HP P4000 9.0 HP StorageWorks P4000 SAN Solution User Guide - Page 189

Provisioning storage, Understanding how the capacity of the SAN is used

Page 189 highlights

11 Provisioning storage The SAN/iQ software uses volumes, including SmartClone volumes, and snapshots to provision storage to application servers and to back up data for recovery or other uses. Before you create volumes or configure schedules to snapshot a volume, plan the configuration you want for the volumes and snapshots. Planning your storage configuration requires understanding how the capacity of the SAN is affected by the RAID level of the storage systems and the features of the SAN/iQ software. You also want to plan the level of data protection that is right for your configuration and storage requirements. For example, if you are provisioning storage for MS Exchange, you will be planning the number and size of volumes you need for the databases and the log files. The capacity of the cluster that contains the volumes and snapshots is determined by the number of storage systems and the RAID level on them. The level of data protection takes into account the needs for data availability and data redundancy in your environment. Understanding how the capacity of the SAN is used The capacity of the SAN is a combination of factors. • The first factor is the clustered capacity of the storage systems which is determined by the disk capacity and the RAID level. See "Planning the RAID configuration" on page 56. • The second factor is the effect of the data protection of the volumes and snapshots. See "Planning data protection" on page 190. • The third factor is the snapshot configuration, including schedules and retention policies. See "Managing capacity using volume size and snapshots" on page 197. • The fourth capacity factor is the impact of using Remote Copy as part of your backup and recovery strategy. Copying data to a remote cluster using remote snapshots, and then deleting that data from the application storage cluster, allows you to free up space on the application storage cluster more rapidly. See the chapter "Understanding and Planning Remote Copy" in the Remote Copy User Manual. Provisioning storage Provisioning storage with the SAN/iQ software entails first deciding on the size of the volume presented to the operating system and to the applications. Next, decide on the configuration of snapshots, including schedules and retention policies. P4000 SAN Solution user guide 189

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11 Provisioning storage
The SAN/iQ software uses volumes, including SmartClone volumes, and snapshots to provision
storage to application servers and to back up data for recovery or other uses. Before you create
volumes or configure schedules to snapshot a volume, plan the configuration you want for the volumes
and snapshots.
Planning your storage configuration requires understanding how the capacity of the SAN is affected
by the RAID level of the storage systems and the features of the SAN/iQ software. You also want to
plan the level of data protection that is right for your configuration and storage requirements.
For example, if you are provisioning storage for MS Exchange, you will be planning the number and
size of volumes you need for the databases and the log files. The capacity of the cluster that contains
the volumes and snapshots is determined by the number of storage systems and the RAID level on
them. The level of data protection takes into account the needs for data availability and data
redundancy in your environment.
Understanding how the capacity of the SAN is used
The capacity of the SAN is a combination of factors.
The first factor is the clustered capacity of the storage systems which is determined by the disk
capacity and the RAID level.
See
Planning the RAID configuration
on page 56.
The second factor is the effect of the data protection of the volumes and snapshots.
See
Planning data protection
on page 190.
The third factor is the snapshot configuration, including schedules and retention policies.
See
Managing capacity using volume size and snapshots
on page 197.
The fourth capacity factor is the impact of using Remote Copy as part of your backup and recovery
strategy. Copying data to a remote cluster using remote snapshots, and then deleting that data
from the application storage cluster, allows you to free up space on the application storage cluster
more rapidly.
See the chapter
Understanding and Planning Remote Copy
in the
Remote Copy User Manual
.
Provisioning storage
Provisioning storage with the SAN/iQ software entails first deciding on the size of the volume presented
to the operating system and to the applications. Next, decide on the configuration of snapshots,
including schedules and retention policies.
P4000 SAN Solution user guide
189