EMC server productguide

EMC Celerra File ServerProduct Description Guide

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EMC CELERRA FILE SERVER PRODUCT DESCRIPTION GUIDE

EMC Celerra File Server Product Description Guide

Table of Contents

2 Table of Figures

2 Tables

3 Chapter 1. Network Attached Storage from EMC

3 Introducing EMC Celerra File Server

3 What is Network Attached Storage?

4 Overview of Celerra File Server

4 Meeting the Information Sharing Challenge with The EMC Effect

5 Celerra File Server and The EMC Effect

7 Chapter 2. EMC Celerra File Server: Product Overview and Benefits

7 General-purpose Servers and Their Limitations

8 The Celerra File Server Solution: EMC Network Attached Storage

8 Data Movers: Channels between Data and the Network

9 Control Station: Data Mover Management Administration Interfaces

9 Cluster Processing and Data Movers

11 System Administration and Ease of Use

11 Celerra File Server Benefits

11 Availability

13 Configurable Failover Levels

14 Non-volatile Power Systems

15 Scalability

16 Performance

17 Chapter 3. Hardware and Software Elements of Celerra File Server

17 Synergistic Systems

17 Reduced-footprint Option

18 Software

18 Hardware

19 Comparison of Protocols

19 Network Management and Security

19 Control Station Software

20 User Configuration Options

20 Server Management

20 Command Line Interface

21 Celerra File Server Manager

22 Backup and Restore

22 Automated Network Backup and Restore

24 Automated Local Backup and Restore

25 Using TimeFinder/FS for Backup and Restore

26 Using SRDF for Disaster Recovery

28 Celerra File Server Configuration

28 NFS-only Environment Configurations

29 CIFS-only Environment Configurations

29 Combined NFS/CIFS Environments

30 Celerra File Server File Security Architecture

30 Authentication

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Chapter 1Network Attached Storage from EMC

Introducing EMC EMC solutions offer choice and flexibility for today’s integrated IT requirements and scalability for

Celerra File Server information system growth. The EMC® Celerra™ File Server combines EMC’s industry-leading

storage technology with a unique software and hardware approach to deliver unprecedented levels

of high availability, scalability, and performance to meet the sharing and access needs of network

file systems.

The Celerra File Server leverages EMC’s I/O design heritage and provides dedicated, special-

purpose file server software, highly optimized for moving data. This dedicated file server for

enterprise data networks eliminates I/O performance bottlenecks associated with general-purpose

file servers and relieves traditional network servers of file service tasks, allowing them to handle

other server applications, such as database, CAD/CAM, mail, etc. Celerra File Server solves

availability and scalability problems for environments that share information over IP networks.

What is Network Network Attached Storage (NAS) consolidates distributed data into a large, centralized data pool

Attached Storage? accessible to, and shared by, heterogeneous clients and application severs across the network. To

improve performance and provide uninterrupted access, network attached storage uses a

dedicated, specialized operating system for network file access. The operating system supports

standard file access and network protocols. Figure 1 shows the topology of the network attached

storage environment.

Figure 1. Network Attached Storage (NAS) Topology

Network attached storage provides an efficient, cost-effective solution for business environments

that depend on accessing and sharing large amounts of file system data. Data consolidation reduces

administrative requirements and management costs. Centralized network file server and storage

environments — including hardware and software — ensure reliable access and high availability of

data. NAS environments typically provide a combination of robust server performance, redun-

dancy, speedy reboots, and non-disruptive failover protection. Table 1 compares network attached

storage to direct attached storage.

NFS or CIFSClient

NFS or CIFSClient

NFS or CIFSClient

LAN/WANNetwork

Network Attached Server

GeneralPurposeServer

(redeployed)

ExchangeInternet

Applications

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30 File Locking

31 Opportunistic Locks (oplocks)

31 Access Checking Policy

32 Chapter 4. Enterprise Functionality

32 Hardware and Software Specifications

34 Chapter 5. EMC Enterprise Storage Network

34 Celerra File Server (NAS) and Fibre Channel Solutions

35 Infrastructure Consolidation

37 Chapter 6. EMC Services and Support

37 EMC Professional Services

37 Overview of Professional Services Capabilities

37 Best Practices for Best Results

37 Implementation Options

38 Customer Service

39 EMC Customer Service

40 Glossary of Terms

Table of Figures

3 Figure 1. Network Attached Storage (NAS) Topology

7 Figure 2. Distributed Storage System

9 Figure 3. Celerra File Server Hardware

10 Figure 4. Celerra DART Operating System Software

13 Figure 5. Relationship Between Primary and Standby Data Movers

17 Figure 6. Celerra Cabinet

18 Figure 7. WebNFS, NFS, and CIFS Software

19 Figure 8. Celerra File Server Architecture

21 Figure 9. Browser-based Celerra Manager

23 Figure 10. Automated Network Backup and Restore

24 Figure 11. Automated Local Backup and Restore

25 Figure 12. TimeFinder/FS: Copying Files and File Systems into BCVs

27 Figure 13. Celerra Disaster Recovery Using SRDF

28 Figure 14. Typical NFS User Configuration

29 Figure 15. Typical CIFS User Configuration

29 Figure 16. Typical Mixed NFS/CIFS User Configuration

34 Figure 17. Consolidation with Celerra

35 Figure 18. ESN: Consolidation with Celerra and Connectrix

36 Figure 19. Extending the Reach of Connectrix

36 Figure 20. Leveraging Celerra and Symmetrix

Tables

4 Table 1. Network and Direct Attached Storage

5 Table 2. Celerra-based Network File Sharing Applications

20 Table 3. Comparison of Protocols

22 Table 4. Celerra Manager Components and Options

26 Table 5. Backup and Restore Options Using TimeFinder/FS

30 Table 6. File Locking Comparison

35 Table 7. Complementary Aspects of Celerra and Connectrix

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Table 2 shows typical industries and applications that benefit from the Celerra File Server’s capabilities.

