Storage module

A storage system is a fault-tolerant hardware and software system for data storage and exchange with the following capabilities:

• network management;
• use of backup and virtualization technologies.

With the "Storage" module, you can monitor and manage storage systems, including those assembled from components from various manufacturers. There is no need to use manufacturer-specific software for the storage components.

Storage Hardware

The "Storage" module allows connecting the following to the platform:

• Storage chassis — enclosures for the storage system where all components are installed. DCImanager 6 supports three types of storage chassis:
  • Head module — supports the installation of storage controllers;
  • Expansion shelf — supports the installation of drives but does not support the installation of controllers;
  • Combined module — supports the installation of both storage controllers and drives;
• Controllers — servers or sets of processor boards. They manage the operation of the storage system. You can install controllers in chassis of the head module or combined module type.
• I/O modules — network adapters or port sets. They provide physical ports for connecting the storage system to the network. You can install I/O modules only in chassis of the expansion shelf type.
• Disk drives;
• Power supplies.

Before adding a storage chassis to a location, you need to add a storage chassis platform to the location. A storage chassis platform is an entry in the location directory that contains information about:

• the chassis model name;
• size in U;
• chassis type;
• the number of slots for controller modules and disk drives.

Before adding controllers and I/O modules, you need to add their models to the location. Controller and I/O module models are entries in the location directory that contain information about:

• the name and type of the controller module;
• the number of network ports.

Getting Started

Getting started with storage in DCImanager 6 involves the following steps:

1. Install the module.
2. Add storage chassis platforms to the location directory.

3. Add storage chassis.

   For the storage system to work correctly, the location must have the capability to install a storage controller. This requires at least one chassis with the platform type head module or combined module.
4. Add controller and I/O module models to the location directory.
5. Add controllers and I/O modules to the storage chassis.
6. Add disks and power supplies to the storage chassis.
7. Connect the storage hardware to power sources.
8. Connect the storage hardware to the network.
9. Assign IP addresses to storage hardware involved in data exchange with the network.
10. Configure a handler for storage monitoring.

Module Installation

The "Storage" module can only be installed if the "Hardware Inventory" module is installed on the platform. For more details, see the article Inventory management module.

To install the "Storage" module, click in the right menu → Modules → navigate to the Storage module card → Install.

Adding Storage Hardware to a Location

Creating a Storage Chassis Platform

To get started, create a storage chassis platform:

1. Click Storage in the left menu → Add Storage Chassis → New.
2. Click the Platform field → Add Platform.
3. Select the Platform Type.
4. Enter the platform size in the Size, U field.
5. Specify the number of slots for modules:
   • Number of slots for storage controller for a head or combined module;
   • Number of slots for I/O modules for an expansion shelf.
6. For an expansion shelf or combined module, specify the number of slots for different types of drives:
   • Slots for 2.5" drives;
   • Slots for 3.5" drives;
   • Slots for NVMe drives.
7. Click Add.

Adding a Storage Chassis

To add a storage chassis to a location:

1. Click Storage in the left menu → Add Storage Chassis → New.
2. Enter the Name of the chassis.
3. Click the Platform field and select the desired platform from the list.
4. Specify the location of the storage chassis in the Rack and Unit Numbers fields.
5. Select the Warehouse to which the storage belongs.

6. If needed, specify optional parameters:

   • Note — text that will be displayed in the storage chassis table of the location.
   • Serial Number
   • Unit Price
   • Nomenclature
7. Click Add.

Creating a Controller Model

To start working with controllers, add a controller model to the location directory:

1. Click Storage in the left menu → select a chassis with the head module or combined module type.
2. Go to the Modules section.
3. Click Add Controller → Add New.
4. Click the Model field → Add Model.
5. Enter the controller name in the Model field.

6. Specify the number of network ports in the fields:

   • Type: FC, qty
   • Type: ETH, qty
   • Type: HBA, qty

7. If needed, specify optional parameters:

   • Alias — you can use it to filter controllers in the storage modules table.
   • Note
8. Click Add.

Adding a Controller

To add a controller:

1. Click Storage in the left menu → select a chassis with the head module or combined module type.
2. Go to the Modules section.
3. Click Add Controller → Add New.
4. Enter the Name of the controller.
5. Click the Model dropdown and select the desired model.
6. Select the Warehouse to which the controller belongs.

7. If needed, specify optional parameters:

   • Note — text that will be displayed in the storage chassis modules table.
   • Barcode
   • Unit Price
   • Nomenclature
8. Click Add.

Adding an I/O Module Model

For a storage chassis of the expansion shelf type to exchange data with other devices, it requires an I/O module. To add one:

1. Click Storage in the left menu → select a chassis with the expansion shelf type
2. Go to the Modules section
3. Click Add I/O Module → New.
4. Click the Model dropdown → Add Model.
5. Enter the controller name in the Model field

6. Specify the number of network ports in the fields:

   • Type: FC, psc;
   • Type: ETH, psc;
   • Type: HBA, psc.

7. If needed, specify optional parameters:

   • Alias — you can use it to filter I/O modules in the modules table;
   • Note.
8. Click Add.

Adding an I/O Module

To add an I/O module:

1. Click Storage in the left menu → select a chassis with the head module or combined module type.
2. Go to the Modules section.
3. Click Add I/O Module → New.
4. Enter the Name of the I/O module.
5. Click the Model dropdown and select the desired model.
6. Select the Warehouse to which the I/O module belongs.

7. If needed, specify optional parameters:

   • Note — text that will be displayed in the storage chassis modules table. Does not affect interaction with other hardware or the platform;
   • Barcode;
   • Unit Price;
   • Nomenclature.
8. Click Add.

