6

Discovering PowerStore Appliances

This appendix contains the following information.
Topics:
• Discovery with a direct connection
• Discovery with a remote connection

Discovery with a direct connection

This is the recommended procedure and requires that you are physically present in the location where the base enclosure is
installed.
● (Optional) Download and run the Network Validation Tool (NVT) to validate that your networks are correctly configured. The
NVT is available for download from the Dell Technologies Solutions page at: https://central.dell.com/central/home.
● Ensure that your workstation’s Network adapter is configured as follows:
○ Connected directly to the PowerStore service port on Node B.
○ Configured with a static IP address on the service LAN port (128.221.1.0/24) with no gateway address defined
(128.221.1.249; 255.255.255.0; no gateway)
○ Able to ping the IP address of Node B’s service LAN port (128.221.1.251)
1. Connect your workstation or laptop to the service port on Node B of the enclosure.
NOTE: The procedure in this section only applies if you are physically present within the datacenter. If you do not
have access to the base enclosure, skip these steps. You must download and run the PowerStore Discovery Utility on a
remote system or virtual machine to discover your system. For more information, see Discovery with remote connection.

B
Node

2. In a web browser, go to https://128.221.1.251

3. Log on to PowerStore Manager and begin the initial configuration process using the following default credentials:
● Username: admin
● Default password: Password123#

32 Discovering PowerStore Appliances

Discovery with a remote connection
If you do not have access to the base enclosure, deploy a workstation or virtual machine on the same network as the
PowerStore system and use the PowerStore Discovery Utility to discover and create a cluster.

B
Network

Node
A

Figure 9. PowerStore T model remote discovery connectivity

There are two methods of discovery for you to choose from:

● Remote discovery using Discovery Tool
● Remote discovery with a static IP address

Remote discovery using Discovery Tool

You can discover PowerStore using Discovery Tool, which advertises a 169.254.xx/16 IP address.
● Download the PowerStore Discovery Utility from the Drivers & Downloads Tab on the PowerStore Product Support Page at
https://dell.com/support.
● (Optional) Download and run the Network Validation Tool (NVT) for PowerStore to validate that your networks are correctly
configured. The NVT is available for download from the Dell Technologies Solutions page at: https://central.dell.com/
central/home.
● Temporarily disable your firewall. If that is not possible, add port 5353 and the Discovery Utility to the exclusion list of
any firewall and antivirus software running on the workstation. Refer to your antivirus and firewall documentation for more
information.
NOTE: If your workstation or VM is running Windows 10, and you use Windows Defender Antivirus, ensure that you also
disable Real-time protection. In the Windows Security app, go to Virus & threat protection.
● Disable any other security applications, such as antivirus software.
● Ensure that your workstation or virtual machine is connected directly to the same switch that the base enclosure is cabled to
or is on the same VLAN as the native/untagged network of the PowerStore management network connection:
○ Create a second network adapter that uses the same native/untagged network as the PowerStore management network
connection.
○ Verify whether there is an IP address starting with 169.254.x.x/16 subnet setup available that you can use as the IP
address of the second network adapter. If such an IP address is not available, set the IP address of the second network
adapter to 169.254.1.2 with netmask 255.255.0.0 and no gateway address defined. This address cannot be overwritten
by any other address ranges (whether you use DHCP or static IP addresses).
NOTE: To avoid duplicate IP addresses, ensure that there is only one laptop or virtual machine in the same native/
untagged network with the 169.254.x.x IP address you set up.
● If you had the Discovery Utility already running, ensure that you exit and restart the Discovery Utility after temporarily
disabling the firewall or antivirus services.
1. From your workstation or virtual machine, launch the PowerStore Discovery Utility.
2. Select the unconfigured base enclosure for which you want to create a cluster.
3. Log on to PowerStore Manager and begin the initial configuration process using the following default credentials:
● Username: admin
● Default password: Password123#

Remote discovery with a static IP address

You can discover PowerStore systems remotely using a static IP.
Review the following before discovering with one of the static IP addresses reserved for PowerStore discovery.