Table 2. Celerra-based Network File Sharing Applications

In addition, organizations with dominant Windows NT and UNIX platforms can use Celerra File

Server to add value and benefit while shifting to enterprise resource planning (ERP) for network

and/or server consolidation.

Celerra File Server The EMC Effect™ associated with Celerra File Server brings significant financial, operational, and

and The EMC Effect business impacts to the enterprise.

• The financial impact of consolidating network servers lowers operating and maintenance costs.

One centralized network attached storage system needs fewer people controlling it instead of the

many individuals required to manage dozens of distributed file servers. Ongoing operating and

maintenance costs for multiple systems typically exceeds the original cost of distributed file servers.

Plus, EMC’s extensible architecture takes advantage of evolving industry-standard hardware

technology, further protecting the investment. EMC’s extensive hardware and software warranties

lower the total cost of ownership and include 24x7 protection.

The Celerra File Server:

– Handles peak workloads of thousands of Network File System (NFS) and Common Internet

File System (CIFS) clients concurrently.

– Allows system administrators to increase capacity and performance as requirements grow.

– Scales non-disruptively to multiple terabytes of disk capacity within the same footprint.

Industry Applications

Internet business/electronic • Web pages

commerce • Electronic mail

• Software development, testing, and simulations

Windows NT consolidation of • Office automation

client storage • Customer service

• Decision support

Telecommunications • Software development and testing

• Internet support

• Customer service

Finance and banking • Decision support systems

• Trading

• Software development

• Forecasting modeling and simulations

Software development • Code management

• R&D simulations and modeling

Manufacturing • CAD/CAM

• CAE

• ECAD

• Software development

Table 1. Network and Direct Attached Storage.

NAS addresses particular business needs, such as when organizations tend to experience rapid

growth leading to scalability problems. Or when uncontrolled collaborative work environments

limit availability, increase system management costs, and reduce backup and recovery capabilities.

NAS provides centralized network file access and sharing to resolve these problems. NAS

represents a critical component of data storage consolidation and enterprise computing.

Overview of The Celerra File Server, a specialized network attached storage system, offers industry-leading

Celerra File Server availability and performance; non-disruptive capacity scaling; and flexible network connections.

Celerra protects the storage investment and improves backup/restore and disaster recovery

facilities. Organizations can redeploy resources through consolidation and realize a lower

total cost of ownership, thereby solidifying the IT infrastructure and protecting the

computing investment.

Meeting the Information EMC combines its industry-leading Symmetrix® Enterprise Storage technology with a unique

Sharing Challenge software and hardware approach that delivers unprecedented levels of availability, scalability,

with The EMC Effect management, and performance to network file storage. In developing the Celerra File Server — a

dedicated network file server that runs software optimized for moving data — EMC leveraged its

I/O system design heritage and created a breakthrough solution that addressed long-standing

performance bottlenecks associated with file servers based on general-purpose operating systems.

The EMC Celerra File Server operates over local networks (including 10/100BaseT, ATM, FDDI,

and Gigabit Ethernet) and wide area networks (including the Internet). Multi-protocol NFS and

CIFS file access capabilities allow a single Celerra system to simultaneously support mixed UNIX®

and Windows NT® environments, with concurrent access to shared data.

Consolidating data from numerous and scattered UNIX and NT servers onto a reliable Celerra

platform produces significant advantages: Less overhead. Simplified management. High

availability. Ability to upgrade servers when necessary while avoiding data migrations. Celerra’s

support of both NFS and CIFS protocols gives both UNIX and NT clients the ability to share the

same files using appropriate locking mechanisms.

Network Attached Storage (NAS) Direct Attached Storage (DAS)

Network file access with centralized Access to data only through the host

management of file systems

Clients can share file systems and view Each host manages its own file systems

concurrent shared data without sharing data with other hosts

Dedicated file server plus storage provides Storage provides high availability of data to

high availability of data to the network the host

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Chapter 2EMC Celerra File Server: Product Overview and Benefits

EMC Celerra File Server includes Symmetrix storage in a network attached device that delivers

network storage with optimal availability, broad scalability, and high performance to meet enter-

prise file sharing needs.

General-purpose Servers Traditionally, file servers operated as general-purpose systems running multi-user applications

and Their Limitations alongside file services. Usually deployed in distributed storage environments, general-purpose

servers lacked the capability to efficiently access, transfer, and manage large quantities of file

system data. Users in data-critical environments in particular experienced the limitations of

general-purpose servers, with server overloading inhibiting high, predictable data throughput.

Figure 2 illustrates the topology of a distributed storage environment.

Figure 2. Distributed Storage System

The advent of the Internet, along with the data explosion of the 1980s and 1990s, intensified

requirements to expand capacity and resulted in complex, expensive, and difficult-to-manage

distributed storage environments. Market research shows that users can spend up to eight times

the cost of server and storage hardware to manage increasingly complex storage environments.

– Reduces the need for local, compartmentalized storage by offering a consolidated network file

server that extends storage capacity while lowering cost.

– Enables increased network data storage requirements without changing the underlying IT

infrastructure.

– Allows departments to leverage current capital investments in host computers.

– Adds efficiency to standard data access tasks.

