POWERSTORE DESIGN

POWERSIZER

PARTICIPANT GUIDE

PARTICIPANT GUIDE
 PowerStore Design PowerSizer

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Table of Contents

Sizing a PowerStore Solution 6

Introduction to PowerStore 6
Designing a PowerStore Solution for Performance 6
Knowledge Check 1 7

PowerSizer for PowerStore 8

Sizing a PowerStore Solution: PowerSizer 8
Overview of PowerSizer 8
PowerSizer Dashboard 9
PowerSizer Output 10
Knowledge Check 2 10

Workload Characterization 12
Characterizing I/O Workloads 12
Typical I/O Characteristics 12
Sizing Considerations 14
Knowledge Check 3 14

Block Input Options 16

Block Storage Workload: Input Fields 16
Workload Templates 17
Knowledge Check 4 18

File Input Options 19

File Storage Workload: Input Fields 19
File Workload Considerations 20
Knowledge Check 5 21

Virtual Machines Input Options 23

Virtual Machine Characteristics and Workload 23
Virtual Machine Workload Fields 23
PowerStore X Considerations 25

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 Knowledge Check 6 26

Workload Handling 27
Sizer Workload Handling: Overview 27
Workload Handling (PowerStore T) 27
Workload Handling (PowerStore X) 28
Knowledge Check 7 29

Using PowerSizer Quick Size 30

Quick Size/Sizer Path Use Cases 30
Quick Size/Sizer Path Use Cases 30
Sizer Path Process Overview: Step 1 31
Sizer Path Process Overview: Step 2 32
Sizer Path Process Overview: Step 3 33
Sizer Path Process Overview: Step 4 34
Sizer Path Process Overview: Step 5 35
Sizer Path Process Overview: Step 5A 36
Knowledge Check 8 36

Customizing Workloads 37
Customizing Workloads: Overview 37
Split Workloads in Sizer Path 37
Splitting Workloads 38
Editing and Adding Workloads 39
Moving Workloads 40
Cloning Workloads 41
Knowledge Check 9 42

Project Management 43
Sizing Projects 43
My Projects Screen 43
Scenario Options 45
Scenario Options: CONNECTIVITY Tab 46
Scenario Options: POWER Tab 47

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 Scenario Options: EXPORT Tab 50
Scenario Options: POWERPOINT Tab 51
Knowledge Check 10 51

PowerStore Sizing: Practice 53

Use Cases for PowerStore Sizing 53
Use Case 1: Single Block Workload Sizer 53
Steps for Use Case 1: Single Block Workload Sizer 54
Customizing Scenario Settings 55
Use Case 2: Single File Workload Sizer 56
Steps for Use Case 2: Single File Workload Sizer 56
Use Case 3: Multiple Workloads Sizer 56
Steps for Use Case 3: Multiple Workloads Sizer 57
Use Case 4: PowerStore X Sizer 57
Steps for Use Case 4: PowerStore X Sizer 58

Presentation of Sizer Solutions 59

Creating Presentations of Solutions 59
Contents of Solution Presentations 59
Sample Solution Presentations 60
Sample 1: Single-Appliance Solution 60
Sample 2: Multiple Appliances with Mixed Workloads 64

Appendix 69

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 Sizing a PowerStore Solution

Sizing a PowerStore Solution

Introduction to PowerStore

Designing a PowerStore Solution for Performance

Different PowerStore models have different CPU speeds and core counts,
which help to achieve different I/O performance potentials. In general, the
IOPS capability of the PowerStore models scales linearly from PowerStore
500 onwards.

Model Core Count* Speed* Memory*

PowerStore (T) 12 Core (Single- 2.2 GHz 96 GB

500 socket CPU)

PowerStore (T) 10 Core (Dual- 2.4 GHz 192 GB

1200 socket CPU)

PowerStore 16 Core (Dual- 2.1 GHz 384 GB

(T/X) 3200 socket CPU)

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 Sizing a PowerStore Solution

PowerStore 24 Core (Dual- 2.2 GHz 576 GB

(T/X) 5200 socket CPU)

PowerStore 28 Core (Dual- 2.2 GHz 1280 GB

(T/X) 9200 socket CPU)

*Values are per node

Designing solutions with these models involves sizing the solutions for
customers to arrive at a configuration that supports the wanted workloads
at the required performance level.

