Dell PowerStore: Slimming Down for Summer
Mon, 01 Jul 2024 18:16:19 -0000
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If you're like me, the ship has sailed on slimming down for the summer…
__/___ _____/______| _______/_____\_______\_____ \ < < < | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But with PowerStore you are right on time!
The release of PowerStoreOS 4.0 brings significant data efficiency enhancements that streamline the system’s capacity usage even further. These advancements help administrators optimize PowerStore’s storage infrastructure by reducing the overall data footprint and maximizing resource utilization.
New DRE architecture
Are you a system administrator looking for more free space?
By simply upgrading your new or existing PowerStore T/Q systems to PowerStoreOS 4.0, you will unlock an instant efficiency boost - no additional user intervention necessary!
Upgrading the appliance will automatically apply the new DRE architecture, which can reclaim up to 2.5% of your system’s usable capacity. Once the upgrade to 4.0 is complete, the reserved capacity configuration will automatically adjust to the new configuration and the system will internally log the increase in usable space. This is made possible by a change to PowerStore’s advanced DRE (Dynamic Resiliency Engine) architecture, which intelligently leverages capacity tiers from the appliance’s reserve space.
The amount of space freed depends on the appliance model and drive configuration.
Compression changes
PowerStoreOS 4.0 has significantly enhanced its data reduction capabilities by integrating additional advanced compression technology that identifies variable block patterns. The compression algorithm has been enhanced to allow multiple blocks of data to be compressed together. This algorithm efficiently detects repeating data structures, resulting in a potential data reduction increase of up to 20%[1].
PowerStore’s intelligent compression applies to both new systems and existing systems that upgrade to 4.0. For existing data on existing systems, the data needs to be overwritten for the new compression logic to take effect.
Intuitive capacity accounting
In previous versions of PowerStoreOS, a CLI service script was available that generated comprehensive reports on capacity and data reduction metrics. This script provided detailed insights at both the appliance and volume levels, allowing administrators to monitor and manage their storage efficiency effectively.
In PowerStoreOS 4.0, these metrics have been integrated into the PowerStore Manager UI (and REST API), offering administrators enhanced visibility into data reduction efficiency. The metrics include:
- Overall DRR: Data Reduction Ratio which includes reducible and unreducible data.
- Overall Data Reduction Ratio:
Logical Used Space
Physical Used Space
- Reducible DRR: Data Reduction Ratio which includes only reducible data.
- Reducible Data Reduction Ratio:
Logical Space — Unreducible Space
Physical Space — Unreducible Space
- Unreducible Data: Total amount of data, listed in GBs or TBs, that cannot be further deduped/compressed.
Navigating the waters
Data efficiency metrics are cool and all, but how can we view them?
PowerStoreOS 4.0 allows administrators to view data efficiency metrics such as Overall DRR, Reducible DRR, and Unreducible Data at the cluster, appliance, and resource levels in PowerStore Manager UI.
To navigate these metrics at a cluster level, follow these steps:
- In PowerStore Manager UI, go to the Dashboard page and select the Capacity card.
- Hover over the Data Reduction chart within the Data Savings box to view the metrics.
Figure 1. Dashboard > Capacity > Data Savings (Cluster level)
Figure 2. Data Savings metrics
To navigate these metrics at an appliance level, similar steps are followed:
- In PowerStore Manager UI, go to the Hardware Page > Appliance Name > Capacity card.
- Hover over the Data Reduction chart within the Data Savings box, to view the metrics.
Figure 3. Hardware > Appliance > Capacity > Data Savings (Appliance level)
Column Views
As previously mentioned, PowerStoreOS 4.0 delivers data efficiency metric granularity at the resource level in different sections of the PowerStore Manager UI. This includes the following:
- Volumes & volume groups: Volume and volume group data efficiency metrics are classified at the volume family level. This allows administrators to analyze which data sets within a volume family are achieving savings. These metrics are displayed as Family Overall DRR, Family Reducible DRR, and Family Unreducible Data.
Note: The columns shown in the figures below are not enabled by default.
Figure 4. Storage > Volumes
- Storage containers & virtual machines: Data efficiency metrics in this release provide insights on a per-VM basis and collectively at the storage container level. With the system offering granular data efficiency analysis at the VM level, it allows administrators to better manage and diversify their virtualized environments.
Figure 5. Compute > Virtual Machines
In previous versions of PowerStoreOS, administrators were able to view the Volume Family Unique Data metric within the topology view of a volume.
Volume Family Unique Data is the physical space that is used by the volume family after deduplication and data sharing savings are applied. This metric helps administrators determine the amount of space that is freed up if the primary volume and all clones are deleted.
Now in PowerStoreOS 4.0, this metric is accessible in the column list view of the PowerStore Manager UI. This enhancement allows administrators to comprehensively view and compare a list of volumes, which makes it easier to identify and manage reclaimable space with each volume family.
Figure 6. Storage > Volumes
Topology views
Previously, I mentioned that there are different sections in the PowerStore Manager UI to view these data efficiency metrics. Just recently we’ve covered the column view.
The volume topology view in PowerStore Manager is a beneficial tool for identifying and visualizing snapshots and thin clones tied to the parent volume. In PowerStoreOS 4.0, the volume family data efficiency metrics are being added into the Capacity tab of the volume topology view. This enhanced view will further improve management and optimization of storage resources on the system.
Figure 7. Storage > Volumes > Select Volume > More Actions > View Topology
Summary
PowerStoreOS 4.0 has a lot to offer regarding data savings.
By simply upgrading to PowerStoreOS 4.0, administrators can experience up to 2.5% boost in DRE efficiency, thanks to its optimized architecture. In addition, PowerStore’s enhanced intelligent variable block compression potentially allows for higher savings in blocks that otherwise would not see it.
Furthermore, the inclusion of the capacity accounting data efficiency metrics in the PowerStore Manager UI provides clear and actionable insights into data savings that are achieved. By monitoring real-time data efficiency metrics within the PowerStore Manager UI, administrators can further optimize their environment by:
- Migrating their non-reducible workloads to other PowerStore systems in the cluster or to multi-cloud environments (APEX Block Storage).
- Confidently scaling their storage capacity as the storage system consumes space.
PowerStore’s revamped regimen is slimming down on those pesky bytes to unveil a leaner, meaner, storage system this summer! With its advanced data reduction capabilities, you can enjoy optimized storage performance and cost savings all season long.
5:1 Data reduction guarantee
While the updated 5:1 guarantee is linked to intelligent compression, there's more to it than just that.
Dell is viewing an average of 5.2:1 data reduction ratio for PowerStore systems, based on field data prior to 4.0. As part of PowerStore Prime, we are comfortable with increasing the guarantee to 5:1 for new PowerStore systems shipped on 4.0. This update provides users a more efficient and cost-effective method to store data.
Figure 8. 5:1 DRR Guarantee
Resources
The following resources provide more information about PowerStore:
- What’s New in PowerStoreOS 4.0?
- Dell PowerStore: Data Efficiencies
- Dell PowerStore: Introduction to the Platform
- Dell PowerStore Manager Overview
Author: Louie Sasa, Senior Engineering Technologist
[1] Based on internal analysis comparing data reduction with PowerStoreOS 3.5 vs. PowerStoreOS 4.0 with variable block compression, Actual results will vary.