TEXAS MEMORY SYSTEMS, INC. RamSan-820. User s Manual. Version: 6.0.1

Transcription

1 TEXAS MEMORY SYSTEMS, INC. RamSan-820 User s Manual Version: 6.0.1

2 Copyright 2011, Texas Memory Systems, Inc. All rights are reserved. Any trademarks or registered trademarks used in this document belong to the companies that own them. No part of this work may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems without permission of the copyright owner. RamSan-820 User s Manual - i - Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

3 Table of Contents 1 Preface 1 2 Introduction Overview System Components Power Reliability System Management Reviewing Your Shipment Unpacking Rack mounting Connections Installing a Host Bus/Channel Adapter in the Host System Connecting the Fibre Channel or InfiniBand Ports Connecting to a Network Connecting Power to the System Getting Started Powering on the System System Initialization Front Panel Display Basics Controlling System Power with the Front Panel Display Network Configuration with the Front Panel Display Configuring a Static IP Address Configuring DHCP Additional System Management Options Web Monitor Basics Date and time setup with the Web monitor Network Configuration with the Web Monitor Managing security with the Web Monitor Storage Modes Basic Logical Unit Creation Viewing the System Logs with the Web Monitor Upgrading the System with the Web Monitor Web Monitor Task Management RamSan-820 User s Manual - ii - Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

4 6 System Licenses RAID 5 Storage Mode JBOF Storage Mode Mail Service Statistic Log Configuration Save/Restore Logical Unit Masking Lightweight Directory Access Protocol Terawatch Log Lun System Maintenance Power Supplies Fans Batteries End User License Agreement GNU General Public License OpenSSL License Other copyrighted works Troubleshooting System Event Log System Report Contacting Texas Memory Systems, Inc RamSan-820 User s Manual - iii - Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

5 1 Preface Document Overview This document provides operating procedures for the RamSan-820 running firmware version RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

6 2 Introduction 2.1 Overview The RamSan-820 is the World s Fastest Flash Storage system. The basic unit contains up to 12 Flash sticks totaling 24 Terabytes with 4GB/s of available bandwidth. While each RamSan-820 system occupies only 1U of rack space, multiple systems can be easily aggregated at the host for scaling capacity and performance linearly High Performance Solid State Storage Unlike other mass storage products, the RamSan-820 is not based on mechanical rotating disk technology, but instead on high performance Flash memory technology. Each of the 12 Flash storage sticks contains no moving parts and operates with a much faster protocol, reducing access time and increasing the data transfer rate. This is achieved with the use of better connectors (rugged, more data pins) and a simple transfer protocol Easy Installation and Configuration The RamSan-820 is easy to install on a SAN or directly attached to a server. Most system-level parameters can be set from the front panel, including the management IP address. Once the IP is set, then most configurations and monitoring should be done through the intuitive Web interface. 2.2 System Components The system components for the RamSan-820 include: Up to 24 Terabytes of usable data storage capacity 2 controller slots that can contain a mixture of dual-ported 8-Gb Fibre Channel (FC) or Quad Data Rate InfiniBand (IB) controllers Front panel display for monitoring and configuration 2 Ethernet monitoring ports 2.3 Power The RamSan-820 includes two hot-swappable power modules that are auto-ranging (they accept either 110 or 220 VAC power). RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

7 2.4 Reliability The RamSan-820 is designed to offer superior reliability to other solid state disks. Its standard features include modular Flash memory, hot-swap power supplies, fail-over ports, and external alerts via SNMP. 2.5 System Management Basic management operations, including manual shutdown and alerts, are available from the front panel screen. Full monitoring and configuration capabilities are available over any browser via a password protected Java applet, as well as through a command line interface over telnet or SSH. The RamSan-820 is fully SNMP v2c compatible and can provide notification of system events via . RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

8 3 Reviewing Your Shipment 3.1 Unpacking Texas Memory Systems, Inc. ships the RamSan-820 with a packing list. Ensure that you have received all of the components listed. 1. Examine the external chassis for any damage that might have occurred during shipping. 2. Inspect the interface plate for any screws that might have loosened during shipping. 3. Inspect the front panel display for damage. 4. Report any meaningful damage to Texas Memory Systems, Inc. Figure 1: RamSan-820 Front RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

9 3.2 Rack mounting The RamSan-820 solid state disk (SSD) system is a 1U rack-mountable system. Texas Memory Systems, Inc. ships the system with the slides and equipment needed to install it into a standard 19 rack. Figure 2: RamSan-820 Back RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

10 4 Connections 4.1 Installing a Host Bus/Channel Adapter in the Host System Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) provide an interface from the server s PCI bus to Fibre Channel attached devices. Host Channel Adapters (HCAs) provide an interface from the server s PCI bus to InfiniBand devices. HBAs and HCAs are available from a variety of vendors. Before purchasing one, ensure that it provides a driver for the Operating System (OS) version that you are using. In subsequent sections, the term HBA will be used to represent HCA or HBA interchangeably. Before installing the HBA, consult your server s documentation to determine which one of its PCI slots is on the fastest and least congested PCI bus (see Section below for details). In order to install the HBA, first power down your server and place the HBA in this slot. Power on your server and follow the instructions provided with the HBA to install the driver. It is generally a good idea to check the HBA provider s Web site to obtain the latest drivers and firmware for the HBA. Updated drivers may include new features, improved performance, and minor bug fixes. Troubleshooting Tip: If you encounter any problems with the HBA, the first step in the debugging process is verifying that you are using the latest driver and firmware. The speed of the server and network interface ultimately limit the RamSan-820 s capabilities. A few different components can affect the maximum performance of the RamSan-820, including FC/IB interfaces, Host Bus Adapters, PCI buses, and server CPU resources Fibre Channel Interface Currently, the RamSan-820 supports Fibre Channel communication speeds of 2-Gb, 4-Gb, or 8-Gb per second. Accounting for encoding and overhead, the 4-Gb/sec transfer rate allows data to be transmitted to the RamSan-820 at a half duplex rate of approximately 400 MB/s. Fibre Channel interfaces have separate read and write connections that allow a maximum data rate of twice the half-duplex rate. To sustain the maximum full duplex rate, the data usage pattern of the system must be 50% read and 50% write (due to the individual half duplex limits). To find the maximum for other data usage patterns, use the following formula (4-Gb HBA): smaller usage percentage larger 400 MB/s MB/s For example, to calculate a data usage pattern with 66% reads and 33% writes: = 600 MB/s 66 RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

