Before You Begin
Go over all data center requirements and planning tasks before you begin.
Topics:
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Overview of data center requirements
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Overview of data center requirements
PowerMax arrays are designed for installation in data centers that provide:
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Sufficient physical space
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Controlled temperature and humidity
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Airflow and ventilation
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Power and grounding
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System cable routing facilities
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Fire protection
Raised floors are preferred.
For information regarding overhead cable routing, see
To prepare the site for an array, meet with your Dell EMC Systems Engineer and Customer Engineer to determine what is needed to
prepare for delivery and installation. One or more sessions may be necessary to finalize installation plans.
PowerMax packaging
The basic building block of a PowerMax array is the PowerMax Brick (on arrays in open systems environments) or PowerMax zBrick (on
arrays in a mainframe environment). Depending on the array this consists of:
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An engine with two directors (the redundant data storage processing unit)
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Flash storage in two Drive Array Enclosures (DAEs) each with 24 slots
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Minimum storage capacity:
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PowerMax 2000: 13 TBu (Terabytes usable)
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PowerMax 8000 in an open systems environment: 53 TBu
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PowerMax 8000 in a mainframe environment: 13 TBu
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PowerMax 8000 in a mixed open systems and mainframe environment: 66 TBu
This document uses the term PowerBrick for planning purposes. All guidelines that apply to PowerBricks also apply to PowerMax zBricks.
Tasks to review
The following table provides a list of tasks to review during the planning process:
Table 3. Planning tasks
Task
Comments and/or Provide
Identify power requirements with site electrician.
External AC power must be supplied from independent customer-
supplied redundant power distribution units (PDUs).
Dell EMC recommends that the customer’s electrician be available
at the installation site for regular and third party racked arrays. If
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Before You Begin
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