Tag Archives: certification

My NS0-504 Study Notes – 4 SCALABLE SAN IMPLEMENTATION TESTING AND TROUBLESHOOTING

SCALABLE SAN IMPLEMENTATION TESTING AND TROUBLESHOOTING

Please click here to goto the main NS0-504 Study Notes blog post to see all sections and additional information

4.1 Be able to create an acceptance test plan.

 
4.2 Test host to storage connectivity

  • Possible failures in connectivity?
    • Improper zoning
    • NPIV not enabled on switches

 
4.3 Test LUN availability during failover scenarios (multipathing).

 
4.4 Test controller failover scenarios (multipath HA).

 

 

 

 

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My NS0-504 Study Notes – 1 SCALABLE SAN SOLUTION ASSESSMENT

Please click here to goto the main NS0-504 Study Notes blog post to see all sections and additional information

1. SCALABLESAN SOLUTION ASSESSMENT

1.1 Ensure that all prerequisites for the installation of NetApp system and switches (if needed) are met and that the required information to configure NetApp systems is collected.

Site Information

List the networks used for Cluster Management IP, Node Management IP, and Service Processor IP.

 

1. Networks
Subnet Netmask Gateway Purpose

 

2. DNS
DNS Domain Names
Name Server IP Addresses

 

Cluster Information

 

1. Licenses
SO Number
Serial Number Cluster S/N Model Protocol Name License Key
2. Cluster
Cluster Administrator’s (username “admin”) Password
Cluster Name Cluster Mgmt Port Cluster Mgmt IP
3. Node(s)
Location
Node Name Node Mgmt Port Node Mgmt IP

 

I. Post Cluster Setup Wizard
  • The Cluster Setup Wizard will name nodes CLUSTERNAME-XX, with XX being consecutive numbers from 01 to 24. To rename via the clustershell ::>

node rename -node OLDNAME -newname NEWNAME

 

II. Service Processor Configuration
  • Post Cluster Setup Wizard, as a minimum, before leaving site, the Service Processor must be configured and reachable. Configure via the clustershell ::>

system node service-processor network modify -address-type IPv4/IPv6 -node NODENAME -enable true/false -dhcp v4/none -ip-address X.X.X.X -netmask X.X.X.X -gateway X.X.X.X

Node Name Address Type (IPv4/IPv6) Enable (true/false) DHCP (v4/none) IP Address

1.1.1 Collect NetApp storage system configuration information.

Putting Various Netapp Information here:

  • Maximum number of nodes in a SAN cluster in CDOT 8.1 is 4, in CDOT 8.1.2 it went up to 6, and in CDOT 8.2 it went up to 8.

 

1.1.2 Collect Switch configuration information.

1.1.3 Gather power information such as circuit availability, wiring in place, etc…
1.1.4 Collect Host configuration information.
1.1.5 Collect Application configuration and requirements.

  • Application Names / Software  Version
  • OS / Version
  • IOPs needed heavy / avg.

1.1.6 Collect potential DEDUPE information.

 

1.1.7 Collect backup and retention information.

  • Hourly?
  • Daily?
  • Weekly?
  • Nightly?
  • Monthly?
  • Years kept?
  • Distance requirements?

 


1.2 List a detailed inventory of SAN components including:
1.2.1 NetApp storage system configuration details

1.2.2 Host details

  • FC Supported OSes: ( netapp.com )
    • Windows®, VMware, Solaris™, Oracle® Enterprise Linux®, Red Hat Linux, SUSE Linux, AIX, HP/UX, NetWare, and OpenVMS
  • Verify Host Utility Kit installation
    • HUK sets Timeouts
    • HUK lets the SAN see basic OS side data (filesystem paths, etc)
  • Verify SnapDrive Installation
    • Allowed easy access to basic SAN functionality from the mounting OS.  (Create snaps, mount volumes, create volumes)

1.2.3 FC switch details

4types_of_switches_supported

 

1.2.4 Ethernet switch details

  • sh run” on most switches
  • sh cdp neighbor” to see what other devices are connected

 

1.2.5 Current zoning configuration

  • On the NetApp:  fcp adapter show
  • On Netapp: system node run -node {nodename|local} fcp topology 
  • Brocade FOS common commands:
    • zoneshow

      • “Zone Info” in the WebTools GUI
    • cfgshow
      • Displays the ‘zoneset’
    • portCfgShow
      • Shows port configuration
    • portshow
      • Shows port status, including NPIV information
    • portloginshow
      • Displays port login status of devices attached to the specified port
    • cfgActvShow
      • Displays ACTIVE Zone configuration

 

  • Cisco MDS 9k command quick reference
    • show zoneset active
      • Displays the active zone set for each VSAN, including which devices have logged in and are communicating
    • show zone
      • Displays zone mappings
    • show zone vsan X
      • Displays zone mapping ONLY for vsan X
    • show fcalias
      • Displays alias mappings
    • show flogi database
      • Displays the devices that have logged into the fabric. Retrieve pWWNs for aliases and zoning from this database
    • show fcns database
      • Displays device name server registration information per VSAN

 

1.2.6 Current iSCSI implementation details
1.2.7 CHAP settings
1.2.8 IPSEC configuration details
1.2.9 Snapshot configuration details
1.2.10 Current data layout (aggregates, raid groups, volumes)
1.2.11 Consider listing out system names, IP addresses, current zoning configuration, OS
versions, OS patch levels, driver versions and firmware versions


1.3 Ensure that the solution design and the hardware provisioned do not fall short of the customer’s requirements and expectations.
1.3.1 Validate requirements with the customer. Consider the following:
1.3.1.1 Sizing needs

  • Total Capacity, expected growth
  • Bandwidth throughput
    • Per end host and application
    • Per SAN for all hosts
    • Per SAN for backups
    • For replication
  • IOPs requirements
    • Perform simple IOPs calculations per existing application and per existing san
    • Look at daytime, backup time, and nightly processing IOPs differences
  • Future needs

1.3.1.2 Connectivity needs
1.3.1.3 Zoning types

  • single initiator zoning

1.3.1.4 Expected level of functionality
1.3.1.5 Performance requirements
1.3.1.6 Solution requirements being provided by a thirdparty

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My NS0-504 NCIE-SAN Cluster Mode Study Notes

I need to renew my NCIE-SAN Cluster Mode NS0-504 this year, so I figure NetApp Insight 2014 is the place to do it. Why? Because it’s free Yo!

Much of this I already know, but to error on the side of caution, and not be too overconfident, I will be stepping through as many of the Study Guide lists as possible. Doing some hands on examples.

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Thoughts on Certifications (aka I passed my CCNP DataCenter)

CCNP Datacenter

6 required exams. 21 days.

I didn’t make a large hoopla when I passed my CCNP Datacenter and CCNA Datacenter last week. I’ve always wanted to be Cisco certified. Though, I always felt anything but CCIE was sort of bunk. (still do, though I have met MANY incapable CCIE) I’m no smarter today. I’m no better of an engineer today. The only thing I know better today, is where a few documents are. I’ve been using the Nexus product line since the 5010’s first came out a few years ago. I play with 5548s in customer environments from time to time, same with 6248 FIs.

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