Discovering PowerStore Appliances 33

● (Optional) Download and run the Network Validation Tool (NVT) for PowerStore to validate that your networks are correctly
configured. The NVT is available for download from the Dell Technologies Solutions page at: https://central.dell.com/
central/home.
● Ensure that your workstation or virtual machine is connected directly to the same switch that the base enclosure is cabled to
or is on the same VLAN as the native/untagged network of the PowerStore management network connection:
○ Create a second network adapter that uses the same native/untagged network as the PowerStore management network
connection.
○ Verify whether there is an IP address starting with 169.254.0.x/16 subnet setup available that you can use as the IP
address of the second network adapter. If such an IP address is not available, set the IP address of the second network
adapter to 169.254.1.2 with netmask 255.255.0.0 and no gateway address defined. This address cannot be overwritten
by any other address ranges (whether you use DHCP or static IP addresses).
NOTE: To avoid duplicate IP addresses, ensure that there is only one laptop or virtual machine in the same native/
untagged network with the 169.254.x.x IP address you set up.
1. From your workstation or virtual machine, open a Web browser, and enter any one of the IP addresses reserved for
PowerStore discovery.
● http://169.254.0.10
● http://169.254.0.20
● http://169.254.0.30
● http://169.254.0.40
● http://169.254.0.50
2. Log on to PowerStore Manager and begin the initial configuration process using the following default credentials:
● Username: admin
● Default password: Password123#

34 Discovering PowerStore Appliances

 7
Initial configuration of the PowerStore T
model appliance
This chapter includes the following information.
Topics:
• Initial Configuration Wizard
• Get your completed Initial Configuration Worksheet

Initial Configuration Wizard

Once you have discovered the PowerStore T model appliance, you are redirected to the Initial Configuration Wizard (ICW) to
configure the networks on the PowerStore T model appliance.
The Initial Configuration Wizard (ICW) prompts you to enter the necessary network information for initial configuration of
your PowerStore T model appliance.
Refer to your completed Initial Configuration Worksheet while running through the ICW. The Initial Configuration Worksheet
should have been completed with all the information you will need to complete initial deployment of the PowerStore T model
appliance.
Note the following while you are running through the ICW.

Table 10. Prepare to run through the Initial Configuration Wizard (ICW)
Fields Description
Login credentials You will use the default username and password the first time you log into PowerStore. However,
you must change the admin password before you can continue through the Initial Configuration
Wizard (ICW). Be sure to note down the new admin password you have entered for the cluster in the
completed Initial Configuration Worksheet. A sample of this password has not been provided for you.
Cluster Details Select:
● Block-optimized for Fibre Channel only deployments with the option of adding services after
initial configuration such as iSCSI or NVMe/TCP host connectivity, Replication, Block import, and
Clustering.
● Unified is the default selection. With a Unified deployment you have the option of adding any of
the Block-optimized options, Network Attached Storage (NAS) services, and File Mobility. If you
do not select Unified now, you will need to contact your service provider before you can add NAS
services in the future.
Management Tagging the Native VLAN requires that the physical switch is configured to accept the tagged VLAN
network ID. If no VLAN ID is specified during initial configuration of a cluster, the network traffic will be sent as
untagged. When the traffic is untagged, the physical switch will apply the Native VLAN to the traffic.
If you want to use the native VLAN for any of your PowerStore networks, do not check the Use
VLAN Tagging field in the PowerStore Initial Configuration Wizard. Whenthe network traffic is not
tagged (based on the 802.1q standard) the network takes on the native VLAN. The traffic on that
network is passed as untagged in PowerStore, and the Native VLAN is applied to the untagged traffic
through the switch.

vCenter Information PowerStore clusters use a specific implementation of virtualization concepts that are based in a
VMware vSphere framework. PowerStore appliances are designed to be integrated with VMware
vSphere. These integrations include:
● vCenter Server
● Virtual machines

Initial configuration of the PowerStore T model appliance 35

Table 10. Prepare to run through the Initial Configuration Wizard (ICW) (continued)
Fields Description
● Virtual volumes
● Protocol Endpoints
● VASA provider
● Storage containers
● Storage Policy Based Management
For details see PowerStore Virtualization Infrastructure Guide.