• The operational impact of Celerra File Server improves data availability, increases overall

productivity, and promotes cost avoidance. Enhanced connectivity and file sharing eliminate data

duplication and time-consuming resynchronization efforts. Because Celerra supports multiple

heterogeneous clients simultaneously, customers can share files between platforms to optimize use

of data. And, reallocating storage demand between network user groups allows managers to

address the variable application needs of both Windows and UNIX environments. The Celerra File

Server encourages a long, useful life for storage assets, minimizes planned and unplanned

downtime, and allows redeployment of general-purpose servers (e.g., database engines,

application servers, print servers).


– Combines with a Symmetrix system to manage storage, consolidate departmental servers,

simplify data access, and improve security.

– Promotes secondary uses for data, thereby enhancing productivity and business continuity.

– Allows administrators to concentrate on critical tasks without the need to fine tune the server’s

performance.

– Improves file system performance and increases throughput from application servers.

• The business impact of Celerra File Server “closes the information gap,” giving end users the data

they need when and where they need it, regardless of distance. Celerra allows managers to react

quickly to market changes and enables the enterprise to deliver improved customer service. With

Celerra as the cornerstone of enterprise-wide file sharing, organizations can reduce R&D

development cycles, gain market share, generate additional revenue, and reach the market before

the competition.


– Delivers high levels of availability and scalability.

– Offers performance and high-speed reaction to market changes.

– Optimizes network file sharing capabilities between UNIX and NT platforms.

– Allows client storage consolidation of large-scale UNIX and NT environments onto a single

storage platform.

– Enables more work in less time, more customers served, more applications run, and more

business opportunities exploited.

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Control Station: The Celerra Control Station manages configuration and management of the Data Movers with

Data Mover Management familiar system administration interfaces. Administrators can access the Control Station directly

Administration Interfaces from the Celerra console, via Telnet, or via a GUI and a Web browser. The Control Station also

supports a MIB II interface for integration with commonly used management packages such as

Tivoli®, and HP® OpenView®.

Figure 3. Celerra File Server Hardware

The hardware architecture of Celerra File Server (Figure 3) includes four backplanes, each with the

capacity of four hardware slots. The lower left slot is reserved for the Control Station. A second

(e.g., redundant) Control Station can use the lower right slot to support non-disruptive Control

Station failover. (Data Mover failover does not require redundant Control Stations.) The remaining

14 hardware slots are for Data Movers, each composed of an Intel®-based motherboard, PCI bus,

network cards, SCSI cards, and/or fibre connections. The minimum configuration provides two Data

Movers. Data Movers can be added to increase capacity and performance as environments grow.

Cluster Processing A group of independent systems working together as a single system (e.g., cluster) appears to

and Data Movers system managers as a single high-performance, highly available server. Cluster configurations

ensure availability and scalability in business-critical computing applications.

Clustering assumes many forms in delivering scalability and high performance. Adding another

server, for example, provides additional processing power to handle more complex, or a greater

number of, requests from clients. Clustered servers assume the workload of a failed server without

impacting client or network performance.

Data Movers

Power Supplies

Control Stations

The Celerra File Server EMC’s Celerra File Server enables sharing of files over networks and provides transparent access to

Solution: EMC Network the same files by UNIX (NFS) and Windows NT (CIFS) clients. Celerra offers superior capacity up

Attached Storage to 28TB (raw), industry-leading availability and performance, and:

• Uncompromised protection of enterprise data.

• Continuous data availability with fast failover and reboots.

• High and predictable data throughput that can handle I/O-intensive network applications and

reduce server overloading.

• Investment protection that accommodates frequent advances in technology and changes in

application requirements.

• Low total cost of ownership over the useful life of computer systems.

Data Movers: The Celerra File Server cabinet contains a cluster of up to 14 independent Data Movers that

Channels between operate as autonomous dedicated file servers, establishing highly efficient channels between the

Data and the Network data and the network. Data Movers enable concurrent access to file systems by heterogeneous

network clients using multiple network technologies (including Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, FDDI,

and ATM). Celerra supports industry-standard Network File System (NFS), Common Internet File

Systems (CIFS), FTP, and WebNFS protocols.

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System Administration The Control Station performs Celerra’s system configuration and administrative functions and

and Ease of Use offers three types of management interface:

• Local management using a UNIX-like command line interface.

• Remote management using a Web-based graphical user interface (GUI).

• Over the network by using either SNMP MIB II management or Telnet.

For additional information, see the Network Management and Server Management sections in

Chapter 3.

Celerra File As a high-capacity network attached storage system, Celerra File Server delivers availability,

Server Benefits scalability, and high-performance file services.

Availability The high-availability architecture of Celerra delivers simple, robust failover with minimal

performance impact. A Data Mover failure prompts a cluster software response and the transfer of

tasks from the failed server to one of the standby servers in the cluster.

Note: See the Failover section in this chapter for a description of the failover process.

The Celerra File Server ensures high data availability and virtually non-stop file access by combining

Celerra File Server technology with EMC’s powerful Symmetrix Enterprise Storage system.

Redundant power supplies, redundant fans, environmental control, single-system management

umbrella (e.g., setup, configuration, installation, and administration from a single, optionally

redundant point of control), and reduced footprint packaging give Celerra’s Data Movers

extensive reliability and availability. Specifically, Celerra creates high-availability through

redundancy, failover, information protection with TimeFinder/FS for mirroring, remote

diagnostics and maintenance, and disaster recovery.

