The PowerMax SRDF/Metro feature enables an administrator to host applications in HA environments. When configured using SRDF/Metro, hosts, clusters, and applications can perform read/write operations on both source and target arrays. The feature functions like SRDF/S mode and maintains a real-time copy at arrays that are located within 200 KMs, depending on application workload, network latency, and block size.
To create SRDF/Metro pairs:
Note: SRDF/Metro offers customers two types of witness deployment models: a physical array witness and a software witness. We configured this validated SRDF/Metro environment using the physical array witness.
The vRO plugin for PowerMax enables the administrator to provide automation capabilities for Dell EMC VMAX All Flash and PowerMax storage arrays within vRO. The plug-in helps automate the operations that are required for provisioning and protection with prescheduled and customized workflows.
Run the “Add Storage Management Server” workflow, and then run the “Register Storage System” workflow, as shown in the following figure:
Figure 13. Adding and registering Dell EMC Unisphere for PowerMax in vRO
For FC:
Figure 14. Create host for FC
For iSCSI:
Figure 15. Create host for iSCSI
In the Host Group tab, enter the host group name and select the hosts that you created in the preceding step. Select Fiber or iSCSI:
Figure 16. Provision volumes - host group for uniform
Figure 17. Provision volumes - host group for nonuniform
Figure 18. Provision volumes - masking view
For FC, enter the target port WWN. The PowerMax FA port is displayed automatically, as shown in the following figure:
Figure 19. Provision volumes – port group for FC
Figure 20. Provisioning volumes: Host group for iSCSI
Figure 21. Provision volumes - storage group
Figure 22. Provision volumes - volumes
Figure 23. Provision volumes – complete status
Only VxRail nodes in AZ1 can see the PowerMax devices, as shown in the following figure:
Figure 24. PowerMax devices shown on VCF AZ1 server
The workflow creates the volumes on the target array and establishes the SRDF/Metro pairs, as shown in the following figure:
Figure 25. Create storage group SRDF protection - general
Figure 26. Create storage group SRDF protection - advanced options
If it is a uniform configuration, the PowerMax device paths are doubled, as shown in the following figure:
Figure 27. PowerMax device paths with vMSC uniform configuration
If it is a nonuniform configuration, the AZ2 servers start to see the PowerMax devices, as shown in the following figure:
Figure 28. PowerMax device paths with vMSC nonuniform configuration