Knowledge Check 1

1. When making PowerStore recommendations, what is important to

know about the difference between PowerStore T and PowerStore X?
Select the correct option and then select Submit.
a. PowerStore T runs VM and block workloads, whereas PowerStore
X runs file and block workloads.
b. PowerStore T runs the PowerStore OS on purpose-built
hardware. PowerStore X runs the OS in a VM on a hypervisor.
c. PowerStore T allows application deployment on an array through
AppsON, whereas PowerStore X runs block-optimized workloads.
d. PowerStore T manages VM profiles through AppsON, whereas
PowerStore X manages block workloads on purpose-built
hardware.

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 PowerSizer for PowerStore

PowerSizer for PowerStore

Sizing a PowerStore Solution: PowerSizer

TAs have an online planning tool called PowerSizer (also called Sizer) to
work out the right PowerStore, PowerMax, PowerScale, PowerVault, and
APEX configurations for optimal performance. This course focuses on
PowerStore solutions.

PowerSizer dashboard

Overview of PowerSizer

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 PowerSizer for PowerStore

Link to access PowerSizer: https://powersizer.dell.com. Log in with your

authorized user name.

PowerSizer Dashboard

The PowerSizer dashboard has five sections and a help touchpoint.

Select each numbered item to learn more.

PowerSizer dashboard

1: Help touchpoint to show context-sensitive help for specific items on

the screen

2: Guidance and resources for sizing

3: Direct access to Sizer Path (formerly known as Advisor) for PowerStore

and other models

4: Recent projects containing one or more sizing scenarios

5: Information about using PowerSizer

6: Unsaved sizing requests that can be opened or deleted

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 PowerSizer for PowerStore

PowerSizer Output

The output of PowerSizer shows the system saturation and capacity

utilization per workload in the selected PowerStore model. Select each
number label to view the details in the output.

Select each numbered item to learn more.

PowerSizer output

1: Aggregate capacity and storage performance utilization within each

appliance

2: Average capacity utilization across all appliances in a multi-appliance

cluster

3: Average storage performance saturation across all appliances in a

multi-appliance configuration

4: Maximum performance representing 100% system saturation based on

the input parameters for appliances

Knowledge Check 2

1. Where in PowerSizer would a TA find the Sizer path for storage

solutions?

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 PowerSizer for PowerStore

Select the correct option and then select Submit.

PowerSizer dashboard

a. ISG: Sizing and Build Tools section

b. Quick Size section
c. Recent Projects section
d. Unsaved Sizing Requests section

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 Workload Characterization

Workload Characterization

Characterizing I/O Workloads

Think:
What is available in the network, and how much work does the
network and storage have to do?

Typical I/O Characteristics

Typically, three types of I/O characteristics are captured for sizing

PowerStore solutions:

Block

 IOPS
 MiB/s

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 Workload Characterization

 Split of read/write operations

 I/O sizes
 Expected data reduction ratio
 Effective capacity
 Growth of performance and capacity

File

 Operations per second (Read+write_file metadata operations)

 Throughput MiB/s
 Expected data reduction ratio
 Effective capacity
 Growth of performance and capacity

VMs

 Machine and virtual CPU counts

 Memory
 IOPS
 CPU and memory utilization
 Capacity
 Performance growth

Important: The PowerStore X effective capacity required =

number of VMs X Capacity per VM.

Every VM profile has an associated block workload that is aggregated for

the specified VM count and IOPS.

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 Workload Characterization

Sizing Considerations

Keep in mind these considerations for sizing PowerStore T and

PowerStore X solutions.

PowerStore T

 A PowerStore T solution requires block and/or file I/O characterization

for sizing.
 Characterization for blocks should include vVols, where appropriate.

PowerStore X

 A PowerStore X solution requires a VM characterization profile and I/O

workload characterization for each VM, including:
o CPU
o Memory
o Capacity
o Input/output operations per second (IOPS)
o Utilization of VM resources
 PowerSizer aggregates VM profile-associated block workloads with
independent block workloads to estimate the system saturation, based
on the effective capacity and total IOPS.
 Block characterization should include vVols, where appropriate.

The next set of topics covers the entry of these characteristics in

PowerSizer, starting with block input options.

Knowledge Check 3

1. What is a good rule of thumb when it comes to PowerStore Storage

Performance Saturation?
Select the correct option and then select Submit.
a. 20-30%

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 Workload Characterization

b. 50-60%
c. 40-50%
d. 70-80%

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 Block Input Options

Block Input Options

Block Storage Workload: Input Fields

Block workload options specify the I/O characteristics of data blocks.

