chapter4-info storage systm

Course TitleIntelligent Storage Systems
Copyright © 2009 EMC Corporation. Do not Copy - All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 1.4 – Intelligent Storage Systems
© 2009 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.
Intelligent Storage Systems
Describe components of intelligent storage system
List benefits of intelligent storage system
Explain intelligent cache algorithms and protection
Describe intelligent storage array implementation
High-end storage array
Mid-range storage array
Intelligent Storage Systems are RAID arrays that are:
Highly optimized for I/O processing
Have large amounts of cache for improving I/O performance
Have operating environments that provide:
Intelligence for managing cache
Benefits of an Intelligent Storage System
Intelligent storage system provides several benefits over a collection of disks in an array (JBOD) or even a RAID arrays:
Increased capacity
Improved performance
Enhanced Business Continuity support
Host
Connectivity
Host
Connectivity
No data found = ‘Miss’
Most Recently Used (MRU)
New Data
Oldest Data
Idle flushing, High Watermark flushing and Forced flushing
For maximum performance:
Cache mirroring
Each write to the cache is held in two different memory locations on two independent memory cards
Cache vaulting
Cache is exposed to the risk of uncommitted data loss due to power failure
Host
Connectivity
Ports
Controllers
Host
Connectivity
Host 1
Host 2
LUN 0
LUN 1
Front End
Back End
Process of masking LUNs from unauthorized access
Implemented on storage arrays
Storage group logical entity that contains one or more LUNs and one host
I/O’s are serviced through all the available path
Following are high-end array capabilities:
Large storage capacity
Fault tolerance architecture
High scalability
Designed for large enterprises
Host can perform I/Os to LUNs only through active paths
Other paths remain passive till active path fails
Midrange array have two controllers, each with cache, RAID controllers and disks drive interfaces
Designed for small and medium enterprises
Less scalable as compared to high-end array
Host
Storage
Array
Intelligent Storage Systems features
Cache management algorithms
Support for UltraFlex technology
Supports flash drives
Supports different types and sizes of drives, and RAID types (0, 1, 1+0, 3, 5, 6)
Supports up to 16 GB of available cache memory per controller (Storage Processor)
Enhances availability with non disruptive upgrade and failover
Ensures data protection through mirrored write cache and cache vaulting
Supports storage-based local and remote data replication
Through SnapView and MirrorView software
CPU
CPU
CPU
CPU
CPU
CPU
CPU
CPU
Memory
Supports Flash-based solid-state drives
Advanced processing power (up to 130 PowerPC)
Direct matrix Architecture
High data processing bandwidth (up to 128 GB/s)
Data protection with RAID 1, 1+0 (also known as 10 for mainframe), 5, and 6
Storage-based local and remote replication
Through TimeFinder and SRDF software
What are the parts of an Intelligent Storage System?
What are the differences between a high-end and midrange storage array?
What is the difference between a read cache hit and a read cache miss?
What is the difference between Least Recently Used and Most Recently Used algorithms?
What is the difference between Write-through and Write-back cache?

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Section 1 – Quiz
1. What are the two [2] primary reasons why businesses collect and store data over long periods of time?
a. Availability of high capacity storage systems b. Availability of high performance servers c. Potential for new business initiatives d. Regulations and compliance
2. What are two [2] advantages of Centralized Networked Storage?
a. Consolidated data storage and retrieval b. Islands of data c. Multiple dedicated Storage Arrays d. Sharing of storage resources and data between different departments in an organization
3. Which core element of a data center infrastructure provides the data communication paths between clients and servers?
a. Databases b. Networks c. Servers/Operating Systems d. Storage Arrays
4. Which key requirement of storage systems refers to the ability of the storage solution to grow with the business?
a. Availability
b. Capacity c. Data Integrity d. Scalability
5. What is Read Hit Ratio? a. Number of miss with respect to total read request b. Number of hit with respect to total write request c. Number of hits with respect to total read request d. Number of miss with respect to total write request
6. What provides the communication path between the CPU and other peripheral
components within a host? a. Bus b. I/O devices c. Network Interface Card (NIC) d. Parallel Port
7. In which unit is Bus width measured? a. Bits b. Bytes c. MB/sec d. MHz
8. All of the following are physical components of a host EXCEPT: a. Bus b. CPU c. Databases
d. Memory
9. What two [2] factors or conditions determine the storage capacity of a Head Disk Assembly (HDA)?
a. The amount of data that can be stored on each platter b. The cache size of the platters c. The connectivity of platters to the HAD d. The number of platters
10. What did the acronym RAID initially refer to before it was altered to reflect advances in
technology? a. Redundant Array of Independent Disks b. Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks c. Redundant Array of Integral Disks d. Redundant Array of Interconnected Disks
11. What is another term for the logical array of disk subsets within a RAID array?
a. Physical arrays b. RAID controller c. RAID database d. RAID set
12. What is the main benefit of data striping? a. Independent disks allow multiple reads and writes to take place simultaneously b. Improves security by creating multiple identical copies of data c. More efficient allocation of sequential reading/writing d. None of the above
13. What is the term for an idle component in a RAID array that becomes a temporary
replacement for a failed component? a. Hot disk b. Hot spare c. Hot swap
d. RAID controller
14. What is the role of the front end in an intelligent storage system? a. It improves system performance by isolating disks from the mechanical delays
associated with physical disks b. It is where the storage actually takes place c. It provides the connectivity from host to the storage array d. It provides the communication with the disks for read and write operations
15. Which component of an intelligent storage system may improve performance of reads and writes?
a. Back End b. Cache c. Host
d. Physical Disks

chapter4-info storage systm

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