11 Many applications require storage bandwidth that exceeds what a single FC connection can provide. To accommodate this situation, we provide up to 4 FC ports per RamSan-820, each of which can supply the bandwidth described above. Using multiple Fibre Channel connections requires one of the following solutions: multipathing software to a single Logical Unit (LU), using software to stripe across multiple LUs, accessing multiple LUs on the RamSan-820 concurrently, or connecting multiple servers to the system Host Bus Adapter You can modify some HBA settings to increase performance. For information specific to your HBA, consult the HBA documentation. Note that many settings are intended to increase the performance of slow storage devices and will not be applicable to RamSan-820s. It is always advisable to check the frame size. The amount of overhead for each Fibre Channel frame is fixed, so larger frames have lower overhead. Set the frame size to the maximum setting, generally 2048 bytes. For InfiniBand devices, also set the frame size to the maximum setting, generally 4096 bytes PCI Bus High bandwidth HBA traffic can quickly inundate slower PCI buses. Once a PCI bus reaches its limit, you can do very little to improve performance. Many servers, however, provide different PCI buses with different speeds, and placing the HBA on a different PCI bus can improve performance. Texas Memory Systems, Inc. recommends giving each 8-Gb 2 port HBA at least an entire PCIX bus or a PCI Express (PCIe) slot CPU At a certain point, CPU performance can limit data transfer rates. Determine whether the server s CPU resources are the limiting factor in performance while benchmarking the RamSan-820 as a raw physical device. Otherwise, an improperly tuned file system or application can make the CPU appear to be the limiting factor when it is not. Perform raw device testing after setting up any multipathing. There are a few ways to decrease CPU usage without increasing CPU resources. Certain data usage patterns can be very CPU intensive and fully utilize the CPU. These usually involve small transfer sizes. When possible, increasing the average transfer size decreases CPU usage and offers better performance. Another way to decrease CPU usage is by enabling interrupt coalescing. Interrupt coalescing is an HBA dependent feature that offers a method to trade latency for CPU usage. This feature delays calling the HBA transfer interrupt until several transfers are ready. In general, Texas Memory Systems, Inc. does not recommend enabling Interrupt Coalescing because most RamSan-820 applications benefit from low latency. For more information, consult your HBA documentation. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

12 4.2 Connecting the Fibre Channel or InfiniBand Ports Connect the Fibre Channel (FC) ports on the RamSan-820 to your server or to a Fibre Channel switch. If the RamSan-820 has InfiniBand (IB) ports, connect them to an IB Switch or Host Channel Adapter (HCA) in your server. Figure 3: Fibre Channel Locations Figure 3 shows the port layout for the RamSan-820. Each controller has two FC ports: A and B, on the left and right respectively. The FC ports on the system are capable of connecting to Point-to-Point (N-Port), Arbitrated Loop (NL-port), or Switched Fabric (F-Port) topologies at 2-Gb, 4-Gb, or 8-Gb speeds. Although Figure 3 only shows FC controller cards, an IB controller card can occupy any of the same slots as the FC controller cards. The IB controller card has two x4 IB ports: A and B, on the top and bottom respectively. The IB ports are capable of connecting to Quad Data Rate (QDR), Double Data Rate (DDR) or Single Data Rate (SDR) InfiniBand HCAs using the SCSI RDMA Protocol (SRP). RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

13 4.3 Connecting to a Network Your RamSan-820 includes 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports for remote management over a network. You can use these connections to configure the storage and management features. Notice: In order to comply with FCC and European radiated emissions standards, use the provided shielded Ethernet cables. The RamSan-820 does not require the use of both management ports. This is an additional feature for those who wish to deploy management access across two separate networks. If utilizing only one management port, it is recommended to use the eth0 interface located on the top. Figure 4: Gigabit Ethernet Port Location 4.4 Connecting Power to the System A fully loaded RamSan-820 requires approximately 450 watts of power typically. It contains redundant power supplies that are hot-swappable. Using the AC power cords provided, connect each power module to a power source. Install the socket outlet in an easily accessible location near the equipment. As a best practice, connect each of the RamSan-820 power cords to separate circuits. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

14 5 Getting Started This chapter will guide you through setting up your RamSan-820. It is important to accomplish the following tasks to make your system usable: Use the front panel display to set up the network (Section 5.5) Get the Web monitor operational (Section 5.9) Use the Web monitor to set the date and time (Section 5.10) Use the Web monitor to configure advanced network settings (Section 5.11) Use the Web monitor to configure security (Section 5.12) Other sections explore the configuration tools and should be read to familiarize yourself with the system. 5.1 Powering on the System Separate power cables should be connected to each of the two RamSan-820 power modules. The 3-prong AC inlet lies on the right side of each power module. Though the RamSan-820 will operate when only one power supply is connected, this is not recommended. 5.2 System Initialization The front panel display shows the boot process current state. Once the power is connected, the system turns on automatically and the front panel display begins the power-on sequence. The following happens automatically: Figure 5: RamSan-820 Power Supply RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