Select the number labels to learn about the workload fields.

PowerSizer: Workloads page

1: Connectivity: Select the type of connectivity.

Default value: Fibre Channel

2: Data Reduction Ratio: Expected average data reduction that is

achievable with the workload data. It impacts the effective capacity of the
PowerStore solution.

Default value: 4:1

3: Effective Capacity: Required capacity (in TiB) of a cluster, given the

data reduction ratio

4: Performance: User input for the workload (in K IOPS) or throughput (in
MiB/s) that is based on the appliance workloads in the cluster

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 Block Input Options

5: Response Time: Desirable average response time or latency for a

solution

6: Capacity Growth: Estimated growth added for capacity calculations

7: Performance Growth: Estimated growth added for performance

calculations

8: Split Workload: Options are Auto Optimal, Disabled or Split workload,

where the workload is split into 2 to 10 separate workloads.

Default value: Auto Optimal

9: + <icon>: Add multiple block workloads, which may be split across

appliances. PowerSizer enables you to manage multiple Open System
workloads and import workload data from various sources.

Important: At a minimum, the IOPS or MiB/s and effective

capacity need to be entered here.

Workload Templates

The Workloads section of PowerSizer has templates for PowerStore T

configurations. Templates set the percentage and I/O sizes of the
workload assigned to random (Rand) and sequential (Seq) read (R) and
write (W) operations.

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 Block Input Options

PowerSizer: Workloads page

Knowledge Check 4

1. If you do not know the block size of a workload, what would be a good
size to use?
Select the correct option and then select Submit.
a. 8K
b. 32K
c. 16K
d. 64K

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 File Input Options

File Input Options

File Storage Workload: Input Fields

The file workload options of PowerSizer specify the workload associated

with file I/O operations.

Select the number labels to learn about the options.

PowerSizer: Workloads page

1: Protocol: Options are Network File System (NFS) and Server Message
Block (SMB).

Default value: NFS

2: Data Reduction Ratio: Expected average data reduction that is

achievable with the workload data. It impacts the effective capacity of the
PowerStore solution.

Default value: 4:1

3: Effective Capacity: Required capacity (in TiB) of a cluster, given the

data reduction ratio

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 File Input Options

4: File Operations (K)/Sec: User input for random workload operations

(file operations and data I/O)

5: Throughput: Required throughput or bandwidth in MiB/s

6: Capacity Growth: User input for throughput (input MiB/s or IOPS),

which helps to initially increase capacity for future growth

7: Performance Growth: Estimated growth added for performance

calculations

8: + <icon>: Add multiple workloads, which may be split across

appliances. PowerSizer enables you to manage multiple Open System
workloads and import workload data from various sources.

Important: At a minimum, the IOPS or MiB/s and effective

capacity need to be entered here.

File Workload Considerations

Sizing estimation considers the targets of File Operations per Second

and/or Throughput (MiB/s) for assessing the performance and system
saturation, depending on whichever characteristic yields the highest value.
Keep in mind the following considerations:

If... Impact on Sizing

File Operations are entered in PowerSizer translates File

PowerSizer but not MiB/s Operations into IOPS for cluster
and appliance summary details.
The IOPS does not contribute to
the summary MiB/s because no
I/O size is defined.

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 File Input Options

MiB/s is entered but not File PowerSizer adds the MiB/s value
Operations to block MiB/s for cluster and
appliance summary details. The
block MiB/s does not contribute to
the summary IOPS because no
I/O size is defined.

Both OP/s and MiB/s are specified Some level of the OP/s might
in the characterized workload contribute to the MiB/s and vice
versa; that is, there are file
operations that aren’t reads or
writes. The workload can be
specified as a single workload or
two workloads; both inputs impact
the performance and capacity
utilization differently.

Knowledge Check 5

1. If MB/s is not available for a file-based workload to characterize

performance when sizing a PowerStore solution, what other measure
can you use?
Select the correct option and then select Submit.

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 File Input Options

PowerSizer output

a. IOPS
b. File Operations/Sec
c. Response Time
d. Latency

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 Virtual Machines Input Options

Virtual Machines Input Options

Virtual Machine Characteristics and Workload

For sizing PowerStore X solutions, the workload characteristics and VM

profiles must be specified.