Get your completed Initial Configuration Worksheet

You should have worked with your network administrator to complete the Initial Configuration Worksheet.
The following worksheet has been completed with the resources that are configured on the Dell PowerSwitch Series S4148-
ON Top-of-Rack switches. If you are configuring your environment with alternative network resources, complete the blank
worksheet available in this guide at Initial Configuration Worksheet (blank).
Also, be sure to note down the admin password that you define for the cluster in the completed Initial Configuration
Worksheet below. A sample of a user-defined password is not provided for you.

Table 11. Initial Configuration Worksheet (completed)

Initial Login Information
Use the following default user credentials when you log in to the PowerStore Manager for the first time.
You must enter a new admin password to complete the initial configuration of a PowerStore Manager cluster.

Default Username Admin

Default Password Password123# New Admin Password
Cluster Details
For resource management, efficiency, and availability purposes, appliances act as a single component that is called a cluster.

Cluster Name PowerStoreTCluster

Storage Configuration Unified

Select either: If you are deploying into a single VLAN, ensure that you configure a unique subnet for each
type of network.
Unified (Default Block and File
Storage) or Block Optimized
Block Optimized

Appliance Service Tags CNR42W2 Single Drive Failure

Enter the service tag. The service tag appears on the or
black tag on the front of the base enclosure. When
Double Drive Failure
the systems arrive identify the base enclosures that you
want to configure as a cluster and record their service Single Drive Failure
tags. N/A
or
Drive Failure Tolerance Level
Double Drive Failure
Next to each appliance select the drive failure tolerance
level you want to set. The drive failure tolerance level Single Drive Failure
N/A
indicates the number of concurrent drive failures the
appliance can sustain without causing a data unavailable or
or data loss event. The single drive fault tolerance level Double Drive Failure
meets availability requirements for all drive types and
capacity points. But the double drive failure tolerance N/A Single Drive Failure
can provide higher resiliency and protection.
or
Double Drive Failure

36 Initial configuration of the PowerStore T model appliance

Table 11. Initial Configuration Worksheet (completed) (continued)

Ensure that there are at least the following number of

SSD drives in the enclosure:
● At least 6 for single drive failure tolerance
● 7 for double drive failure tolerance
NOTE: Once set, the drive failure tolerance level
for an appliance cannot be changed.

Management Network
Your cluster requires a dedicated set of IP addresses for the cluster and Management network.
The Management network Connects the cluster to services such as DNS and NTP. The IP Addresses in the management
network are used to address the cluster, appliances, controllers, and internal hosts.

Cluster IP Address 192.168.1.10

(1 IP address for each PowerStore cluster)
This address is used to manage the cluster.

VLAN ID(Optional, defaults to Netmask/Prefix Gateway IP Addresses

untagged) Length
Required: 3 IPs for each
PowerStore T model appliance
Optionally: 3 IPs for the File
Mobility Network. For details,
see Appendix 1: File Mobility.

Untagged 255.255.255.0/24 192.168.1.1 Required for Managment

Network192.168.1.11-13

Optional for File Mobility

Network192.168.1.14-16

Infrastructure Services
Record IP addresses for your DNS and NTP servers. It is recommended that you specify at least two addresses for DNS and
NTP servers each.

DNS Server 100.0.100.200 100.0.100.201

NTP Server 100.0.100.200 100.0.100.201

Out-of-Band Management Switch (Management MngmtSwitch N/A

switch) information
You can provide read-only credentials for the switches.

Protocol (SSH/SNMP) SSH N/A

IP Address 100.0.100.50 N/A

Port 22 N/A

SSH Username admin N/A

Switch Password Password123! N/A

vCenter Information (Optional)
Record your existing vCenter administrator login credentials. The initial configuration workflow automatically creates a data
center and ESXi cluster, and associates them with your cluster.