15 Once AC power is connected, the RamSan-820 will power-up. The front panel will display Status: OK and the system performance statistics when the system is fully ready. The statistics shown are the system bandwidth in MB/s and total input/output operations per second. Status: OK BW: 0 IOPS: 0 RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

16 5.3 Front Panel Display Basics The front panel display provides a quick and easy way to view the RamSan-820 s status. It shows system warnings and failures. The RamSan-820 s front panel allows you to: Inspect the state of the system. Change the method of IP address assignment. Reboot/Shutdown the system. The following four buttons are located to the left of the display and are used to make selections: (M)enu: This button has two functions. On any of the status or performance displays, pressing this button launches the RamSan-820 Main Menu. It is also used as an escape function. Once the menu is open, pressing it returns the user to the prior screen. (S)elect: When a menu item is on the display, pressing this button will either execute that menu option or proceed to the next layer in the menu. : This button scrolls up through the menu. It is also used to cancel certain commands as indicated on the display. If the menu is not selected, this button is disabled. : This button scrolls down through the menu. It is also used to confirm certain commands as indicated on the display. If the menu is not selected, this button is disabled. You can scan through the first level of options on the RamSan-820 by pressing the Menu key. Selecting System Info displays information about your RamSan-820. Main Menu System Info Selecting System Status allows you to view the system informational, warning, and/or error messages. These are the same messages which scroll across the status screen. Main Menu System Status RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

17 Selecting Net Config allows you to connect your RamSan-820 to your network. See Section 5.5 for more information. Main Menu Net Config Selecting LED Config gives you a variety of options for controlling the LEDs on the left-hand side of the front of the RamSan-820. Main Menu LED Config Selecting Display Logo displays the Texas Memory Systems, Inc. logo on the front panel display. This option becomes Disable Logo once it has been set. Main Menu Display Logo Selecting Restart reboots your RamSan-820. See Section for more information. Main Menu Restart Selecting Poweroff turns off your RamSan-820. See Section for more information. Main Menu Poweroff RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

18 5.4 Controlling System Power with the Front Panel Display The RamSan-820 has features that allow the administrator to safely power down the system. Before powering down the system, unmount the drives from your OS. Do not turn off the system by unplugging the power cords Poweroff The administrator can shut down the RamSan-820 manually from the front panel display. To shut down the system using the front panel, use the arrow buttons to cycle through the top-level menu to select Poweroff. Use the Select button to select this menu item. Main Menu Poweroff The display prompts you to confirm that you wish to Poweroff?. To cancel the shutdown, use the button to return to the main menu. To proceed with the shutdown, use the button to confirm the system power off. Poweroff? Yes, No Now the front panel display indicates that the system is powering off. When the system is ready, it will automatically shut off. Powering Off 60% To turn the RamSan-820 back on after a manual shutdown, press the power button to the right of the power supplies. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

19 5.4.2 Restart The administrator can also reboot the RamSan manually from the front panel display. To reboot the system using the front panel, use the arrow buttons to cycle through the top-level menu to select Restart. Use the Select button to select this menu item. Main Menu Restart The display prompts you to confirm that you wish to restart the system. To cancel, use the button to return to the main menu. To proceed with the restart, use the button to confirm. Restart? Yes, No Now the front panel display indicates that the system is powering off. When the system is ready, it will automatically shut off. In approximately 9 seconds time, the system will turn back on. Rebooting 60% Automatic Shutdown In the event that the system senses a high system temperature, power out of range, or a variety of other dangerous environmental conditions, the system will automatically initiate the shutdown procedure. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

20 5.5 Network Configuration with the Front Panel Display The RamSan-820 allows system monitoring and configuration through the installed Ethernet ports. To access the system s Ethernet ports you will need to provide each port with an IP address, subnet mask, and possibly a gateway address. The administrator may assign the IP address in one of three ways: Static IP, DHCP, or No Ethernet. The default factory setting is DHCP. For any questions regarding IP assignment values, please consult your network administrator. To set up the network via the front panel, use the arrow buttons to cycle through the top-level menu options until the display shows Net Config. Use the Select button to choose this option and continue with the configuration. You may now use the arrow buttons to scroll through the following menu options: Displays a list of the current IP configuration, hostname, IP address, subnet mask, gateway address (if applicable), and hardware MAC address for each Ethernet port. Net Config Show Current Configure the Eth0 Ethernet port. Net Config Eth0 Config Configure the Eth1 Ethernet port. Network Config Configure Eth1 Shuts down and restarts the Ethernet ports using the current IP assignment configuration. Net Config Restart Net Exits the network menu. Net Config Exit Menu RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

21 To continue setting up the Ethernet configuration, select either Eth0 Config or Eth1 Config depending on the particular port you would like to configure. After selecting Eth0 Config or Eth1 Config, you may use the arrow buttons to cycle through the following: Enables a static IP address for the RamSan-820. Set IP Config Static Sets the IP configuration to DHCP. Set IP Config DHCP Disables Ethernet. Set IP Config None Returns to the Main Menu without making any changes. Set IP Config Exit Talk to your network administrator for the proper IP assignment type. Use the Select button to select the desired method of IP assignment. If choosing either the DHCP or None option, you are asked to confirm the selection with the button. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