PowerSizer: Workloads page

Virtual Machine Workload Fields

Select the number labels to learn about the VIRTUAL MACHINE

options.

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 Virtual Machines Input Options

PowerSizer: Workloads page

1: Total VMs: Virtual machine count for the current group characterization

Default value: 0

2: VCPU/VM: Virtual CPU count allocated per VM in a VM group

Default value: 0

3: Memory Per VM: Memory allocation in GiB

Default value: 0

4: IOPS Per VM: Expected I/O per VM (in K IOPS), using the
characteristics in the block storage definition area

Default value: 0

5: CPU Util: Expected level of sustained CPU utilization by VMs. Options

are:

 Very Low: CPU utilization 0-25%, vCPU:CPU ratio 8:1

 Low: CPU utilization 26-50%, vCPU:CPU ratio 6:1
 Medium: CPU utilization 51-75%, vCPU:CPU ratio 4:1
 High: CPU utilization 76-90%, vCPU:CPU ratio 2:1
 Very High: CPU utilization 91-100%, vCPU:CPU ratio 1:1

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 Virtual Machines Input Options

Default value: 8:1 (very low)

6: Memory Util: Expected % level of sustained memory utilization

Default value: 0

7: Capacity Per VM: Capacity required per VM in GiB

Default value: 0

8: + <icon>: Add multiple workloads, such as VMs with different profiles

and their associated block workloads or block-only profiles for external
access.

PowerStore X Considerations

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 Virtual Machines Input Options

Example of VM and memory constraints in PowerStore1

Knowledge Check 6

1. How many VMs can a PowerStore 9200X system with 2 CPUs/VM

and an 8:1 CPU utilization ratio accommodate?
Select the correct option and then select Submit.
a. 220
b. 224
c. 112
d. 242

1
PowerStore 7000X with 1 VCPU/VM and Medium 4:1 CPU Util value will
allow a maximum of 160 VMs with up to 4 GiB of memory.

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 Workload Handling

Workload Handling

Sizer Workload Handling: Overview

The workload requirements2 are specified through the following actions in

Sizer:

Workload Handling (PowerStore T)

How does Sizer handle workloads at the block and file levels?

2
Performance requirements associated with workloads are specified as
follows:
• Block workload on PowerStore T: IOPS, MiB/s, data reduction ratio,
effective capacity
• File workload on PowerStore T: File Operations/Sec and/or
Operations/Sec and/or MiB/s

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 Workload Handling

PowerStore T Solutions

Block Workload

 Sizer equates the performance for each workload in terms of response

time and storage performance saturation, based on the existing system
utilization.
 It then combines multiple workloads as follows:

 Aggregate IOPS: Aggregate of all workloads

 Max performance: Weighted aggregate based on workloads
entered
 Storage performance saturation: Aggregate of all workloads, which
is averaged across all appliances in a multi-appliance cluster

File Workload

 Sizer estimates the performance of the solution in terms of its File

Operations/Sec and MiB/s.
 It then considers both elements of the workload to achieve the highest
response time and storage performance saturation.

Workload Handling (PowerStore X)

How does PowerSizer handle workloads at the VM and block levels?

PowerStore X Solutions

VM Workload

 Sizer populates the workload area with this summary data:

 VM count * IOPS/VM
 VM count * Capacity/VM
 You can override the Effective Capacity and Performance fields and
workload definition as follows:

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 Workload Handling

 Default capacity: VM count * capacity/VM

 Default workload: VM count * IOPS/VM
 70% read @ 8KiB I/O size

Block Workload

 Sizer combines the VM workload characteristics and saturation with

the discrete block workload(s), similar to how it combines workloads for
PowerStore T.
 The solution has higher storage performance saturation per workload
than a PowerStore T solution because fewer CPU cores are available
for block workloads.

Knowledge Check 7

1. Which of the following values can you override in VM workloads for

PowerStore X?
Select the correct option and then select Submit.
a. vCPU per VM
b. Effective Capacity
c. Connectivity
d. Data Reduction Ratio

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 Using PowerSizer Quick Size

Using PowerSizer Quick Size

Quick Size/Sizer Path Use Cases

This topic looks at the recommended use of the Quick Size section of
PowerSizer and the Sizer path process for sizing.

The Quick Size section allows you to choose a product family for sizing
purposes.