NOTE: Ensure that the vCenter Server is accessible on the network.

vCenter Server IP Address/Host Name N/A

Initial configuration of the PowerStore T model appliance 37

Table 11. Initial Configuration Worksheet (completed) (continued)

vCenter Administrator Username N/A

vCenter Administrator Password N/A

PowerStore T model appliance Admin Credentials

Enter the PowerStore T model appliance administrator credentials for vCenter to access the PowerStore T model appliance.

Admin Username N/A

Password This is the user-defined password that is N/A
provided after initial login to the PowerStore T model
appliance.

38 Initial configuration of the PowerStore T model appliance

 II
Add Storage Services
This part contains information to prepare the switches, and to configure Dell PowerSwitch Series for PowerStore T model an
additional protocol and services.
Topics:
• Storage services overview
• Prepare to configure the switches and networks for Storage services
• Switch requirements for deployments with storage services
• Network requirements for deployments with storage services
• Configuring PowerStore T model with Dell PowerSwitch Series S4148 Top-of-Rack switches
• Cable Dell PowerSwitch Series ToR switches for Storage services
• Validate PowerSwitch Series configuration with ToR switches
• Configure Storage networks in PowerStore Manager

Add Storage Services 39

 8
Storage services overview
This chapter contains the following information
Topics:
• Storage Services

Storage Services
PowerStore T model appliances are configured for Fibre Channel after initial deployment. You have the option to add storage
services after initial deployment.
Storage services include the following protocols and services.

Table 12. Storage service descriptions

Network Description
Cluster The Cluster network is used:
● To manage internal communication such as to the cluster database, and between
appliances within a cluster. The intra-cluster management network is encrypted with
IPSEC.
● For intra-cluster data mobility traffic such as storage migration between appliances.
● To enable file services on an Unified appliance, communication will be routed within the
appliance PowerStore T model rather than the ToR switch.

NVMe/TCP NVMe/TCP storage network (block) traffic including PowerStore T model target portals for
front-end traffic.

iSCSI iSCSI storage network (block) traffic including PowerStore T model target portals for front-
end traffic.
Replication and Block Import Used for PowerStore T model target portals for front-end traffic for both file and block
storage and external data mobility traffic for block storage.
Network Attached Storage Network attached storage (NAS):
● Front-end access such as NFS, SMB, and FTP
● Active Directory (AD) for the NAS services
● External data mobility traffic for file storage
NAS services are optional. NAS services are only available with Unified deployments. To
enable a Unified deployment, select the Unified mode when in the PowerStore T model
Initial Configuration Wizard.
A NAS network can be extended with a Fail Safe Network (FSN). An FSN extends link failover
into the network by providing switch-level redundancy when the Top-of-Rack switches are not
configured with an MC-LAG interconnect.
An FSN can be configured on a port, a link aggregation or any combination of the two.

File Import Used with the File Mobility network to import File storage from remote systems.
The File Import network requires that the:
● PowerStore T model is deployed to support NAS services.
● File Mobility network is configured on the Management switch. For details about the File
Mobility network and how to configure it, see Appendix 1: File Mobility.

40 Storage services overview

 9
Prepare to configure the switches and
networks for Storage services
This chapter includes the following information.
Topics:
• Switch resources for Storage services worksheet
• Network configuration worksheet for Storage services

Switch resources for Storage services worksheet

Work with your network administrator to complete the Switch Resources for Storage services Worksheet and reserve the
necessary resources to configure the two Top-of-Rack (ToR) switches required for Storage services.
For a sample of a Switch Resources for Storage services Worksheet completed for Dell PowerSwitch Series see, Completed
example of Switch resources for Storage services worksheet.
NOTE: This section assumes you have completed initial deployment, and your Management switch and network have been
successfully configured.
Additionally, you may want to work with your network administrator to complete the Network configuration worksheet for
Storage services at the same time, to reserve the necessary resources to create the Storage networks in PowerStore Manager.