22 5.6 Configuring a Static IP Address To configure the RamSan-820 with a static IP, the system requires the IP address, subnet mask, and possibly a gateway address. After you have chosen Static IP, the display prompts you to enter an address. Use the and buttons to move the cursor. Push Select to cycle through the numbers 0 through 9. You can abort your current changes at any time by pressing the Menu button and following the dialog. IP Address: After you have finished entering the IP address, scroll the cursor off the end this brings up the Subnet Mask screen. Using the same procedure as entering the IP address, enter the subnet mask. Subnet Mask: The final value you must enter is the Ethernet Gateway. If the RamSan-820 is on a private network and this value is not needed, enter on the next screen. Press any key to dismiss this message. For no gateway use Enter the gateway IP address. Gateway: After entering all the necessary values, you may review, apply, edit, or cancel your changes through the Review Configuration screen. Review Config Config Apply Edit RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

23 To apply your changes, select the Apply new settings option. The changes are then applied and the network is automatically restarted. Assign Static IP to eth0? Y, N You should see the network restarting. Net Restart o o o o o o o The final screen displays the assigned IP address. New IP: RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

24 5.7 Configuring DHCP The RamSan-820 comes from the factory using DHCP as its IP address method. To configure your DHCP server you may need to know the RamSan-820 s hardware MAC address. Follow the instructions below to get the MAC address and to set up your system to use DHCP: From the Net Config sub-menu select the Show Current option. This will display a list of information for both Ethernet devices. Net Config Show Current Use the button to scroll to section displaying the information for the desired Ethernet device. The MAC address will be at the bottom of this section and will be displayed as 6 octets. Use this value to configure your DHCP server. MAC Address: a2:78:90: f7:01:88 Re-enter the Net Config menu, then Eth0 Config or Eth1 Config menu and select DHCP. Set IP Config DHCP The next screen commits the changes and automatically restarts the network. Use DHCP for eth0? Yes, No You should witness the network restarting. Net Restart o o o o o o o The final screen displays the IP address assigned by the DHCP server. New IP: If the network fails to start, check the Ethernet connection and contact your system administrator. If the IP configuration was successfully saved, you may simply select the Restart RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

25 Net option from the Net Config menu instead of re-selecting the same IP configuration. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

26 5.8 Additional System Management Options Connecting using Telnet and SSH Once the administrator configures the Ethernet port on the RamSan-820 using the front panel, you may remotely monitor the system using a Telnet or SSH session. Set your terminal settings to VT100 mode. To learn more about managing the RamSan-820 using the Telnet or SSH connections, see the RamSan Command Line Interface Manual available from Texas Memory Systems, Inc Connecting using the Web Monitor The RamSan-820 is equipped with a browser-enabled tool to facilitate system monitoring, management, and configuration. This Java-based monitoring application is the most popular and convenient RamSan-820 management tool and will be introduced and discussed in greater detail below. Texas Memory Systems, Inc. also provides an extensive Web monitor user s manual called the RamSan Web Interface Guide Monitoring using SNMP RamSan-820 supports the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), which is the dominant network management protocol. The industry has accepted this protocol due to its relative simplicity. SNMP standards provide a framework for the definition of management information along with a protocol for the exchange of that information. The RamSan-820 is compatible with SNMP v2c. The SNMP model contains managers and agents. A manager is a software module responsible for managing the configuration on behalf of the network management application end users. Agents are devices, such as the RamSan-820, which are responsible for maintaining local management information and delivering that information to a manager via SNMP. Both the manager (via polling) and the agent (via a trap) can initiate management information exchanges. Managers can access statistical information from the RamSan-820 through its management information base (MIB). For more information on how to use the SNMP management capability, please see the RamSan SNMP Guide available from Texas Memory Systems, Inc. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

27 5.9 Web Monitor Basics The RamSan-820 comes with a powerful Web-based management tool. It is important to learn how to use this tool, as it will make upkeep and maintenance of the system simple Acquiring the System IP Address To use the Web monitor, you must connect to it over your network. You will need to acquire the RamSan-820 s IP address - which can be accomplished from the front panel display. Press the Menu button to display the Main Menu. Use the and buttons to find the System Info option. Push the Select button. Main Menu: System Info Use the button to scroll until you see the Eth0 IP line and the lines below it. Controller: Eth0 IP: Take note of the IP addresses; either of them can be used for accessing the Web monitor Uptime: RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

28 5.9.2 Accessing the Web Monitor Accessing the Web monitor can be done from any Web browser that supports Sun Java v1.5 or later. You can download the Sun Java plug-in for Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows and for both Linux and Windows versions of Firefox. To get the latest Sun Java plug-in, go to Using a standard Web browser with the Sun Java plug-in, set the address to your IP address. It will take a moment to download the Java program (10 or 15 seconds) and then the window displayed in Figure 6 will appear. Figure 6: Web Monitor Login Screen The RamSan-820 ships with a default admin user defined as the following: User: Password: admin password RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

29 After you log in, the window shown in Figure 7 will appear. Figure 7: Web Monitor Opening Screen From here you can expand or select the RamSan icon. A great deal of information is available in this monitor: firmware versions, system event warnings, environmental information, and system statistics. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

30 5.10 Date and time setup with the Web monitor When you acquire the system, it is important to verify that the date and time are correct. If they are incorrect, you can use the Web monitor to change them. From the Web monitor, expand the Management tree under the system node. This will expose several sub-nodes. Highlight Date/Time. This will display the current date and time as well as the amount of time the system has been up. Figure 8: Web Monitor Date and Time Management If the date and time are incorrect, you can set them manually. Either right-mouse click and select Date/time configuration... or left-mouse click the wrench icon in the button bar both methods bring up the Date/Time configuration window. Follow the instructions in this wizard to configure the date and time or specify an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server to supply this information. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