PowerSizer: Quick Size Section

Quick Size/Sizer Path Use Cases

The typical use cases for the Quick Size option include:

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 Using PowerSizer Quick Size

Sizer Path Process Overview: Step 1

Choose the system type (PowerStore T or PowerStore X) on the Sizer

landing page.

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 Using PowerSizer Quick Size

PowerSizer Cluster Requirements page

Sizer Path Process Overview: Step 2

Adjust or retain the default values of constraints displayed on the screen.

Constraints impact the Sizer path output.

Cluster Requirements page

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 Using PowerSizer Quick Size

 If you have allowed for growth in the capacity and

performance input parameters, retain the default values
of constraints.
 If a solution spans multiple appliances within a cluster, it
may be desirable to limit the Max Capacity Utilization
and/or Max Storage Performance Saturation constraints
(for example, to 70%) so that:
 The system generates alerts when the capacity is
reached.
 The latency is optimal when referenced to the
calibration data used for Sizer.
 Also adjust these constraints if you are sizing for
workload characteristics expected from the deployment
phase.
 If you want to prevent node failure from impacting the
max performance, please set Max Storage Perf
Saturation to 50%. The default is 100%.

Sizer Path Process Overview: Step 3

Select NEXT or Workloads and then enter the workload characteristics to

indicate the capacity and performance requirements.

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 Using PowerSizer Quick Size

PowerSizer Cluster Requirements page

Sizer Path Process Overview: Step 4

Select SIZE SCENARIO.

Multiple solutions are suggested using different models of the selected

system. Each solution provides the following data for the cluster and the
appliances in the cluster:

 Capacity utilization and performance saturation

 Effective, usable, and raw capacity
 Aggregate workload IOPS based on your input and the maximum
IOPS capability of the system

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 Using PowerSizer Quick Size

Workloads page

Important: There might be increased latency at the reported

Max performance where system saturation is at 100%.

Sizer Path Process Overview: Step 5

Select a solution from the displayed options and then select SAVE to save
that sizing scenario.

PowerSizer output

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 Using PowerSizer Quick Size

Sizer Path Process Overview: Step 5A

Alternatively, select MODIFY IN SYSTEM EDITOR or EDITOR to

customize a selected model.

PowerSizer output

Knowledge Check 8

1. When sizing a mixed workload solution, why should you create

separate workloads?
Select the correct option and then select Submit.
a. To ensure a workload is mapped to a storage pool
b. To customize criteria such as block size and DRR
c. To customize and make splitting, cloning, and moving workloads
easier
d. You don’t need to create separate workloads.

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 Customizing Workloads

Customizing Workloads

Customizing Workloads: Overview

Customize the workloads of a proposed solution to arrive at the best

PowerStore configuration for the given I/O, capacity and performance
requirements. Customization can be done by:

 Splitting, editing, and adding workloads.

 Moving the workloads to another appliance
 Cloning the workloads

PowerSizer output

Split Workloads in Sizer Path

Sizer tries to keep a workload within a single appliance; however, it may

split it across multiple appliances to achieve the latency target.

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 Customizing Workloads

PowerSizer output

Important:
 Splitting workloads eases the entry of high workload
counts by consolidating the input characteristics in
Sizer and letting PowerSizer determine the workload
distribution.
 In case of split workloads, Sizer balances the
performance saturation across appliances. However,
one appliance in the solution may end up with lower
saturation than other appliances.
 The distribution of performance will be influenced by
the specified constraints.

Splitting Workloads

A workload may be manually split within an appliance or across multiple

appliances by using PowerSizer Editor.

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 Customizing Workloads

Go to: Play the video if it does not run here.

Editing and Adding Workloads

Apart from splitting workloads, PowerSizer Editor also allows the addition
and modification of workloads, as required, to optimize the capacity
utilization, system saturation, storage performance saturation, and latency
at the cluster level for a proposed solution.

PowerSizer Editor

Important: The system summary details for each appliance in

the cluster are automatically updated when the workloads are
updated.

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 Customizing Workloads

Moving Workloads

In the PowerSizer Editor, workloads can be moved to other appliances in

a cluster if the system model containing the cluster supports the
performance saturation associated with those workloads. If the model
cannot support the performance saturation, PowerSizer displays an error
indicating that the saturation exceeds the capability of the model.
In the displayed example, WORKLOAD 3 is moved from APPLIANCE 2 to
APPLIANCE 1. The PowerStore 500T model supports the performance
saturation resulting from this move.

