XTR21: IBM System Storage Connectivity Options for System x
DURATION: 2 days
SCHEDULED DATES: TBD – Contact Us for more Information
PURPOSE
This course is designed to help students gain the required knowledge and skills necessary to manage and maintain the IBM Systems DS3500 and DS5000 storage subsystem mechanisms.
This two day course provides an overview of the DS3500 and the DS5000 disk subsystem portfolio. Beginning with the disk storage subsystem architectural structures, and emphasizing the supported host connectivity options: Fibre Channel, iSCSI, and SAS. Followed by identifying the performance differences between the SATA, SAS, and Fibre Channel devices. Next, explore the features of the expansion units EXP3500, EXP520, EXP5000, and EXP5060 and identify proper cabling configuration for attaching expansions to the DS3500 and DS5000 subsystems.
This course will also provide an understanding of the core capabilities required for managing the DS35000 and DS5000 disk storage subsystems through the DS Storage Manager user interface. These tasks include installation, subsystem discovery, configuration parameters, component health status, and update firmware. In addition, utilize problem determination techniques to identify problems and the appropriate measures in which to resolve them.
To complement this lecture, this course will consist of four labs using class discussions, paper exercises, and a lab simulator.
Students should exit the course with the necessary skills to configure the DS3500/DS5000 storage subsystems and connect these storage resources to host servers.
AUDIENCE
This is an intermediate course for individuals who are assessing or technical personnel involved with planning, installation, configuration, and upgrading of IBM System Storage DS3500 and DS5000 storage subsystems for System x.
PREREQUISITES
The following courses are required prior to this course:
– System x Technical Principles (XTR11)
Individuals should also have technical knowledge and experience with open system servers and network environments.
OBJECTIVES
After completing this course, you should be able to:
– Define a storage device
– Differentiate the characteristics of the three methods for connecting storage: Direct-attached storage (DAS), network attached storage (NAS), and storage area network (SAN)
– Compare the benefits and challenges of each of the storage method
– List the attributes of the DS3500 and DS5000 Disk Storage Subsystems portfolio products
– List performance the differences between the SAS, SATA, and Fibre Channel drives
– Illustrate proper cabling techniques for each of the disk storage subsystems controllers
– List the power on sequence steps required to power up a disk storage environment
– Describe the installation requirements for the DS Storage Manager software
– List the connection requirements for in-band and out-of-band management
– Identify the fundamentals of the DS Storage Manager software
– Describe the characteristics of the DS Storage Manager user management interface
– List and perform steps to create arrays and logical drives
– Perform steps to create and configure FlashCopy logical drives
– Perform steps to create and configure VolumeCopy logical drives
– Perform steps to create and configure Remote Mirror relationships
– List the features comprising dynamic operations
– Describe the steps to partition logical drives
– List the features of copy services
– Identify the features of the major storage connectivity methods
– Describe the major elements of Fibre Channel (FC) protocols and topologies
– Describe the major elements of Internet SCSI (iSCSI) protocols and topologies
– Describe the major elements of serial attached SCSI (SAS) protocols and topologies
– Define the components to create a storage area network (SAN) environment
– List the benefits of SANs
– List the requirements for designing a SAN environment
– Describe the differences between hardware and software zoning
– List the basic steps to create a zone
– Identify the LED states on a switch
– List the features of the QLogic Fast!UTL
– Describe the QLogic SANsurfer diagnostic functions available
– Identify the Recovery Guru features available
– List techniques for testing and replacing components
– List the factors involved in basic disk performance
– Describe and list Performance Monitor Tool outputs
– Match performance tuning recommendation to requirements