31 5.11 Network Configuration with the Web Monitor From the Web monitor, expand the Management tree under the system node. This will expose several sub-nodes. Highlight Network to display the current network settings. Figure 9: Web Monitor Network Management To modify the network configuration, right-mouse click the Network node and select either Configure Ethernet 0 or Configure Ethernet 1. You can also left-mouse click on Ethernet 0 or Ethernet 1 in the button bar. Both methods bring up the network configuration wizard, which will prompt you for all configurable network settings. Once you have edited the network settings and selected Finish, the settings will be saved and the system s network will be restarted. You should see several system messages displayed in the Recent Event Log panel of the Web monitor confirming your settings. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

32 5.12 Managing security with the Web Monitor Default Accounts The RamSan-820 ships with a high-privileged user as well as a low-privileged user. The high-privileged user is allowed to change RamSan-820 configurations. This user is: User: Password: admin password The low-privileged user can view statistics, logs, and other information, but cannot change any RamSan-820 settings. The low-privileged user is: User: Password: user password Changing Passwords You should configure the security on the RamSan-820 to suit your needs. At a minimum, you should change the high-privileged user password to prevent accidental mishaps. To configure users using the Web monitor, expand the Management tree under the system node. This will expose several sub-nodes. Highlight Users. This displays information about current user accounts in the Detailed Information window (Figure 10). Figure 10: Web Monitor User Management RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

33 Please change the password to your high-privileged user account (named admin ) by selecting this user and left-clicking the Password button. This will pop up the Change Password window shown in Figure 11. Figure 11: Web Monitor Change User Type in the new password and confirm it. Click Next to confirm the change and then click the Finish button when finished Adding Users You can add new users by selecting the Add button in the Users pane. Doing so will bring up the Add User window shown in Figure 12. Figure 12: Web Monitor Add User You can add high-privileged users by assigning the new user to the admins group. You can give the new user low-privileges by assigning them to the users group. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

34 5.13 Storage Modes The RamSan-820 supports a variety of different Storage Modes. Each mode is tailored to a common use case for a high capacity Solid State Disk. Warning: Switching between Storage Modes is a destructive action and will cause data loss. Please backup all data and contact Texas Memory Systems, Inc. (Section 9.3) before switching Storage Modes RAID 5 This Storage Mode creates a parity protection across Flash modules to protect against the failure of an individual Flash card. This protection is secondary to the in-module Variable Stripe RAID (VSR) that creates a parity protection across Flash chips. With the RAID-5 storage mode in effect, Flash modules are warm-swappable with data-in-place. With RAID-5, if a card experiences a recoverable failure (i.e., a flash chip fails), the RAID is rebuilt using the Spare card without loss of access to any data. Then, later in a maintenance window, the failed card is replaced and the newly installed card becomes the new Spare. Notice: The layout of the RAID-5 requires the capacity of a Flash module to hold the parity. Notice: This feature requires a license to be installed on the system. Warning: A failed card should be replaced immediately after the rebuild is complete. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

35 Max Capacity This is the default Storage Mode used by the RamSan-820. This mode is the most flexible and is useful in an environment where the entire capacity of the unit is needed. Max Capacity allows the RamSan-820 administrator to create Logical Units and assign Access Policies as needed. This mode is recommended for deployments where the RamSan-820 is mirrored or preferred read mirrored to other storage. Warning: If maintenance is performed that requires the replacement of a flash card in the RamSan- 820, all of the data will need to be restored from a backup after the maintenance JBOF This Storage Mode automatically creates one Logical Unit for each Flashcard present in the RamSan-820. The administrator can then assign Access Policies as needed. JBOF (Just a Bunch Of Flash) mode is useful in an environment where a host-based software RAID can be created to increase redundancy across the Flashcards. Notice: This feature requires a license to be installed on the system. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

36 5.14 Basic Logical Unit Creation The most common management activity on the RamSan-820 is Logical Unit (LU) creation. This section will go over the basic LU creation activities (creating an LU and linking it to a port). For more in-depth configuration details please consult the RamSan Web Interface Guide Creating a Logical Unit Note: Please review the available Storage Modes the RamSan-820 supports (Section 5.13) and choose the most appropriate mode before creating Logical Units. You can create an LU from the Logical Units tree node by right-clicking and selecting Create or by clicking on the Create button on the Logical Units panel. This is shown in Figure 13. Figure 13: Web Monitor Logical Unit A wizard will open to guide you through the Logical Unit creation process. After reading the overview, click the Next button to set the Logical Unit Parameters. The parameters window is shown in Figure 14. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

37 Figure 14: Web Monitor Logical Unit Parameters The parameters available for the Logical Unit are: Name This is a user-defined name for the Logical Unit to make it easily identifiable. Number This is the Logical Unit Number (LUN) that is presented to the host. Size This is the size of the Logical Unit. Device ID This is an OpenVMS specific identifier. Sector Size This is the sector size of the Logical Unit. Offset This sets the starting alignment offset of the Logical Unit. Report corrected media errors to the SCSI host This controls whether any internal corrected errors are reported over the SCSI layer to the host. By default it is enabled. For most environments this should be set. Report uncorrected media errors to the SCSI host This controls whether any internal uncorrected errors are reported over the SCSI layer to the host. By default it is enabled. Enable ACA Support This enables Auto Contingent Allegiance (ACA) support for the Logical Unit. Some host systems, such as AIX, require this in order to run multiple concurrent commands. After this option is changed, all interface ports which have access to the logical unit must be reset. After setting the appropriate values, click Next. A final window will confirm the values. After clicking Finish, the Logical Unit will be created. For the Logical Unit to be used, an access policy must defined. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