PowerSizer Editor

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 Customizing Workloads

Cloning Workloads

A workload can also be cloned within an appliance, if required. The model

containing the appliance must support the performance saturation
resulting from the clone.
In the displayed example, WORKLOAD 1 is cloned in APPLIANCE 1. The
clone is WORKLOAD 03.

PowerSizer Editor

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 Customizing Workloads

Knowledge Check 9

1. The workloads of a PowerStore T solution need to be distributed

across multiple appliances to optimize the latency of the cluster.
Which option should be selected for this purpose?
Select the correct option and then select Submit.

a.

Add Workload icon

b.

Move icon
c.

Split Workload icon

d.

Copy icon
e.

Delete icon

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 Project Management

Project Management

Sizing Projects

Sizing scenarios are saved in projects in PowerSizer. These projects are

listed in the Recent Projects section of the dashboard. They can also be
accessed through the Sizing Projects option in the PowerSizer menu.

PowerSizer dashboard

My Projects Screen

Selecting the Recent Projects section of the dashboard or the Sizing

Projects menu option displays the My Projects screen. Selecting a
project displays its scenarios.

Select the number labels to learn about the options on the screen.

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 Project Management

PowerSizer: My Projects page

1: Find projects that you own by searching project, scenario or company

details.

2: Filter and sort projects by date, project name or favorite project.

3: Display the scenario details.

4: Show the files attached to a project. You can upload any type of file for
a project.

5: Share the project with other users.

6: Edit the scenario name or description.

7: Delete the scenario.

8: Edit the project name.

9: Mark the project a favorite.

10: Delete the project.

11: Archive the project.

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 Project Management

Scenario Options

Selecting a scenario in the My Projects screen displays the scenario

details for review and modification, as required. Scenario details are
grouped into five tabs: OVERVIEW, CONNECTIVITY, POWER, EXPORT,
and POWERPOINT. The OVERVIEW tab is displayed by default.

PowerSizer output: OVERVIEW tab

On the OVERVIEW tab, the proposed PowerStore configurations are

presented from low to higher models with their corresponding:
 Summary capacity and performance data (labeled A)
 Single and multiple appliance options when possible (labeled B)
 Split workload, if applicable, when each appliance is clicked

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 Project Management

Scenario Options: CONNECTIVITY Tab

PowerSizer Connectivity tab

PowerSizer Connectivity tab mezzanine options

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 Project Management

PowerSizer Connectivity tab additional mezzanine options

Scenario Options: POWER Tab

The POWER tab displays the power connections of the selected system
model and the associated environmental specifications and energy costs.
It is categorized into four tabs: POWER INPUT, POWER OUTPUT,
ENVIRONMENTAL, and ENERGY COST.

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 Project Management

PowerSizer Power tab

The POWER OUTPUT tab displays power consumption and associated

circuit breaker and voltage for the selected system model.

PowerSizer Power Output options

The ENVIRONMENTAL tab displays ground clearance, energy

dissipation, and other environmental aspects of the selected solution.

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 Project Management

PowerSizer Environmental options

The ENERGY COST tab displays the estimated power cost, depending on
a region’s power charges and currency.

PowerSizer Energy cost

Selecting MODIFY on the POWER tab enables the update of power

connections and energy costs displayed here. These costs may vary
depending on the charges for electric power in a country.

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 Project Management

PowerSizer Power options

Scenario Options: EXPORT Tab

The EXPORT tab is used to export the selected configuration to a .json

file. The file can be used in the OSC purchasing system. An exported
configuration is locked and cannot be deleted.

PowerSizer output: EXPORT tab

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 Project Management

Scenario Options: POWERPOINT Tab

The POWERPOINT tab is used to export the selected configuration to a

PowerPoint presentation for a customer. Contents of these presentations
are covered in the last topic.

PowerSizer output: POWERPOINT tab

Knowledge Check 10

1. Which option is used to lock a proposed PowerStore configuration for

use in the OSC purchasing system?
Select the correct option and then select Submit.

