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Dell Lasso Version 4.7.3 User's Guide

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FAQ — About Lasso

  • What is Lasso?
    • Lasso is a stand alone collection utility that automates the collection of all pertinent hardware and software configuration details from the target SAN attached servers, Dell Storage Arrays, Fibre Channel, Ethernet and FCoE Switches.
  • What are the uses of Lasso?
    • Lasso is used as a standalone tool to collect data from various server models and storage arrays that are interconnected to a SAN environment with the attached storage.
    • The collected data is used to provide information to the Dell Proactive Maintenance and Dell Technical Support teams for analyzing and troubleshooting issues.
      • NOTE: Data collection by Lasso can also be performed manually.
      • NOTE: The configuration of the SAN environment assists Lasso in collecting the data successfully.
      .
  • Which language is used to develop Lasso?
    • The Lasso user interface and the collection logic is developed in Java. The parser component is in C#.
  • Which third party software is used by Lasso?
    • Lasso uses open-source and free software to complete various tasks. Lasso also uses programs such as GPG, GNU zip/unzip, EMCReport, and various EMCGrab scripts.
  • Where should Lasso be installed?
    • Lasso can be installed on any Windows OS that has IP connectivity to the SAN with the following caveats:
      • For EMC SANs, install on a computer that is not attached to the SAN.
        • NOTE: Use a workstation whose credentials match with the SAN server credentials. This results in automatic discovery and validation of Windows Hosts and saves time.
      • EqualLogic SANs are sometimes in an isolated network, and may require connecting a computer to that network to run Lasso.
  • How does Lasso operate?
    • Lasso initiates scripts against all defined devices. The scripts collect specific information about the devices. Lasso then captures the output of individual process separately for each device. This helps to simultaneously complete the collection. If the time taken for manual login, copy collection (example:EMCReports) for a host is 5minutes, Lasso can collect data against 10 hosts for the same time.
      • NOTE: The limit for simultaneous processes is 10. The limit can be modified in the LassoConfig.xml file.
  • What is the time taken by Lasso to run?
    • The time taken is approximately 30 minutes for a normal run. Many factors can modify the estimated time. The approximate time is determined by adding the following:
      • Time taken to input profile and environment information (dependent on the user).
      • Time taken to copy EMCReports/emcgrab to the remote device (less than 2MB file size. It is fast on a LAN but slow if remote).
      • Time taken by the longest device. It is 5-10 for hosts, but may be over 20 minutes on a busy host. For SPCollects, the time taken is approximately 10 minutes, but on a busy SP it is 30 minutes or higher. For switches, less than 5 minutes, but on large switches with error logs, may be 20 minutes or higher.
      • Time taken to copy the collection data from the remote device (may be fast on a LAN but slow if remote).
      • Time taken to zip and encrypt the data (may be less than a few minutes).
      • Time taken to upload the data to Dell's FTP site (may be the longest time depending on the size of the environment and the speed of the Internet connection).

      Using the above guidelines, assuming that the profile and environment information is already entered, all devices are on a LAN, the longest device takes 15 minutes, a few minutes to zip/encrypt, and the Internet connection is fast, the entire collection should be completed in less than 30 minutes.

      If there are environment specific settings that prevent remote execution of some of the scripts, then troubleshooting may take more time.

  • What is Navisphere CLI and where is it available?
    • Lasso uses EMC's Navisphere CLI to initiate commands to CX and AX Storage Processors. Among these commands are SPCollect, getall, and getlog. Navisphere CLI is available at http://powerlink.emc.com and also provided with the Lasso package.
  • What types of devices are supported by Lasso?
    • For the list of supported types of devices and operating systems, see Support Matrix .
  • What are the system requirements to run Lasso?
  • How can the timeout value for FC Switches be modified?
    • On a SAN having many Brocade and McData switches, increase the timeout value. By default, timeout value for the switch is 3 minutes (in milliseconds). This value can be modified in the file FCSC.properties available in the Lasso install directory.
  • How can the timeout value for Unix hosts be modified?
    • On a SAN having Linux, Solaris, HP-UX, and AIX hosts, the collection process may exceed the default timeout value of 30 minutes (in milliseconds). Therefore, increase the timeout value in UnixHC.properties file, available in the Lasso install directory.
  • How can the time out value for validating automatically discovered hosts be modified?
    • On a SAN having many attached hosts, increase the timeout value for the successful completion of automatic validation in:
      • SAC.properties— while automatically discovering hosts attached to arrays.
      • WinHC.properties— while validating already discovered hosts in the background. This happens when the customer configuration file is open.
  • What are the Storage Arrays supported by Lasso?
    • Lasso collects data from the following Storage Arrays:
      • CLARiiON
      • EqualLogic
      • Celerra
      • Power Vault MD Series
      • EqualLogic Fluid File System (NAS)
      • PowerVault Fluid File System (NAS)
      • Compellent Fluid FS NAS
  • How to collect data from EqualLogic Storage Arrays?
    • To collect data from EqualLogic Arrays in the SAN, install Lasso on a system that has access to the array using the IP address. If the array is on a non-routable iSCSI network, then install Lasso on one of the iSCSI server or add an additional system to the network to ensure connectivity.

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