Celerra’s flexible failover configurations include a full set of critical components:

• Redundant data paths within the Symmetrix

• Redundant connection paths between the Symmetrix and the Data Movers (Fibre Channel and

SCSI)

• Standby Data Movers (customer configurable)

• Redundant Control Stations (optional)

• At least two internal network paths on each Data Mover and Control Station

• Load-sharing power supplies (n + 1)

• On-board battery backup

• Dual AC power lines

The fine granularity and the autonomous nature of the servers in the Celerra cluster — the Data

Movers — provide superior fault isolation and containment. Their unique design isolates and

limits the impact of failures to individual Data Movers, allows for seamless Data Mover failover

and replacement, and permits near-linear scaling of performance by achieving parallelism across

Data Movers. Data Movers mount and export file systems and respond to client requests for data

access. In addition, the diskless Data Movers and Control Stations maintain a database of all infor-

mation pertaining to their configurations, the file systems mounted by them, and file locks on the

highly reliable and available Symmetrix storage systems.

Celerra DART The Data Movers run Data Access in Real Time (DART), an optimized, embedded operating

Operating System Software system designed exclusively for high-performance network file access with multi-protocol support.

This realtime, multi-threaded operating system ensures highly optimized network file access, as

illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Celerra DART Operating System Software

DART separates control and data paths, enables high throughput rates, maintains responsiveness

to user requests and enhances data availability. Its intelligent scheduling algorithms maintain

sustained throughput under increasing loads and avoid throughput degradation, even under

overload conditions.

DART’s transaction-based file system, UxFS, maintains a log of all the file system metadata

changes. In the event of a failure and reboot, only the log needs recovery through a short, constant-

duration operation, independent of the number of file systems and the amount of storage involved,

eliminating the need to use fscheck in the majority of cases.

Note: Celerra’s metadata logging typically handles reboot recovery in minutes. General-purpose

computers without metadata logging can require hours for rebooting and file system checking.

Write gathering, a DART optimization feature, contributes to Celerra’s superior write perfor-

mance. Additional write performance improvements include the non-volatile Symmetrix system,

which uses batteries to protect cache from power loss and prevent corruption. As required by NFS,

Symmetrix provides synchronous data writes (and asynchronous destaging) to disk before

acknowledging writes to clients.

NetworkLayer

MultiprotocolSupport

SymmetrixEnterpriseStorage System

File System

Storage Layer

Fibre

NFS CIFS

NFS

Traffic

CIFS

(SMB) Traffic

SCSI

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Figure 5. Relationship Between Primary and Standby Data Movers

To achieve this level of availability, two redundant internal networks connect the Control Station

and all the Data Movers in the Celerra cabinet. The Control Station continuously monitors the

health and status of the Data Movers. When the Control Station detects a failure, it powers down

the failed Data Mover and notifies the spare. The diskless Data Movers can see all Symmetrix

disks, allowing the spare Data Mover to assume control of the failed Data Mover’s files and

configuration information.

The standby Data Mover assumes the IP and MAC addresses, the interface host names, and all

information about the configuration and file systems of the failed Data Mover. Client service

continues. The standby Data Mover transparently resumes NFS services to clients, with no

requirement to unmount and remount the file system (Figure 5).

Note:

• Once configured, failover operates automatically and requires no intervention.

• Failover appears transparent to NFS clients but not to CIFS clients*.

• The standby Data Mover is already booted; there is no need to wait for boot time.

• Failover does not degrade system throughput.

A single standby Data Mover can act as standby for any number of primary Data Movers when it

connects to the same network as the primary Data Movers. Primary Data Movers located on

different networks, however, require configuration of multiple standbys.

In addition, Celerra offers scalable availability with high inherent redundancy, disaster recovery-

based solutions, and non-volatile power system solutions.

Configurable System configuration can include manual, automatic, or scripted failover, depending on the level of

Failover Levels availability required.

Client Client Client

Data Mover"Primary"

LAN/WANNetwork

Data Mover"Standby"

MAC and IP addressesare stored on Symmetrix

FileSystem

FileSystem

{ }

Redundancy Celerra File Server ensures continuous data availability by creating multiple data access paths

throughout the system, from the disk drives to the network. In addition, the Celerra cabinet

provides redundancy of all critical components, ensuring high availability of data on the network.

Dual data paths throughout the file server eliminate single points of failure, protect data, and

promote data availability. Celerra offers:

• Redundant Network Interface Cards (NICs) per Data Mover that provide multiple access paths to

the network and maintain high availability in the event of a network card failure.

• Dual connections between the Data Movers and the Control Station that handle internal commu-

nications.

• The Celerra Fibre Channel driver uses the dual-port Emulex adapter to support 256 devices per

controller port. EMC has tested and qualified this driver with Connectrix and Brocade switches.

• Dual SCSI connections between Symmetrix and each Data Mover that support load-balancing.

• Ethernet Trunking helps Celerra maintain high availability because other ports assume the load if

one port fails. Ethernet Trunking combines up to four Ethernet ports into a single logical device.

Trunking-capable switches handle statistical load balancing by connecting different clients to

different ports. Ethernet Trunking provides higher aggregate throughput for a single IP address and

avoids any increase in single-client throughput (subject to limitations on the overall aggregate

throughput per Data Mover).

In addition,

• Standby Data Movers ensure virtually uninterrupted access to data through automatic and quick

failover support in the event of a Data Mover failure.

• Independent Data Mover/Control Station Architecture makes Data Mover operations independent

of the Control Station (except during configuration or failover). Control Station failure impacts

only installation and management features in single Control Station configurations and does not

impact users’ continued access to data.

• Online file system duplication allows creation of multiple file system copies for other business uses.

• Advanced Volume Management offers hyper volumes, meta volumes, slicing, and striping.

• Dual internal Ethernet provides control and management with redundant load-sharing power sup-

plies, battery backup, environmental controls, Auto-Call remote maintenance parameter

monitoring, and redundant critical components.