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 Project Management

PowerSizer scenario options

a. CONNECTIVITY
b. EXPORT
c. POWERPOINT
d. EDITOR

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 PowerStore Sizing: Practice

PowerStore Sizing: Practice

Use Cases for PowerStore Sizing

Use case 1: Use case 2: Use case 3: Use case 4:

Single block Single file Multiple block VMs with
workload with a workload with a and file multiple profiles
single high-level single high-level workloads with
capacity capacity different
capacities and
I/O
requirements

Use Case 1: Single Block Workload Sizer

The I/O workload characterization for the first use case is as follows:

Connectivity: Fibre Channel

Data reduction ratio: 4:1

Effective capacity: 200 TiB (with 10% growth)

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Workload:
 200K IOPS (with 10% growth)
 2 ms latency
 8 KiB I/O size
 Random 50% read and 50% write
 Split workload: Auto-optimal

Important: Capacity and performance growth add an

incremental value to the characteristics that Sizer uses to
propose a solution. For example, if the desired capacity is 20
TiB and performance is 200K IOPS workload with 10% growth,
Sizer uses 220K IOPS.

The sizing activity has hints for guidance at each step. Select
the HINT icon to view the hints.

Steps for Use Case 1: Single Block Workload Sizer

The web version of this content contains an interactive activity.

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 PowerStore Sizing: Practice

Customizing Scenario Settings

The following scenario settings can be customized using the MODIFY IN

SYSTEM EDITOR button after saving the scenario:
 Drive configuration
 Workloads
 Proposed appliance system saturation
 Capacity utilization
 Workload distribution

Updates in PowerSizer Editor

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 PowerStore Sizing: Practice

Use Case 2: Single File Workload Sizer

The second use case has the following I/O workload characterization:

 System model: PowerStore 5200T

 Connectivity: Ethernet (NFS)
 Data reduction ratio: 4:1
 Effective capacity: 15 TiB
 Combined workload:

 File Operations/Sec: 80K IOPS

 Throughput: 500 MiB/s

The sizing activity has hints for guidance at each step. Select
the HINT icon to view the hints.

Steps for Use Case 2: Single File Workload Sizer

The web version of this content contains an interactive activity.

Use Case 3: Multiple Workloads Sizer

The third use case uses custom constraints and multiple block and file
workloads.

The constraints and I/O workload characterization are as follows:

Constraints:
 Maximum capacity utilization: 70%
 Storage performance saturation: 70%

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Block Block Block workload 3 File workload

workload 1 workload 2  2:1 data  Connectivity:
 4:1 data  4:1 data reduction NFS
reduction reduction  20TiB effective  4:1 data
 15 TiB  35 TiB capacity reduction
effective effective  30K IOPS  12 TiB
capacity capacity effective
 Template:
 700 MiB/s  80K IOPS capacity
Exchange_201
 Template:  Template: 0  File Operations
CUSTOM Typical per Sec:
 Random
10,000
 Random  Random read/write%:
read/write% read/write% 50% @32  Throughput:
: 95% @16 : 70% @8 KiB/50% @32 150 MiB/s
KiB/5% KiB/30% KiB
@16 KiB @8 KiB

The sizing activity has hints for guidance at each step. Select
the HINT icon to view the hints.

Steps for Use Case 3: Multiple Workloads Sizer

The web version of this content contains an interactive activity.

Use Case 4: PowerStore X Sizer

The earlier use cases covered PowerStore T solutions. The fourth use
case will cover a PowerStore X solution with VM workloads.

The I/O workload characterization is as follows:

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VM Workload VM Workload Block Desired system

1: 2: template (for option:
 2 VMs  10 VMs both VMs):  PowerStore
Default I/O 7000X
 8 vCPU/VM  1 vCPU/VM
template of 8
 10 * 7.68TiB
 Memory 16  Memory 2 KiB IO size
NVMe SSD
GiB/VM GiB/VM and 70%/30%
drives
 7500  5000 read/write
IOPS/VM IOPS/VM split

 High 2:1  Medium 4:1

CPU Util CPU Util
 100%  100%
Memory Util Memory Util
 10000  2000
GiB/VM GiB/VM

The sizing activity has hints for guidance at each step. Select
the HINT icon to view the hints.

Steps for Use Case 4: PowerStore X Sizer

The web version of this content contains an interactive activity.

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 Presentation of Sizer Solutions

Presentation of Sizer Solutions

Creating Presentations of Solutions

PowerSizer output: POWERPOINT tab

Contents of Solution Presentations

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Sample Solution Presentations

Take a look at sample presentations of single-appliance and multi-

appliance solutions.

Select each sample to preview key slides from each presentation and
download the presentation for reference.