Table 13. Switch resources for Storage services worksheet (blank)

Step Details Notes
1. Print this table to record the reserved resources.
2 Reserve and record the IP addresses necessary to configure the ToR switches below:
Management IP address for ToR Switch 1
Management IP address for ToR Switch 2
Default gateway
NTP server
3. As a best practice it is recommended to add a spanning tree protocol to the ToR switches.
Record the spanning tree protocols to set on each switch.

Spanning tree protocol for ToR Switch 1

Spanning tree protocol for ToR Switch 2
4. Choose which layer 2 interconnect you will configure between the switches:

Highly Recommended: Direct interconnect using

Multi-chassis Link Aggregation Group (MC-LAG)
Continue to step 5.

Direct Interconnect not using MC-LAG

Continue to step 6.

No direct interconnect between the switches

Prepare to configure the switches and networks for Storage services 41

Table 13. Switch resources for Storage services worksheet (blank) (continued)
Step Details Notes

Continue to step 6.

5. If you will be using MC-LAG, record the ports you will

use to connect the switches together.
ToR Switch 1 to ToR Switch 2 port pair 1

ToR Switch 1 to ToR Switch 2 port pair 2

Enter the port channel ID used for connectivity
between the ToR switches and the uplinks.
Only a single port channel ID is required for MC-LAG
(VLT).

If using MC-LAG, enter the Domain ID.

If using uplinks for Layer 2 connectivity between the
switches, continue to step 6.
If using VLT for the Layer 2 interconnect, record the:

VLT MAC address to use for both switch 1 and switch

2.
Use the same VLT MAC address for switch 1 and
switch 2.
NOTE: You cannot use all zeros
(00:00:00:00:00) for the VLT MAC address.

VLT priority for ToR Switch 1

VLT priority for ToR Switch 2
MTU setting for Jumbo Frames
NOTE: It is recommended to configure jumbo
frames with an MTU setting of 9216. The same
MTU size must be set on both switches for both
node ports.

6. If configuring the ToR switches with a direct Interconnect not using MC-LAG, or without a direct connection between
the ToR switches, record the ports on the ToR switches that will be used to connect to the uplinks.
Uplink A to ToR Switch 1
Uplink B to ToR Switch 1
Uplink A to ToR Switch 2
Uplink B to ToR Switch 2
Record the uplink port channel IDs required for L2 Uplinks without MC-LAG.
L2 Uplinks without MC-LAG connectivity requires two port channel IDs.

1. Port channel ID for L2 Uplinks without MC-LAG

2. Port channel ID for L2 Uplinks without MC-LAG
7. Reserve the network resources required to configure the networks and the ports to connect from the PowerStore T
model appliance nodes to the Top-of-Rack (ToR) switch ports for each Storage network you are configuring.
You can put multiple storage networks on the same ports, or you can connect each storage network through different
ports.
When cabling from the node ports to the ToR switch ports, corresponding ports on Node A and Node B should connect
to opposite switches.

42 Prepare to configure the switches and networks for Storage services

Table 13. Switch resources for Storage services worksheet (blank) (continued)
Step Details Notes

NOTE: Ports 0 and 1 of the 4-port card are reserved for the cluster network with all PowerStore T model
appliances. If deploying a PowerStore 500T model appliance ports 2 and 3 of the 4-port card are reserved for
connectivity to the 24 Drive 2.5 Inch NVMe (ENS24) expansion enclosures.

iSCSI connectivity Network Name

VLAN ID
Record which appliance node To cable to the ToR switch
port number and port:
Node A ToR Switch
Port Switch port

Node B ToR Switch

Port Switch port

NVMe/TCP host connectivity Network Name

VLAN ID
Record which appliance node To cable to the ToR switch
port number and port:
Node A ToR Switch
Port Switch port

Node B ToR Switch

Port Switch port

Replication and Import Network Name

NOTE: Replication and Import networks cannot be
VLAN ID
separated and must run over the same ports.
Record which appliance node To cable to the ToR switch
port number and port:
Node A ToR Switch
Port Switch port