• Warranty includes one year for hardware, 90-day warranty for software with 7-day-a-week,

24-hour coverage.

• Backup and proactive maintenance with full system battery backup and support for multiple

backup options, including the EMC Data Manager (EDM™) for network-based backup, and the

industry-standard Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP) for local backup.

Failover The Data Mover failover capability (configurable from manual to completely automatic) allows a

hot spare Data Mover to transparently take over from a failing Data Mover. This cost-effective

failover capability enhances data availability while maintaining performance and ease

of management. Failover typically occurs in 20 seconds to four minutes, depending on

implementation factors.

*You may need to restart some Windows applications or clients.

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Enhanced Data Availability The following features contribute to the enhanced data availability of the Celerra File Server and

the Symmetrix:

• Self-Diagnostic and Self-Reporting Capabilities: This includes EMC Call-Home and Call-In

support. EMC Call-Home support operates 24x7x365 and automatically alerts an EMC support

engineer that the system requires remote diagnostics. The Call-In feature allows the customer to

arrange non-intrusive repair.

• Non-Disruptive Component Repair: Hot-swappable components reduce repair time and increase

data availability. Field replaceable Symmetrix components include channel directors, disk

directors, head and disk assemblies, and cache memory cards. Celerra File Server components

include individual Data Movers, the Control Station, power supplies, battery backup systems, fan

subsystems, and all Fibre Channel, SCSI, and power cables.

Scalability Celerra File Server allows non-disruptive upgrades within the same system footprint. This seamless and

economical growth accommodates changing network storage, performance, and connectivity needs

with no loss of service to clients. The clustering capabilities of Celerra File Server allow customers to

add incremental servers and meet overall processing power requirements without changing the

underlying IT storage infrastructure. Once installed, the Celerra File Server software provides the

capability to dynamically grow file systems without offloading/reloading or copying data.

Celerra scalability eliminates the need for multiple low-end systems or implementation of “forklift

upgrades” to achieve high-level system functionality. Alternatively, users of single-system servers

must choose an expensive expansion solution that requires a commitment to high-end servers for

additional CPUs, drives, and memory.

Celerra favorably impacts the total cost of ownership (TCO) by accommodating up to 14 Data

Movers without the expense of purchasing additional cabinetry. Management remains centralized

for further cost savings. And, Celerra remains capable of redeploying resources to meet changing

business and operational needs.

Celerra’s architecture gives system administrators the capability to add Data Movers online and

scale the expanded system to achieve near-linear performance increases. Adding high-speed cache,

channel paths, Data Movers, network connections, and disks permits seamless growth of enterprise

file systems while ensuring balanced high-performance to meet increased client storage demands.

See Chapter 5, EMC Enterprise Storage Network, for information about direct connect hosts and

Celerra network connection to the same Symmetrix.

Non-volatile A variety of non-volatile power systems ensures the uninterrupted operation of the Celerra File Server.

Power SystemsN+1 Load Sharing Power Supplies. Sufficient capacity remains after a power supply failure so that

the remaining power supplies can maintain full operation until the failed component receives a

non-disruptive repair.

Two Fully Redundant AC Power Lines. In the event that one AC input fails, the system

automatically utilizes the other input. Synchronization of the two AC inputs can originate from

entirely different sources (e.g., the utility provider grid and an onsite backup power generator).

Onboard Battery Backup creates non-volatile power systems for the cabinets. In event of power

loss, battery backup systems supply adequate power to the Celerra File Server to facilitate an

orderly shutdown.

Control Station Guard enables the Celerra File Server to provide seamless operation even during

rebooting, upgrading, or unavailability of the Control Station. Used only to configure and manage

the Celerra environment, the Control Station remains completely independent of file system

operations and services provided by the Data Movers. Clients can continue data transfer between

the network and the Symmetrix even after a Control Station failure.

Note: A Control Station failure may temporarily delay new software installation or modification of

the Celerra File Server configuration. Control Station unavailability also disables Data Mover

failover. These operations can resume as soon as the Control Station becomes available. A

secondary Control Station can issue any Celerra File Server commands via the command line or the

Celerra File Server Manager after a failure of the primary Control Station. A failure also initiates

the Call-Home utility that notifies EMC Customer Service of the event. Under normal

circumstances, after repairing or replacing the primary Control Station, the secondary Control

Station continues to monitor and control Celerra functions until the next reboot, either directly or

as a result of a power down and restart cycle.

TimeFinder/FS TimeFinder/FS, an implementation of EMC’s leading information protection software

TimeFinder™, creates a point-in-time copy or a dynamic mirror of a file system. Integrated into the

Celerra Control Station, the TimeFinder/FS option allows users to create file system copies (with

only a brief suspension of access to the original file system). These copies permit independent

non-disruptive file backups, “live copy” test beds for new applications, and mirror copies of files

for redundancy and business continuity, as well as:

• Backup and restore of older versions of a specific file, directory, or complete file system.

• Mirroring and continuous updates of an active file system.

Note: File system copies require that the configuration of the Symmetrix system attached to the

Celerra File Server include business continuance volumes (BCVs). A BCV, which attaches to a

standard volume on which a file system resides, provides the foundation for the file system copy.

File systems can share BCVs, although the BCV remains dedicated to a volume.