Adding Drives and Power Supplies

To add a drive or power supply to a storage chassis:

1. Click Storage in the left menu → select a chassis.
2. Go to the Components section
3. Click Add Components → select the desired component type: Drives or Power Supplies.
4. In the window that appears, check the devices you want to add to the chassis.
5. Click Add.

Creating Hardware Connections

For the storage system to function, create the following connections:

• storage system to the power network;
• storage system components to each other;
• storage system equipment to the data network;
• storage system equipment to the management network.

DCImanager 6 supports two types of network connections for storage:

• Management — used for collecting metrics and monitoring storage resources;
• Data — used for data exchange between the storage system and the network. DCImanager 6 cannot view or modify traffic for this type of connection.

Connecting Storage to the Power Network

To connect a storage chassis to a power source:

1. Go to Storage → select a chassis with a storage controller;
2. Go to the Connections section;
3. Click Create Connection → Power Source Connection;
4. Specify the end device: PDU or UPS;
5. Specify the location of the power source and select the device from the dropdown;
6. Click Add.

Connecting Storage Components to Each Other

For a storage chassis with a controller to function correctly, data exchange between the chassis and the controller must be configured. To do this:

1. Go to Storage → select a chassis with a storage controller.
2. Go to the Connections section.
3. Click Create Connection → Network Connection.
4. Select the Data type.
5. Leave Storage Chassis as the initial device.
6. Click the Controller field and select the desired device from the dropdown.
7. Click Add.

Repeat these steps for all controllers in the chassis.

If the platform includes chassis of the expansion shelf type, connect I/O modules to them:

1. Go to Storage → select a chassis.
2. Go to the Connections section.
3. Click Create Connection → Network Connection.
4. Select the Data type.
5. Leave Storage Chassis as the initial device.
6. Click the I/O Module field and select the desired device from the dropdown.
7. Click Add.

Repeat these steps for each I/O module in the chassis.

Next, connect the expansion shelf to the storage controller:

1. Go to Storage → select a chassis.
2. Go to the Connections section.
3. Click Create Connection → Network Connection.
4. Select the Data type.
5. If the I/O Module is installed in the chassis as a module, select I/O Module as the initial device. If the I/O module is built into the storage chassis, select Storage Chassis.
6. If the controller is installed in the chassis as a module, select Controller as the end device. If the controller is built into the storage chassis, select Storage Chassis.
7. Specify the location of the chassis with the storage controller.
8. Click Add.

Connecting storage system to the data network

To connect the storage system to the data network:

1. Go to Storage → select a chassis with an installed storage controller or a chassis with a built-in storage controller.
2. Go to the Connections section.
3. Click Create Connection → Network Connection.
4. Select the Data type.
5. If the controller is installed in the chassis as a module, select Controller as the initial device. If the controller is built into the storage chassis, select Storage Chassis.
6. Select the location and type of the device through which the storage will connect to the network.
7. Click Add.

Connect each storage controller to all devices for data exchange between the storage system and the network.

Connecting Storage to the management network

To collect metrics, monitor operation, and track the status of the storage system, you need to connect the storage controller to the location server. We recommend connecting the controller to the location via a switch. The switch must be in the same subnet as the location server and have L2 connectivity with it. To connect the storage controller to the management device:

1. Go to Storage → select a chassis with an installed storage controller or a chassis with a built-in storage controller.
2. Go to the Connections section.
3. Click Create Connection → Network Connection.
4. Select the Management type.
5. If the controller is installed in the chassis as a module, select Controller as the initial device. If the controller is built into the storage chassis, select Storage Chassis.
6. Select the location and type of the device through which the storage will connect to the location server.
7. Click Add.

Assigning IP Addresses

After connecting the storage system to the network, assign IP addresses to each chassis. To assign an IP address to a storage chassis:

1. Go to Storage → select a chassis.
2. Go to the IP Addresses section.
3. Click Assign IP.

4. Specify the connection point:

   • If you are using a chassis with a built-in storage controller or I/O module, specify Storage Chassis.
   • If the controller or I/O module are installed as modules, specify Controller or I/O Module.

5. Specify the method for assigning the IP address: Automatically or Manually.

   1. If you selected Automatically, choose a pool from the dropdown.
   2. If you selected Manually, enter the IP address.
6. Click Add.

Assign IP addresses to each controller and I/O module.

Configuring a Handler for Storage Monitoring via Grafana

If you have assigned an IP address to a storage controller or a chassis with a built-in controller, you can connect a handler to the chassis and monitor the system status via Grafana. A handler is a software module that facilitates interaction between storage controllers and the platform. To connect a handler:

1. Go to Storage → select a chassis.
2. Go to the Handler section.
3. Depending on the controller model, select the HTTP or SNMP handler.
4. In the IP Addresses dropdown, select the addresses of the primary and backup controllers.
5. Enter the Username and Password for system access.
6. Click Save.

After this, the Grafana link will become active in the Handlers tab. Click it to monitor the storage system.

After configuring the handler, you can view metrics in Grafana via the link in the Handler window.

Removing Storage and Sending to Warehouse

To remove a storage chassis from the rack and send it to the warehouse:

1. Go to Storage → Select the desired storage chassis → menu → Change Status.

2. Select Warehouse.
3. Select the status to be assigned to the storage chassis after removal from the rack.
4. If the storage chassis needs to be disassembled and stored separately from the installed modules, check the boxes for the corresponding hardware types. For example, if you need to remove the drives from the chassis and store them separately, check the Remove Drives box.
5. Click Remove and Send to Warehouse.