Node B ToR Switch

Port Switch port

Network Attached Storage (NAS) Network Name

Must be configured in an LACP bond. VLAN ID
It is recommended that you configure the bond with Record the LACP (port channel) ID for the node connections:
one port from different I/O modules.
Node A
When configuring an LACP bond:
● The PowerStore T model appliance node ports Node B
cabled for LACP must be the same speed. Record which appliance node To cable to the ToR switch
● LACP can be configured using 2 or 4 ports on each port number and port:
node, however the same number of ports must be
configured for LACP on both nodes. Node A ToR Switch
Port Switch port

Node A ToR Switch

Port Switch port

Node B ToR Switch

Prepare to configure the switches and networks for Storage services 43

Table 13. Switch resources for Storage services worksheet (blank) (continued)
Step Details Notes

Port Switch port

Node B ToR Switch

Port Switch port

MTU setting for Jumbo

Frames
NOTE: It is recommended
to configure jumbo frames
with an MTU setting of
9216. The same MTU size
must be set on both
switches for both node
ports.

If extending the with a Fail Safe Network, record the

following:
VLAN ID
Record the LACP (port channel) ID, or the port number for
the node connections:
Node A
Node B
Record which appliance node To cable to the ToR switch
port number and port:
Node A ToR Switch
Port Switch port

Node A ToR Switch

Port Switch port

Node B ToR Switch

Switch port

Node B ToR Switch

Port Switch port

MTU setting for Jumbo

Frames
NOTE: It is recommended
to configure jumbo frames
with an MTU setting of
9216. The same MTU size
must be set on both
switches for both node
ports.

File Import Network Name

Must be configured in an LACP bond. VLAN ID
File Import can use the same bond used for the NAS Record the LACP (port channel) ID for the node connections:
network, but it cannot use the bond dedicated to the
Cluster network. Node A
When configuring an LACP bond: Node B

44 Prepare to configure the switches and networks for Storage services

Table 13. Switch resources for Storage services worksheet (blank) (continued)
Step Details Notes
● The PowerStore T model appliance node ports Record which appliance node To cable to the ToR switch
cabled for LACP must be the same speed. port number and port:
● LACP can be configured using 2 or 4 ports on each
Node A ToR Switch
node, however the same number of ports must be
configured for LACP on both nodes. Port Switch port

Node A ToR Switch

Port Switch port

Node B ToR Switch

Port Switch port

From Node B To ToR Switch

Port Switch port

MTU setting for Jumbo N/A

Frames
NOTE: It is recommended
to configure jumbo frames
with an MTU setting of
9216. The same MTU size
must be set on both
switches for both node
ports.

Cluster Network Name

When cabling the nodes for the cluster network: VLAN ID
● Ports 0 and 1 of the 4-port card are reserved for Record the LACP (port channel) ID for the node connections:
clustering
● Ports 0 and 1 on the 4-port card on the same node Node A
must connect to opposite switches
Node B
● Port 0 on the 4-port card on Node A and Port 0
on the 4-port card on Node B must connect to Record which appliance node To cable to the ToR switch
opposite switches port number and port:
● Port 1 on the 4-port card on Node A and Port 1
Node A ToR Switch
on the 4-port card on Node B must connect to
opposite switches Port 0 of the 4-port card Switch port

Node A ToR Switch

Port 1 of the 4-port card Switch port

Node B ToR Switch

Port 0 of the 4-port card Switch port

Node B ToR Switch

Port 1 of the 4-port card Switch port

MTU setting for Jumbo

Frames
NOTE: It is recommended
to configure jumbo frames
with an MTU setting of
9216. The same MTU size
must be set on both
switches for both node
ports.

Prepare to configure the switches and networks for Storage services 45

Network configuration worksheet for Storage
services
You will need to reserve the following resources to create Storage networks in PowerStore Manager.
Work with your network administrator to complete the following Network configuration worksheets for each Storage network
you are creating in PowerStore Manager.