Connectivity Celerra supports numerous and heterogeneous network interfaces: 10/100BaseT, ATM, FDDI,

and Gigabit Ethernet. With each Data Mover containing two Network Interface Cards (NICs), a

fully configured system can provide one or a combination of the following options:

• Up to 112 10/100BaseT connections

• Up to 28 FDDI connections

• Up to 14 ATM connections

• Up to 14 Gigabit Ethernet connections

Integration of Network Celerra File Server supports today’s industry standards including file access protocols, network

Interconnect Devices interfaces and protocols, and physical file system types (CIFS and NFS). It offers connectivity to

devices on the network through hubs, routers, or switches. Celerra provides transparent

communication to any system on the network, no matter which hub or switch connects the system

to the network.

Performance Celerra File Server is optimized for high-performance file sharing and takes advantage of the

Symmetrix system to achieve peak performance*. Robust amounts of cache (up to 16GB) enable

Symmetrix to exceed the throughput and response time performance of conventional disk storage.

Symmetrix transfers data at electronic memory speeds, avoiding the dramatically slower speeds of

physical disk devices.

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Chapter 3Hardware and Software Elements of Celerra File Server

Figure 6. Celerra Cabinet

Synergistic Systems The Celerra File Server and the Symmetrix Enterprise Storage system together deliver high-

availability, scalability, performance, and capacity required for mission-critical applications. One

cabinet contains the Celerra File Server (with Data Movers, Control Stations, redundant

components, etc., Figure 6). The other cabinet contains EMC’s high-performance Symmetrix

Enterprise Storage system, designed for efficient online storage and retrieval.

Celerra provides network attached file server capabilities tuned and optimized for

high-performance file sharing and centralized data storage.

Reduced-footprint Option Customers may select an option that combines the Symmetrix system and Celerra File Server in a

single cabinet. This single-enclosure Celerra File Server contains up to four Data Movers and two

Control Stations, with a capacity of up to 1.6TB raw of network attached storage. This option

allows system administrators to reduce the Celerra’s footprint and minimize the space required

while maintaining the same level of availability and functionality.

*www.specbench.org contains information about Celerra’s industry-leading performance levels.

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The Data Movers and the Control Station attach to the Symmetrix using Fibre Channel and Ultra

FWD SCSI.

Comparison of Protocols CIFS complements existing file access protocols (e.g., FTP and NFS) for networks with Microsoft

Windows users. Table 3 compares the three protocols.

Table 3. Comparison of Protocols

Network Management Both the Data Movers and the Control Stations support SNMP MIB II. This allows Celerra File

and Security Server network management from any SNMP-compliant application. Celerra also supports

SNMP events and traps.

Celerra File Server supports Domain Name System (DNS) and Network Information System

(NIS), with each Data Mover and the Control Station acting as a DNS and/or NIS client. This

support makes the Data Movers self-sufficient and able to perform name translation without

involving the Control Station.

Celerra File Server allows CIFS environments to interoperate with Windows NT; each Data Mover

can become part of a Windows NT domain and can support multiple domains. Celerra supports

Microsoft’s Distributed File System (Dfs).

The Network Time Protocol (NTP) on the individual Data Movers provides accurate time

synchronization and support. Figure 8 illustrates the Celerra File Server Architecture.

Figure 8. Celerra File Server Architecture

Control Station Software The Celerra File Server Control Station software provides the control system of the Celerra as well

as the management interface to all components. The Control Station runs an industry-standard

operating system, used to install the Control Station software. Control Station software

also installs, manages, and configures the Data Movers, monitors the environmental conditions

and performance of all components, and implements Data Mover failover and the Call-Home

support feature.

Disk Adapter

Disk Adapter

ChannelAdaptor

Disk Adapter

Disk Adapter

ChannelAdaptor

ChannelAdaptor

Disk Director

Disk Director

ChannelDirector

Channel Director

Disk Director

Disk Director

ChannelDirector

Channel Director

ChannelAdaptor

LAN/WANNetworkManagement

Protocol

Symmetrix Celerra

Memory

Data Mover

Data Mover Data Mover

Data Mover

Data Mover


Data Mover

Data Mover


Data Mover


Control StationsControl Station

Control Station

Bat.Chg

Bat.Chg

Battery

ETHERNET, ATM, FDDI, GB ETHERNETNETWORK PROTOCOLS

NFS/CIFS DATA PROTOCOLS

FTP NFS CIFSPerforms operations on Provides random access to Maintains connection state

entire files, providing bulk files and directories but on both server and client.

(not routine) data access. offers no synchronization

between client and server.

Similar in functionality to

CIFS, but NFS is stateless.

Software

Figure 7. WebNFS, NFS, and CIFS Software

Celerra core software components provide high-performance file services, high data availability,

and easy-to-use management tools. The Celerra File Server, a multi-protocol network file server,

supports a variety of network connections and protocols (Figure 7). Celerra File Server supports

network protocols as peers in the DART operating system, avoiding the performance and scaling

problems often associated with emulations. These protocols include:

• Common Internet File System (CIFS), an extension of Microsoft’s Server Message Block (SMB)

file-sharing protocol, allows users to share file systems over the Internet or any intranet. CIFS can

share data because of enhancements to the native file-sharing protocol in Microsoft® Windows 95®

and Windows NT operating systems.

• Network File System (NFS), which provides distributed file services for transparent file sharing in

network environments. Native UNIX clients and network clients with NFS capabilities use the

NFS protocol.

• Web Network File System (WebNFS), which allows users to access NFS-exported file systems

using Web browsers, Java applets, and the Internet.

• File Transfer Protocol (FTP), implemented as an application-level program (based on the

OSI model), functions over Telnet and TCP protocols. FTP provides a high-level protocol for

transferring files from one machine to another.

The Celerra File Server supports the industry-standard Network File System (NFS v2 and v3)

protocols over TCP/IP and UDP/IP. It supports the CIFS protocol and the FTP protocol over

TCP/IP. FTP also provides utilities that allow file transfer among heterogeneous systems.

