Figure 40. Connecting two ME4 Series 5U storage systems for replication – multiple servers, multiple switches, two
networks
1. 5U controller enclosures
2. Two switches (I/O)
3. Connection to host servers (network A)
4. Connection to host servers (network B)
5. Ethernet WAN
Isolating replication faults
Replication is a disaster-recovery feature that performs asynchronous replication of block-level data from a volume in a primary storage
system to a volume in a secondary storage system.
The replication feature creates an internal snapshot of the primary volume, and copies changes to the data since the last replication to the
secondary system using iSCSI or FC connections. The primary volume exists in a primary pool in the primary storage system. Replication
can be completed using either the ME Storage Manager or the CLI.
Replication setup and verification
After storage systems are cabled for replication, you can use the ME Storage Manager to prepare for using the replication feature.
Alternatively, you can use SSH or telnet to access the IP address of the controller module and access the replication feature using the CLI.
Basic information for enabling the ME4 Series Storage System controller enclosures for replication supplements the troubleshooting
procedures that follow.
•
Familiarize yourself with replication content provided in the
Dell EMC PowerVault ME4 Series Series Storage System Administrator’s
Guide
.
•
For virtual replication, perform the following steps to replicate an existing volume to a pool on the peer in the primary system or
secondary system:
1. Find the port address on the secondary system:
Using the CLI, run the
show ports
command on the secondary system.
2. Verify that ports on the secondary system can be reached from the primary system using either of the following methods:
•
Run the
query peer-connection
CLI command on the primary system, using a port address obtained from the output of
the show ports command.
•
In the ME Storage Manager
Replications
topic, select
Action > Query Peer Connection
.
3. Create a peer connection.
To create a peer connection, use the create peer-connection CLI command or in the ME Storage Manager
Replications
topic,
select
Action > Create Peer Connection
.
4. Create a virtual replication set.
To create a replication set, use the
create replication-set
CLI command or in the ME Storage Manager
Replications
topic, select
Action > Create Replication Set
.
5. Replicate.
To initiate replication, use the
replicate
CLI command or in the ME Storage Manager
Replications
topic, select
Action >
Replicate
.
•
Using the ME Storage Manager, monitor the storage system event logs for information about enclosure-related events, and to
determine any necessary recommended actions
80
Cabling for replication
