In this video we will show you how to attach a Windows host to a PowerVault ME5 system that connects to the host using Fibre Channel protocol.
Before you begin: Complete the installation of your ME5 system hardware Complete the basic setup of PowerVault Manager Review the Dell PowerVault ME5 Series Storage System Deployment Guide for host cabling and set-up instructions.
Review the ME5 Series Storage System Administrator’s Guide for information on configuring hosts and volumes in PowerVault Manager. And prepare a network planning worksheet based on the examples in the Deployment Guide.
First connect the ME5 system to your Windows host according to instructions in the ME5 Series Deployment Guide. Your configuration may vary, but it will look similar to this diagram. On the ME5 5U system, controller A is on the left and controller B is on the right.
Ports are identified as port 0 through port 3 going right to left. On your network planning worksheet, record each controller FC port and the switch port or host server port it is connected to. Later we will identify the WWN. Now install MPIO on the Windows host.
In Server Manager, launch the Add Roles and Features Wizard. Click Next until you reach the Features page and then select Multipath IO. Click Next, select the box to restart the server, click Yes and then click Install.
The server restarts to complete the MPIO installation. Use the PowerShell console to identify the FC WWNs. Select Tools then Windows PowerShell to open the PowerShell console.
Type get-InitiatorPort and record the FC WWNs on your network planning worksheet. If the hosts are connected to the storage system using FC switches, implement zoning to isolate traffic for each HBA: Use the FC switch management interface to create a zone for each server HBA.
Each zone must contain only one HBA WWN and all the storage port WWNs. Repeat for each FC switch. Next, configure the hosts on the PowerVault ME5 system.
Log in to PowerVault Manager. From the main dashboard, go to Provisioning and select Hosts. Select Create Host to launch the wizard. Enter the Host Name.
Select the correct initiator for the host, using your worksheet as a guide to map the WWN and Initiator ID. You can give this host initiator a nickname.
It is recommended to use something that clearly identifies the initiator for that particular host. Then, select Add Initiators To Host, and click Continue.
Optionally, attach the host or host group to a volume. You can choose to create a new volume during this step or attach the host to an existing volume.
For this video, we will create a new volume to attach to the host. Select attach host or host groups to volumes and select Create new volumes to attach to host or Host Group. Click Continue.
Select the pool on which you want to deploy the volume. Name the volume. Again, it is recommended that you include something descriptive of the volume use in the name, such as the host name. Click Add Volume, then click Continue. Review the information for the host and associated volume and click Continue to complete the Create Host wizard.
When hosts are created, you will see a Success message pop up. Next use the Server Manager to discover the ME5. Open Server Manager, click Tools, and select MPIO. Click the Discover Multi-Paths tab. Select Dell EMC ME5 in the Device hardware ID list and Click Add.
If DellEMC ME5 is not listed in the Device Hardware Id list, ensure that the host has a minimum of one logical connection to both controllers.
Lastly, discover and configure the volume in Windows. In the Server Manager click on Tools and select Computer Management. Select on Disk Management then right click on Disk Management and select Rescan Disks. Locate your new disk in the list. Right-click on the new disk and select Online.
Right-click on the disk again and select Initialize Disk. Select the partition style for the disk and click OK. Right-click on the Unallocated space and select New Simple Volume. Follow the wizard prompts to format the volume. Your ME5 storage system is now ready to be used by your Windows Server hosts.
For more information or support about PowerVault ME5 hosts, visit Dell.com/Support.
