In the iDRAC 2.00.00.00 release, iDRAC expands its agent-free management
to include direct configuration of the new PERC9 controllers. It enables
you to remotely configure the storage components attached to your
system at run-time. These components include RAID and non-RAID controllers
and the channels, ports, enclosures, and disks attached to them.
The complete storage subsystem discovery, topology, health monitoring
and configuration are accomplished in the Comprehensive Embedded Management
(CEM) framework by interfacing with the internal and external PERC
controllers through the MCTP protocol over I2C interface. For real-time
configuration, CEM supports PERC9 controllers. The firmware version
for PERC9 controllers must be 9.1 or later.
Using iDRAC, you can perform most of the functions that are available
in OpenManage Storage Management including real-time (no reboot) configuration
commands (for example, create virtual disk). You can completely configure
RAID before installing the operating system.
You can configure and manage the controller functions without accessing
the BIOS. These functions include configuring virtual disks and applying
RAID levels and hot spares for data protection. You can initiate many
other controller functions such as rebuilds and troubleshooting.
You can protect your data by configuring data-redundancy or assigning
hot spares.
The storage devices are:
Controllers — Most operating systems do not read and write data
directly from the disks, but instead send read and write instructions
to a controller. The controller is the hardware in your system that
interacts directly with the disks to write and retrieve data. A controller
has connectors (channels or ports) which are attached to one or more
physical disks or an enclosure containing physical disks. RAID controllers
can span the boundaries of the disks to create an extended amount
of storage space— or a virtual disk — using the capacity of more than
one disk. Controllers also perform other tasks, such as initiating
rebuilds, initializing disks, and more. To complete their tasks, controllers
require special software known as firmware and drivers. In order to
function properly, the controller must have the minimum required version
of the firmware and drivers installed. Different controllers have
different characteristics in the way they read and write data and
execute tasks. It is helpful to understand these features to most
efficiently manage the storage.
Physical disks or physical devices — Reside within an enclosure
or are attached to the controller. On a RAID controller, physical
disks or devices are used to create virtual disks.
Virtual disk — It is storage created by a RAID controller from
one or more physical disks. Although a virtual disk may be created
from several physical disks, it is viewed by the operating system
as a single disk. Depending on the RAID level used, the virtual disk
may retain redundant data if there is a disk failure or have particular
performance attributes. Virtual disks can only be created on a RAID
controller.
Enclosure — It is attached to the system externally while the
backplane and its physical disks are internal.
Backplane — It is similar to an enclosure. In a Backplane, the
controller connector and physical disks are attached to the enclosure,
but it does not have the management features (temperature probes,
alarms, and so on) associated with external enclosures. Physical disks
can be contained in an enclosure or attached to the backplane of a
system.
In addition to managing the physical disks contained in the enclosure,
you can monitor the status of the fans, power supply, and temperature
probes in an enclosure. You can hot plug enclosures. Hot plugging
is defined as adding of a component to a system while the operating
system is still running.
The physical devices connected to the controller must have the
latest firmware. For the latest supported firmware, contact your service
provider.
Storage events from PERC are mapped to SNMP traps and WSMAN events
as applicable. Any changes to the storage configurations are logged
in the Lifecycle Log.
PERC Capability
CEM configuration Capable Controller (PERC 9.1
or later)
CEM configuration Non-capable Controller (PERC
9.0 and lower)
Real-time
If there is no existing pending or scheduled jobs for the controller,
then configuration is applied.
If there are pending or scheduled
jobs for that controller, then the jobs have to be cleared or you
must wait for the jobs to be completed before applying the configuration
at run-time. Run-time or real-time means, a reboot is not required.
Configuration is applied. An error message is displayed. Job
creation is not successful and you cannot create real-time jobs using
Web interface.
Staged
If all the set operations are staged, the configuration is
staged and applied after reboot or it is applied at real-time.
Configuration is applied after reboot
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