Hardware Celerra core hardware components consist of Control Stations, Data Movers, power supplies,

modem connection, communications boards, and battery backup units.

Each Data Mover acts as a fully autonomous file server and operates independently from the

Control Station (except during configuration and failover). In the unlikely event of a Control

Station failure, Celerra File Server maintains uninterrupted Data Mover connections to the

external network and to the clients requesting data.

Storage

INTERNET

UXFS

CIFS NFS

WebNFS

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Command Line Interface The command line interface allows users to enter approximately 45 Celerra File Server commands

from a command prompt. A Celerra File Server prefix identifies each of these easy-to-use

commands. The syntax of these commands resembles familiar UNIX commands. In addition, user

scripts can easily customize and enhance server administration run on the Control Station.

CIFS Auditing CIFS Auditing maintains an audit log of server events (e.g., tree connect/disconnect, failed/

succeeded file opens, share management events). With the same functionality as Windows NT

systems, CIFS Auditing allows system managers to view events from the Event Viewer of any

Windows NT server.

Celerra File The Celerra Manager runs in a Web browser that supports Java applets and is accessible across

Server Manager multiple user platforms (Figure 9). Users select a desired function and Celerra Manager builds the

proper command line.

Figure 9. Browser-based Celerra Manager

The Celerra Manager provides a set of management commands for each major file server

component. Server components appear as buttons across the top frame of the main menu. Clicking

a button activates a new frame that contains the component management options. The Celerra

The Control Station loads DART server software onto each Data Mover. DART server software

manages high-speed transfer of file system data between the Symmetrix and the network clients.

After loading DART, Data Mover operations remain independent from those of the Control

Station; a Control Station failure does not interrupt them.

User Configuration Options Celerra commands and options allow users to configure file systems for access by NFS users, CIFS

users, and both NFS and CIFS users. The Celerra File Server supports any clients with NFS or

CIFS, including:

• Windows 95, Windows 98

• Windows NT

• UNIX variants (SunOS, Solaris, HP-UX, etc.)

• Windows clients with third-party NFS applications (PC-NFS, Maestro, Hummingbird)

Server Management Celerra File Server uses the Control Station running an industry-standard operating system to

perform system configuration and administrative functions. Users can access the password-

protected Control Station locally, using the monitor and keyboard in the front of the Celerra

cabinet, or remotely, using Telnet or a Web-based browser. Both interfaces allow users to perform

administrative tasks.

Celerra also provides an SNMP Management Information Base (MIB) II interface for integration

with popular management tools, such as CA Unicenter, Tivoli, and HP OpenView.

0

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Figure 10. Automated Network Backup and Restore

The Celerra File Server supports automated network backup and restore (Figure 10) with many

enterprise products such as EMC Data Manager (EDM). EDM provides backup and restore from

a Data Mover to a central tape library connected to a remote backup server. Backup data travels

across the network.

This sophisticated backup solution uses high-end backup equipment and tape libraries, typically to

backup and restore large configurations, populated with many small- to medium-capacity

distributed systems.

Note: The automated network backup and restore procedure requires sufficient network

bandwidth to enable the backup operation.

During the automated network backup operation, the remote backup server acts as a network

client and mounts the Data Mover file systems. The backup server copies files to its local tape

library from the Data Mover, treating the files as locally attached to the backup server.

Automated network backup and restore offers an optimum solution for distributed networks with

sufficient available bandwidth and includes sophisticated capabilities, such as:

• Unattended backup and restore capability

• Tape library support

• Management via graphical user interface

• Sophisticated data cataloging

Work Station

Manager can manage all functions for every file server component.

Table 4 lists the options associated with Celerra Manager components.

Table 4. Celerra Manager Components and Options

Backup and Restore The Celerra File Server offers several backup and restore solutions, both network-based and direct-

attached. Configuring the Celerra File Server to use TimeFinder/FS creates another backup and

restore option with Business Continuance Volumes (BCVs).

Automated Network The automated network backup and restore option sends files across the network to a tape drive

Backup and Restore attached to a remote backup server. This sophisticated network backup tool allows customers

to protect large configurations that typically contain many small- to medium-capacity

distributed systems.

Component Control Station OptionSystem Component • Telenet capabilities for direct access to the Control Stations

Manages the Control and the capability to display the Control Station log and

Station and Celerra’s version

graphical interface. • GUI options manage graphical interface users and specify the

graphical interface password

Network Host • Manage the network view of the Data Mover

Component • Perform network administration

Provides an • Manage interfaces

understanding and • Configure NIC cards and IP addresses

diagnosis of network • Manage routing

problems by displaying • Configure DNS, NIS, and SNMP operations

network statistics and

pinging other systems.

Volume Component • Create, size, and manage volume

Offers the capability to • Create and associate file systems

configure volumes and • Quota support allows allocation and constraint of disk

create file systems. usage by specified users

Data Mover • Create mount points

Component • Export file system paths

Uses commands that • Display free space

manage file server

operations.

File System • Check • Delete

Component • Extend • Archive

Manages file systems. • Rename • Restore

• Display

Data Mover and File • Mount and unmount file systems

System Component • Check free space in the Data Mover and file system

Platform • Commands that halt and reboot the Data Mover platform

Component • Display platform memory, adapters, name, and date

Manages the platform • Define standby Data Movers

view of the Data Mover. • Display platform version

• Display log files and statistics

The Celerra File Server’s highly optimized file system implementation, combined with high-

performance backup and restore products, eliminates most concerns about sufficient available

bandwidth. Dedicated subnets for backups, which further separate backup and restore from user

traffic, minimize backbone congestion.

