Introduction, System requirements, Management station requirements – Dell PowerVault MD3420 User Manual
Page 5: Introduction to storage arrays, 1 introduction
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Introduction
This document provides information about deploying Dell PowerVault MD3400 and Dell PowerVault
MD3420 storage arrays. The deployment process includes:
• Hardware installation
• Modular Disk Storage Manager (MDSM) software installation
• Initial system configuration
Other information includes system requirements, storage array organization, and utilities.
NOTE: For more information on product documentation, see
.
MDSM enables an administrator to configure and monitor storage arrays for optimum usability. The
version of MDSM included on the PowerVault MD series resource media can be used to manage both the
Dell PowerVault MD3400 and Dell PowerVault MD3420 systems and the earlier PowerVault MD series
storage arrays. MDSM is compatible with both Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems.
System Requirements
Before installing and configuring the PowerVault MD3400 and MD3420 series hardware and software,
ensure that the minimum system requirements are met, and the supported operating system is installed.
For more information, see the Dell PowerVault MD34xx/38xx Series Support Matrix at dell.com/support/
manuals.
Management Station Requirements
A management station uses MDSM to configure and manage storage arrays across the network. For
management station requirements, see Dell PowerVault MD34xx/38xx Series Support Matrix at dell.com/
support/manuals.
Introduction to Storage Arrays
A storage array includes various hardware components, such as physical disks, RAID controller modules,
fans, and power supplies, gathered into enclosures. The physical disks are accessed through the RAID
controller modules.
One or more host servers attached to the storage array can access the data on the storage array. You can
also establish multiple physical paths between the hosts and the storage array so that loss of any single
path (for example, through failure of a host server port) does not result in loss of access to data on the
storage array.
The storage array is managed by MDSM running on a:
• Host server — On a host server system, MDSM and the storage array communicate management
requests and event information using in-band or out-of band-connections.
• Management station — On a management station, MDSM communicates with the storage array either
through an Ethernet connection to the storage array management port or through an Ethernet
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