :

Thanks .

I have reviwed the docs, and one thing still not able to track. I need to review the logs  to make sure the the FAST VP operations are happening as scheduled. ( tried symauit already with fast and optimizer application/class).  I can see the data movement happening, but i need the logs to confirm.

any suggetions?

G'day SKT,

The EMC Solutions Enabler Symmetrix Array Controls CLI V7.6 Product Guide (https://support.emc.com/docu46981_Solutions-Enabler-Symmetrix-Array-Controls-CLI-7.6-Product-Guide.pdf?language=en_US) explains FAST VP and how to monitor what is happening or has happened. Check out Appendix C of the document.

This SalesForce knowledge-base article also has many useful suggestions:

Troubleshooting FAST VP - Cheatsheet

              Article Number:000185733 Version:3

https://emc--c.na5.visual.force.com/apex/KB_BreakFix_1?id=kA1700000000xAD

SKT,

if you want to check FAST VP movements you can check this at any time using Unisphere for VMAX with performance, drill down in the realtime or diagnostics and check the metrics for the pools, the counters you are concerned with are

ingress tracks - tracks moved into a pool by FAST VP

egress tracks - tracks moved out of a pool by FAST VP

I have tried the plan and history options ( symfast)  already and they always return me "no data movement" .  I dont see more on the SE guide on tracking.

plan option talks about disk group provisining( so am i  dealing at different level , VP)

But i can see the data movement is happening ( see the current state).

FAST VP State              : Enabled

Reason(s)                  : N/A

FAST VP Current Activities : RunningPlan

FAST VP Perf Time Window   : Open

FAST VP Move Time Window   : Open

the second link returned me permission error

thanks Paul and Salem.

another Q:

is there any pre-requistes such as disabling FAST VP before an SP replacement?

Our configuration for Workload Analysis Period is 168 hours and i wont prefer the data movement happening during the SP replacement

Do you see any connection there?Or disabling the FAST VP is not at all needed?

Hi SKT,

This is  a very good question, The short answer is No, You do not need to disable FAST VP however, The outage/replacement of SP will impact the FAST controller resides on the SP in 2 ways:

1- Allocation-Compliance algorithm will be completely disabled as FAST controller is solely responsible for the out of compliance movements.

2- Intelligent-tiering algorithm will not be under big impact as Enginity will use last good known thresholds for 4 hours and then backup thresholds for 4 days. After the 4 days. You can say FAST VP is completely disabled (no more Intelligent tiering or allocation compliance movements will take place).

For more details, kindly read page 34 of FAST VP theory of operation Whitepaper:

https://support.emc.com/docu31003_FAST_VP_for_Symmetrix_VMAX_Theory_and_Best_Practices_for_Planning_and_Performance.pdf?language=en_US

SP replacements should be immediate as many other SYMMETRIX vital functionalists will not work like configuration changes but in your case (planned outage for replacement) the impact will be minimal.

Hope this helps.

Mohammed Salem