Table 14. Network configuration worksheet for additional Block-optimized storage services (blank)
Resource iSCSI NVMe/TCP Replication and
Block Import
Storage Network Name
(Optional) VLAN ID
For better security and performance,
it is recommended that you specify
a unique VLAN ID for each type of
network.
If you are deploying into a single VLAN,
ensure that you configure a unique
subnet for the Management and each
Storage network.
Use the same VLAN IDs that were used
to configure your Storage networks on
the switch.

Netmask/Prefix Length
Gateway
Storage Network IP addresses
You must reserve a minimum 2 IP
addresses for each Storage network
you are adding. (1 IP address per node.)

(Optional) Global Storage

Discovery IP
It is recommended that you choose to
create this IP address. It is used as
the single highly available floating IP
address for hosts to easily discover
storage from your cluster.

Map Storage for Appliance/

Network Interface Include the Node
ports, or port channel on which the
networks are configured.

Table 15. Network configuration worksheet for NAS storage service (blank)
Resource NAS
Network Name
(Optional) VLAN ID
For better security and performance, it is recommended that you specify a unique VLAN
ID for each type of network.
If you are deploying into a single VLAN, ensure that you configure a unique subnet for the
Management, Storage, and NAS networks.

46 Prepare to configure the switches and networks for Storage services

Table 15. Network configuration worksheet for NAS storage service (blank) (continued)
Resource NAS

Use the same VLAN IDs that were used to configure your storage networks on the
switch.

Netmask/Prefix Length
Gateway
Network IP addresses
You must reserve a minimum of 1 IP address for NAS Server production. Optionally, you
can reserve additional IP addresses for NAS Server backups.

Map Storage for Appliance/Network Interface Include the Node ports, or port
channel on which the networks are configured.
If configuring a Fail Safe Network, record the following information
NOTE: You only need to define the port or link aggregation for Node A. The same port or link aggregation will
automatically be created on Node B.

Primary port or Link Aggregation to include in the FSN.

Secondary port or Link Aggregation to include in the FSN.

Table 16. Network configuration worksheet for File Import (blank)

Resource File Import
(Optional) VLAN ID
Netmask/Prefix Length
Gateway
Network IP addresses
A minimum of 1 IP address is required for each active file import session. However,
a File Import interface can be reused for File Import when no other session is
currently using it.

(Optional) Global Storage Discovery IP

It is recommended that you choose to create this IP address. It is used as the
single highly available floating IP address for hosts to easily discover storage from
your cluster.

Map Storage for Appliance/Network Interface Include the Node ports, or port
channel on which the networks are configured.

Prepare to configure the switches and networks for Storage services 47

 10
Switch requirements for deployments with
storage services
This chapter contains the following information.
Topics:
• Top-of-Rack (ToR) switch connectivity options and requirements
• Top-of-Rack (ToR) switch to ToR switch (L2) connectivity options

Top-of-Rack (ToR) switch connectivity options and

requirements
In addition to the Management switch configured during your initial deployment of the PowerStore T model appliance, you must
add two ToR switches to route the storage services traffic.

Top-of-Rack (ToR) switch to ToR switch (L2)

connectivity options
Use one of the following options to connect the two ToR switches.

Table 17. Connectivity options for ToR switches

ToR to ToR connectivity Description
Direct interconnect using Dell highly recommends using MC-LAG for connectivity between the ToR switches.
Multi-chassis Link Aggregation
When the ToR switches are interconnected with MC-LAG the two ports used on the
(MC-LAG)
PowerStore appliance 4-port card, or I/O module (system bond) can be configured in an
active/active state.

Direct interconnect not using If MC-LAG is not used to interconnect the ToR switches, you can create a port channel
MC-LAG between the ToR switches.
When the ToR switches are connected using a Port Channel the two ports used on the
PowerStore appliance 4-port card, or I/O module (system bond) reverts into an active/
passive state.

No direct interconnect If the ToR switches cannot be interconnected then use highly reliable Layer 2 (L2) uplinks.
between the switches
When using highly reliable L2 uplinks, the two ports used on the PowerStore appliance 4-port
card, or I/O module (system bond) reverts into an active/passive state.