Sample 1: Single-Appliance Sample 2: Multi-Appliance

Solution Solution

Sample 1: Single-Appliance Solution

Cluster Information

 Effective Capacity = Data Reduction Ratio X Usable Capacity

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 Data Reduction Ratio: Weighted average against capacity and data

reduction values for each workload (rounded)
 Performance: Aggregate of all workloads
 Max Performance: Weighted average of the max performance from all
workloads, based on different I/O sizes and the read/write mix

Cluster information

Appliance Information

 Storage Performance Saturation: Aggregate of all workloads on this

appliance
 Capacity Utilization: Weighted aggregate from each workload against
the Effective Capacity
 The effective capacity for each workload is different if there is variation
in the data reduction ratio between workloads.

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Appliance 1 configuration

Workload Information

 Performance is based on the input parameters, and the respective

IOPS or MiB/s is determined from the input and I/O size.
 Storage Performance Saturation indicates the system resources
required to handle this workload.
 Capacity Utilization is based on the Effective Capacity that is input
against an effective overall capacity, based on the data reduction ratio
against the usable capacity of the system.

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Appliance 1 workload

Power and Heat Information

This slide may vary depending on:

 The region where the solution is implemented
 Currency and technical specifications applicable in that region

Power consumption and heat dissipation

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Sample 2: Multiple Appliances with Mixed Workloads

Cluster Information

 Capacity: Aggregate value from all appliances

 Average Capacity Utilization: Average across appliances
 Data Reduction Ratio: Weighted average against capacity and data
reduction values for each appliance
 Performance values: Aggregate values from each appliance

Cluster Information

Appliance 1 Information

 Storage Performance Saturation: Aggregate of all workloads on this

appliance
 Capacity Utilization: Weighted aggregate from each workload against
the Effective Capacity
 The effective capacity for each workload is different if there is variation
in the data reduction ratio between workloads.

Note: There are separate slides for each appliance.

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Appliance 1 Information

Appliance 1 Workload

 Performance is based on the input parameters, and the respective

IOPS or MiB/s is determined from the input and I/O size.
 Storage Performance Saturation indicates the system resources
required to handle this workload.
 Capacity Utilization is based on the Effective Capacity that is input
against an effective overall capacity, based on the data reduction ratio
against the usable capacity of the system.

Note: If a workload consumes all the capacity on an appliance, consider

adding capacity, splitting the workload, or changing the system model.

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Appliance 1 Workload

Appliance 2 Information

In this sample, Capacity Utilization is at 100%, probably due to workload

distribution and the constraints that are used. The appliance
characteristics can be changed as follows to reduce Capacity Utilization
below 100%:
 Add capacity.
 Move the workload to another appliance.

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Appliance 2 Information

Power and Heat Information

Note that the power consumption and associated overheads for this
solution are different from those of the sample single appliance solution
because their workloads and capacity utilization are different.

Power and Heat Information

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Appendix

Default I/O values in the templates

Template Rand R Rand W Seq R Seq W

TYPICAL 70% @8 30% @8 0 0

KiB size KiB size

Oracle_OLAP 0 0 80% 20%

@8 KiB @8 KiB

Exchange_2010 50% @32 50% @32 0 0

KiB size KiB size

File Workload Considerations: Single Workload

Important: The appliance summary data shows the aggregate

of block workload IOPS and file workload File Operations/Sec as
the total IOPS value.

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 Appendix

PowerSizer output

File Workload Considerations: Two Workloads

Important: The appliance summary data shows the aggregate

of block workload IOPS and file workload File Operations/Sec as
the total IOPS value.

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 Appendix

PowerSizer output

Sizer Path Constraints

Constraints Default Values

Min/Max appliance count 1 to 4

Max Capacity utilization 100%

Max Storage Perf. Saturation 100%

Max VM Saturation 100%

(PowerStore X only)

Expansion Shelves Yes

NVMe SSD Recommended

SAS Flash Recommended

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 Appendix

DRE Tolerance Level Recommended*

*Other options available: Single Drive
Failure, Double Drive Failure

DRE Tolerance Parity Recommended*

*Other options available: 4+1, 8+1, 4+2,
8+2 and 16+2

Important: 100% capacity utilization and performance

saturation means that any proposed solution can be at 100%
for each value.

Specifying the Project When Saving a Scenario

New PowerStore Scenario dialog box

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