38 Logical Unit Access Policies The Web Management Interface provides the ability to create access lists for individual Fibre Channel or InfiniBand ports. This allows the administrator to specify which ports are allowed to communicate with each Logical Unit. Logical Units will be displayed with a warning state notifying the administrator that a Logical Unit was created and has not been presented to any hosts until an access policy has been defined, shown in Figure 15. Figure 15: Web Monitor Logical Unit with No Access Policy RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

39 Adding an Access Policy to a Logical Unit To make Logical Units accessible to connected servers, the next step is to link the Logical Unit to the RamSan-820 s Fibre Channel and/or InfiniBand ports. Click the Access button on the Logical Unit Overview screen to start the access policy wizard. The first step of the access policy wizard will provide an overview of the process. After reading the overview, click the Next button to continue to the Modify Access Policies screen, shown in Figure 16. Figure 16: Web Monitor Access Policies Wizard The left-hand tree titled Available shows a tree of all controller ports in the system with each port s available access policies underneath. The right-hand tree titled Assigned shows the policies currently in-use for each port in the system. If there are potential conflicts between policies assigned and policies available, the conflicting available policies will be disabled in the Available tree (see Figure 35 for an example). RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

40 If the system detects a host server connected to the controller port for the access policy, the policy node s connector icon will have a little green plus sign. In Figure 16, for example, the system has detected that some hosts are connected on each controller port, and some are not. To add an Access Policy, select the desired policy node from the Available tree. When it is highlighted, the >> button will become enabled. Clicking this button will move the policy from the Available tree to the Assigned tree. When a new policy is added to the Assigned tree, its text color is green. To remove an Access Policy, select the desired policy node from the Assigned tree and click the << button. The policy will be removed from the Assigned tree and added to the Available tree. When an in-use policy is deleted from the Assigned tree, its text color will be red in the Available tree. Policy changes are not committed until the next step in the wizard. Figure 17: Web Monitor Modified Access Policies RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

41 When policy modifications are complete, click Next to continue to the modifications review page shown in Figure 18. Figure 18: Web Monitor Confirm Access Policy Modifications If policy modifications are only policy additions, click the Confirm check-box and click Finish to exit the wizard and commit the policy changes. If there are policy removals, you will instead be required to enter the login password to finish the wizard and commit the modifications as shown in Figure 18. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

42 5.15 Viewing the System Logs with the Web Monitor System Event Log Perhaps the most important part of the Web monitor is the system event log. This log keeps track of all events that occurred within the system. If you are having trouble with your system, be sure to open the system event log and check this information. Figure 19: Web Monitor Logs The log events displayed in Figure 19 are not indicative of a shipped system. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

43 System Report A second log is accessible via the Web monitor called the System Report. It contains information about the system configuration, firmware version, environment, and a range of other information, including a copy of the system event log. A System Report should always be on-hand when diagnosing problems with Texas Memory Systems, Inc. s customer support. To access the System Report from the Web monitor, right-mouse click the Logs item in the system s tree and select System Report... (Figure 20). Figure 20: Web Monitor Log Options RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

44 Figure 21: Web Monitor System Report Clearing the System Event Log To clear the system event log, right-mouse click the Logs node and select Clear Event Log... (Figure 20) alternatively, left-mouse click the Clear Event Log button in the button bar. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

45 5.16 Upgrading the System with the Web Monitor It is easy to upgrade your RamSan-820 using the Web monitor if you have a patch file. From the Web monitor, expand the Management tree under the system node. This will expose several sub-nodes. Highlight Firmware. This will display the current RamSan-820 firmware version. Figure 22: Web Monitor Firmware Management To update the firmware either right-mouse click and select Firmware update... or left-mouse click the Update button in the button bar. Both methods bring up the patch file selector window. Warning: Patching the RamSan-820 is a delicate process. If the patch is interrupted, the system can become unusable and may have to be sent back to the factory for repair. If your system s patch is interrupted, immediately call Texas Memory Systems, Inc. (Section 9.3). Depending upon the state of the system, it may be repairable. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

46 Figure 23: Web Monitor Patch Selection Either type in the path and file name of the patch or use the Browse... button to browse for the file. When the file is selected, left-click the Next button and follow the instructions. The final step of the wizard will upload the patch onto the system. You will need to power cycle your RamSan-820 to apply and activate the new patch. An uploaded firmware patch may be canceled before the system is restarted. To cancel a patch, click the Cancel Patch button and confirm that you wish to cancel the currently uploaded patch. Figure 24: Web Monitor Cancel Firmware Update RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

47 5.17 Web Monitor Task Management The RamSan-820 has the ability to record all configuration changes since the last power-cycle. This information can be very valuable when diagnosing configuration problems. The current tasks are located on the Task Monitor tab next to the Recent Event Log at the bottom of the Web monitor (Figure 25). Figure 25: Web Monitor Task Information 6 System Licenses The RamSan enables access to advanced features if you provide a valid license key for the feature. You may add or remove a system license by selecting the Management node in the tree and clicking the Licenses button. This opens a configuration window where a license can be removed or added by providing a valid key. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

48 Figure 26: System Licenses Configuration The RamSan currently supports the following license-only features: RAID 5 Storage Mode JBOF Storage Mode Mail Service Statistic Log Configuration Restore Logical Unit Masking LDAP Terawatch Log Lun RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

49 6.1 RAID 5 Storage Mode This Storage Mode creates a parity protection across Flash modules to protect against the failure of an individual Flash card. 6.2 JBOF Storage Mode This Storage Mode automatically creates one Logical Unit for each Flashcard present in the RamSan. 6.3 Mail Service The RamSan s Mail Service provides system event notifications and the ability to the System Report directly to Texas Memory Systems, Inc. for support. You may configure the Mail Service settings by selecting the Management node in the tree and clicking the Mail node, which displays an overview panel. Clicking the Configure button opens the configuration wizard. This wizard allows enabling available features, setting the SMTP server, and entering target addresses. Figure 27: Mail Service Overview RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

