Dell PowerVault MD3200i Deployment Guide - Page 12

About the Storage Array Connections The storage array is connected to a host using two hot-swappable RAID controller modules. The RAID controller modules are identified as RAID controller module 0 and RAID controller module 1. Each RAID controller module has four iSCSI In port connectors that provide Ethernet connections to the host server or switches. Each RAID controller module also contains an Ethernet management port and a SAS Out port. The Ethernet management port allows you to install a dedicated management station (server or stand-alone system). The SAS Out port allows you to connect the storage array to optional PowerVault MD1200 Series expansion enclosures for additional storage capacity. Each PowerVault MD3200i Series storage array can be expanded to a maximum of 96 physical disks through a maximum of seven MD1200 Series expansion enclosures. Cabling the Storage Array The iSCSI interface enables different host-to-controller configurations. The figures in this chapter are grouped according to the following categories: • Direct-attached configurations (no Ethernet switches are used) • Network-attached (SAN) configurations (Ethernet switches are used) Redundant and Non-Redundant Configurations Non-redundant configurations are configurations that provide only a single data path from a host to the storage array. This type of configuration is only recommended for non-critical data storage. Path failure from a failed or removed cable, a failed NIC, or a failed or removed RAID controller module results in loss of host access to storage on the storage array. Redundancy is established by installing separate data paths between the host and the storage array, in which each path is to one of the two RAID controller modules installed in the storage array. Redundancy protects the host from losing access to data in the event of path failure, because both RAID controller modules can access all the disks in the storage array. 12 Hardware Installation