NOTE: For more information about PowerStore system bonds refer to the Dell PowerStore: Clustering and High Availability
white paper.

48 Switch requirements for deployments with storage services

Direct interconnect using Multi-chassis Link Aggregation (MC-
LAG)
It is highly recommended that you deploy PowerStore with an MC-LAG interconnect between the two ToR switches.
MC-LAG is a switch interconnection technology that joins a number of independent Top-of-Rack (ToR) switches into a single
virtual chassis. MC-LAG allows the link aggregation (LAG) port groups to span multiple chassis, enabling better resilience of
the LAG connection. Additionally, MC-LAG enables traffic going from switch to switch using the full bandwidth of the available
connection, without using spanning tree protocol (STP), which would disable some links to prevent loops.
MC-LAG is a general name for the technology, however certain vendors use their own proprietary terminology to define
MC-LAG connectivity.

Table 18. Vendor specific MC-LAG technology

Vendor Proprietary MC-LAG technology
Dell Virtual Link Trunking (VLT)
Cisco Virtual PortChannel (vPC)
Brocade Multi-Chassis Trunking (MCT)

NOTE: Refer to your vendor's documentation to determine their technology for MC-LAG.

When the ToR switches are interconnected with MC-LAG the two ports used on PowerStore appliance 4-port card, or I/O
module (system bond) are able to be configured in an active/active state.

Top of Rack Top of Rack

Switch 1 Switch 2
MC-LAG
Interconnect

Port Channels
Port X Port Y Port Y Port X

Node A Node B

Appliance

Figure 10. ToR switches with MC-LAG interconnect

For MC-LAG connectivity it is recommended that:

● A minimum of two connection cables in parallel with a high speed reliable connection.
● Use of high speed ports will reduce the network traffic congestion between the two switches.
● Verify best practices for MC-LAG from your switch provider documentation.

MC-LAG interconnect with upstream links

Additionally, in an MC-LAG environment the two switches are treated as one logical switch. This allows you to add all the
upstream links from both switches into a single port channel that will span the MC-LAG as demonstrated in the following
diagram.

Switch requirements for deployments with storage services 49

 NOTE: Work with your network administrator if you will be connecting the ToR switches to upstream switches.

Upstream Upstream
Switch 1 Switch 2

Port Channel

Top of Rack Top of Rack

Switch 1 Switch 2
MC-LAG
Interconnect

Port Channels
Port 0 Port 1 Port 1 Port 0

Node A Node B

Appliance

Figure 11. ToR switches with MC-LAG interconnect and upstream links

Direct interconnect not using MC-LAG

If MC-LAG is not used to interconnect the ToR switches, you can create a port channel between the ToR switches.
When the ToR switches are connected using a Port Channel the 1st 2-ports in the PowerStore appliance 4-port card (system
bond) reverts into an active/passive state.

50 Switch requirements for deployments with storage services

 Top of Rack Top of Rack
Switch 1 Switch 2
Port Channel

Port 0 Port 1 Port 1 Port 0

Node A Node B

Appliance

Figure 12. ToR switches direct interconnect not using MC-LAG

No direct interconnect between the switches

If the ToR switches cannot be interconnected directly then use highly reliable Layer 2 (L2) upstream links.
ToR switch connectivity through the upstream links require redundant, high speed connections.
Using L2 (Ethernet level) upstream links without an MC-LAG connection to connect the ToR switches is an acceptable
alternative to a direct interconnect for PowerStore deployments.
When using highly reliable upstream links for ToR switch interconnectivity, the 1st 2-ports in the PowerStore appliance 4-port
card (system bond) reverts into an active/passive state.

Switch requirements for deployments with storage services 51

 Upstream Upstream
Switch 1 Switch 2

Port Channels

Top of Rack Top of Rack

Switch 1 Switch 2

Port 0 Port 1 Port 1 Port 0

Node A Node B

Appliance

Figure 13. ToR switches with no direct interconnect

52 Switch requirements for deployments with storage services