50 Any available Mail Service features may be enabled by checking the box corresponding to the feature. Figure 28: Mail Service Features The SMTP server may be set manually or found automatically from DHCP by setting the server value to default. Up to five targets may be specified to receive any s sent by the service. Figure 29: Mail Service Configuration RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

51 To the System Report, select the Logs node in the tree and click the System Report button in the tool bar above the Event Log. This button is also available in the dialog to view the system report by clicking the System Report button. The System Report button opens the dialog shown in Figure 30. Figure 30: System Report Fill out the From: and Comment: fields, then click OK to send the System Report. This will take a few seconds to complete while the report is generated. Click Cancel to close the dialog without sending a report. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

52 6.4 Statistic Log RamSan systems are able to save logs of system statistics such as system bandwidth and the maximum temperature of all system components. Additionally, user-specified statistics can be added to the logged list. The History node under Statistics shows the currently logged list. Figure 31: Statistics History Panel Viewing Statistics Logs To view a single or multiple statistics histories, select the statistic(s) in the Currently Logged Stats table (control+click to select multiple statistics), then click the Save/View action. This will open a dialog window displaying a graph of the statistic s daily history showing the time in the x-axis and the statistic s value in the y-axis. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

53 Figure 32: Viewing a Statistic Select between the Day, Month, or Year radio buttons to change the time period shown in the graph. The darker-colored line graph drawn for a statistic is an average line of periodic samples. The variance of these samples is represented by a lighter-shaded polygon of the same color. Use the Variance check-box to turn on or off drawing the variance. Use the Save... button to save the graph image as a JPEG or a CSV file (Comma-Separated Values). RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

54 6.4.2 Configuring Logged Statistics With the Configure button, a user can add or remove system statistics to the logged history list. The original list of logged statistics cannot be removed but any user-added statistic can. Figure 33: Adding or Removing a Statistic The Configure button opens a configuration dialog. The first page of the wizard following the overview (Figure 6.4.2) shows on the right the same list as shown on the History panel of all currently logged statistics. The left side of the page has two list boxes. The top box lists system components. Selecting a component from this list generates a list of its statistics in the lower box, similar to the statistics graph configuration dialog. To add a statistic to the logged list, select a component and statistic pair and click the center Add button. The new statistic should appear at the bottom of the logged statistics list. To remove a statistic, select it in the logged list and click the Remove button. The next page of the wizard is the confirmation page. Any added statistics should be shown at the bottom of the list. Click the confirmation check-box and Finish to complete the wizard and save any changes. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

55 6.5 Configuration Save/Restore The RamSan has the ability to save a configuration including Logical Units, users, etc. and restore it at a later date. This is beneficial if you have multiple RamSan systems and would like each one to have an identical configuration. You can easily configure one system, save its configuration, and restore this configuration on all other RamSan systems with the Configuration Restore license. You can save a system s configuration by clicking the Save Configuration button on the Management tree node (Figure 34). This allows you to select a file to save the configuration. Remember the file name and location as it will be needed to restore the configuration at a later time. You can restore a configuration by clicking Restore Configuration (Figure 34) on the system you would like to restore the configuration to and choosing the previously saved configuration file. Figure 34: Configuration Save/Restore Warning: Restoring a configuration will destroy the current configuration including Logical Units. All data on all Logical Units will not be recoverable. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

56 6.6 Logical Unit Masking Logical Unit (LU) Masking gives the ability to assign access policies to a Logical Unit restricting access to specific host servers through a controller port. This is opposed to Open Access where the Logical Unit is accessible to all hosts connected to the port. When the LU Masking feature is installed, access to specific hosts can be created through either the Command Line Interface by specifying the host s World Wide Port Name (WWPN) as the optional host ID argument or through the web management interface s Access Policy Wizard. With LU Masking available, the wizard will show the WWPNs of connected hosts in its Available policy tree (see Figure 35). The wizard also gives the ability to create host ID aliases. Figure 35: Logical Unit Access Wizard RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

57 A host ID alias allows you to associate a meaningful text name with a host s WWPN. To create a new alias, click the New Alias... button on the Access Policy Wizard underneath the Available policy tree. This will open a dialog (Figure 36) which requires the host s WWPN in the Host ID: text box and the alias name in the Alias: text box. Figure 36: New Alias Dialog Click Add to finish and save the alias. The aliased host will now be listed in the Access Policies tree for each controller. Figure 37 shows an example alias called myhost for WWPN 00:11:22:33:44:55:66:77. Figure 37: Access Wizard With Aliased Policies RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

58 To remove or edit existing aliases, use the Edit Alias... button on the Access Policy Wizard. This opens the dialog shown in Figure 38. Figure 38: Edit Alias Dialog The Remove button deletes the currently selected alias. To change an alias name, select the alias in the table and click the Re-alias button to enable the Alias table cell for editing. When changes are complete, press the Enter key to leave edit mode and save the changes to the table. Click OK to exit the dialog. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

59 6.7 Lightweight Directory Access Protocol The Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is used on the RamSan to provide central authentication of login credentials in addition to any local users. Note: Users that are authenticated on the LDAP server will be granted user-level permissions. When the LDAP license is installed, this feature is not immediately enabled. The RamSan s LDAP settings must first be configured to match the server. The following settings can be configured with the LDAP wizard in the Management / Users node (see Figures 39 and 40). Host This is your LDAP server. It must be resolvable without using LDAP. Multiple hosts may be specified, each separated by a space. Base DN This is the distinguished name of the search base. Port (Optional) This is the port that will be used to connect to the LDAP server. Leaving this defaulted will use port 389 for TLS or no encryption, and port 636 for SSL encryption. If you use a different port, make sure to specify it in this field. Bind DN (Optional) This is the distinguished name that will be used for binding to the LDAP server. If left defaulted, the RamSan will try to bind anonymously. Bind Password (Optional) This is the password that the LDAP server will use to authenticate the Bind DN when the RamSan tries to bind. Timeout This is the timeout in seconds to wait for an LDAP search operation. Bind Timeout This is the timeout in seconds to wait for an LDAP bind operation. Encryption Choose which type of encryption to use for communication with the LDAP server. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

60 Figure 39: Enable LDAP Figure 40: Modifying LDAP Settings RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

61 6.8 Terawatch The Terawatch license enables you to manage multiple systems from a single web management interface. The Add System button allows you to log in to additional systems, thereby allowing you to manage multiple systems at once. The Discover button performs a network broadcast to discover other systems on the network. To set options for this action, open the Preferences window by clicking Preferences in the Options menu. Select the Discovery tab and set the desired options. Figure 41: Add System and Discover Buttons The web management interface also provides a way to view statistics, connect, or patch multiple systems simultaneously. These actions are available under the Options menu. Figure 42: Multiple Systems Management Actions RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

62 6.9 Log Lun The Log Lun license enables the creation of Log Luns that improve 512 byte write performance by using additional space. Notice: This feature will use 8 times as much space. During LU creation, Log Luns may be enabled by checking the box corresponding to the feature. When enabled, the available size of the Logical Unit s capacity will be decreased by a factor of 8. Figure 43: Create Logical Unit with Log Lun 7 System Maintenance Texas Memory Systems, Inc. designed the RamSan-820 to be easily maintainable. You can hot swap the power supplies, which means that you can remove and replace these components while the system is running. Electro-Static Discharge Warning: Please take full E.S.D. precautions if it is necessary at any time to come into contact with any circuit boards, components, or connectors. Electrostatic discharge can damage the components used in the RamSan-820 and its interfaces. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

63 7.1 Power Supplies The RamSan-820 includes two power modules. The system requires one functioning power module to run. Please consult Section 4.4 above for more information. If the RamSan-820 power supplies fail, they can be replaced while the power remains on to the system. There are several ways to detect a bad power supply. The easiest way is to examine the Web monitor or front panel display for any power related errors or warnings. Texas Memory Systems, Inc. has taken special care to enclose the RamSan-820 power modules in a protective case to minimize the electrical risks for users; however, it is critical for users to follow the following steps when removing and replacing the power modules: Disconnect the power cord from the power supply. Wait 15 seconds. Remove the power module that needs to be replaced from the RamSan-820 chassis by pressing the release switch and pulling squarely on the power supply handle. DO NOT REACH INSIDE THE PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURE AFTER REMOVING THE POWER SUPPLY. Insert the replacement power module in the RamSan-820 chassis. Make sure the power supply is properly oriented to mate with the connectors, then insert the power supply squarely and press firmly until the power supply is fully inserted into the system. Reconnect power to the new power supply. The new power supply begins to operate immediately. Warning: Replace failed power modules as soon as possible. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

64 7.2 Fans The system has one fan cage in front of the Flash sticks. These fans cool components in the system. Internal sensors report the fans speeds. If a fan degrades in performance, the front panel display will show the fan s speed. In this situation, the fan is still working, but it is not efficient. The error line ** SystemEnv Fan 8 speed is below normal levels ( RPM) scrolls across the top display row. If a fan completely stops working an error is reported on the front panel display. The error line ** SystemEnv Fan 8 speed is critically low (0.00 RPM) scrolls across the top display row. Warning: Fix or replace failed fans as soon as possible. If too many fans fail the system temperatures may rise past an acceptable range. If this happens, the system may turn off to prevent component damage. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

65 Figure 44: Web Monitor Fan Failure Detection You can use the Web monitor to detect more specific information on failing or failed fans. Once your system is displayed in the Web monitor, select Environmental / Fans. This will display a list of all fans. Please see Figure 44 for a fan failure example. To fix a fan, turn off your system and remove the lid. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

66 Figure 45: Top of an Open RamSan-820, Locations of the Fan Cage Figure 46: Extracted Fan Cage Once you have extracted the fan cage, find the failed fan. There is a good chance that hair or dust has collected on the fan and all it needs is to be cleaned. Blowing compressed air into the axle of the fan can clear obstruction or debris. If the fan cannot be cleaned or repaired, the entire cage must be replaced. RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

67 7.3 Batteries Three batteries are included to provide emergency power to the flash in case of a sudden power loss. The third battery is a redundant battery that automatically provides power if another battery fails Connecting the Batteries The RamSan-820 is shipped with the batteries connected. These batteries should stay connected at all times, even when the RamSan-820 is not in use. If directed by support to remove/reconnect the batteries, follow the steps below. For long-term storage advice, please contact support. Unfasten the red straps and connect the heavy red battery connector to the appropriate red connector from the board for each battery. Figure 47: Battery Connectors RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

68 Plug the white connector from each battery into the battery board. Refasten the red straps for each battery. Figure 48: Power Connector Unplugged RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.

69 7.3.2 Monitoring Battery Health Figure 49: Web Monitor for Batteries Internals sensors report on the battery voltage level, and a monthly test ensures that the electrical current supplied from the batteries will be enough to handle a sudden power loss. If the battery voltage is out of specification or the the monthly battery test fails, warnings will be reported. If they degrade and are unusable, errors are reported. The batteries are redundant, so data is not at RamSan-820 User s Manual Texas Memory Systems, Inc.