Automated Local Backup Automated local backup and restore backs up files to a local tape, attached directly to a Data

and Restore Mover. This advanced backup and restore tool allows customers with larger configurations to

bypass the network when backing up and restoring data.

The Celerra File Server provides local backup and restore using third-party, NDMP-compliant

backup and restore products. Celerra File Server eliminates the need to transfer backup and restore

data across the network by copying files to a tape library, attached directly to a Data Mover via

SCSI connections (Figure 11). Use of an NDMPv2 backup package provides automated local

backup for mixed UNIX and NT environments, preserving file and security attributes.

Figure 11. Automated Local Backup and Restore

An automated local backup and restore operation involves configuring the NDMP backup and

restore product to run on a remote network client. From the remote client, it manages the local

backup and restore of the Celerra File Server. The network only transmits control information

between the Data Movers and the backup device. The remote backup and restore server network

client can also perform simultaneous backup and restore of other enterprise servers, either locally

or over the network.

(CIFS/NFS)Client

(CIFS/NFS)Client

(CIFS/NFS)Client

Work Station

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Automated local backup and restore provides features similar to automated network backup, such as:

• Incremental and full backup

• Unattended backup capability

• Tape library support

• Sophisticated data cataloging

• Error log support

• Management via graphical user interface

Using TimeFinder/FS for Backup and Restore

Figure 12. TimeFinder/FS: Copying Files and File Systems into BCVs

TimeFinder/FS, the Celerra implementation of EMC’s TimeFinder technology, creates a point-

in-time copy of a file system with only a brief suspension of access to the original file system.

System administrators can mount and export this independently addressable file system copy or

use it as a dynamic mirror of a file system. TimeFinder/FS allows continued normal operations on

the original file system, while the copy serves as a basis for the backup operation. Figure 12 shows

the TimeFinder/FS backup and restore process. Table 5 compares various backup and restore

options using TimeFinder/FS.

Clients

DataMovers

Symmetrix

Client access to BCV data

Client access to current data

FS2copy

FS3copy

BCVs

FS1copy

FS2 FS3

FS1

Celerra and TimeFinder/FS

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Figure 13. Celerra Disaster Recovery using SRDF

The Celerra disaster recovery solution maintains continuously available file systems, even with an

unavailable or non-functioning Celerra File Server. Symmetrix technology connects a local and

remote Celerra over a distance of up to 40 miles (66 km). After establishing the connection and

properly configuring the Celerra, users gain continued access to file systems in the event that the

local Celerra and/or the Symmetrix becomes unavailable.

By providing a remote mirror copy of file system data in more than one location, Celerra’s disaster

recovery functionality offers:

• Disaster tolerance/recovery

• Data center migration

• Data migration capability

• Data center decision solutions

Note: Implementation of Celerra disaster recovery software requires modification of the standard

Celerra configuration. Each logical volume defined in the Celerra volume database is comprised of

two physical volumes: one located on the primary Symmetrix (R1) and the other on the backup

Symmetrix (R2). The R2 volume provides a mirror of the data on R1. An EMC Customer Service

Engineer configures the attached Symmetrix volumes during the Celerra system setup phase.

Additional disaster recovery software and communications hardware allows the Symmetrix

systems to communicate with each other.

Celerra 1 Celerra 2

Active

Passive

R1

R2

Symmetrix 2Symmetrix 1

Bidirectional

Table 5. Backup and Restore Options Using TimeFinder/FS

Using SRDF for The Symmetrix Remote Data Facility (SRDF™) maintains a mirror image of a logical volume on a

Disaster Recovery remote Symmetrix system to ensure business continuance and disaster recovery. The SRDF option

allows Celerra File Server to recover using Celerra sites at the primary and secondary locations.

Geographically separated Celerras can provide rapid disaster recovery for each other as well as

service to their own network connections. Each site’s system reserves part of the local Celerra and

part of the local Symmetrix as standby resources that can be utilized for disaster recovery. Figure 13

represents a typical SRDF disaster recovery configuration.

Automated Backup and Restore over NFS

1. Create the file system 2. Mount and export 3. Mount the exported copy as a

copy. the copy on a file system.

Data Mover.

4. Initiate the backup on an NFS

host with a backup utility

installed and a tape drive

attached.

5. The host backs up the file system copy over NFS onto the tape drive.

The original file system remains accessible via the other Data Movers in the Celerra.

Restore the original file system from backup, when necessary, using the backup utility’s

restore process.

Automated Backup and Restore Using NDMP

1. Create the file system 2. Mount and export 3. Use an NDMP-compliant backup

copy. the copy as a file tool on a network server.

system on a Data 4. Designate the Data Mover as an

Mover attached to NDMP server.

a tape drive via a 5. Initiate the backup of the file

SCSI connection. system copy, via the Data

Mover, to tape.

6. The host backs up the file system copy onto the tape drive.

The original file system remains accessible via the other Data Movers in the Celerra.

Only one Data Mover needs a SCSI connection to a tape drive. Restore the original file

system from backup, when necessary, using the backup utility’s restore process.

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Celerra File Server Proper configuration of the Celerra File Server requires an understanding of the type of users

Configuration planning to use the system in order to configure file system protocols and access. The three

configuration options include:

• NFS users only

• CIFS users only

• Both NFS and CIFS users

Administrators can map an NFS and a CIFS user to the same user name and group ID, providing a

seamless access to shared file system data. NFS and CIFS provide different methods and command

options of authentication, file locking, and access checking.

NFS-only Environment Configurations

Figure 14. Typical NFS User Configuration

Configuring a file system for NFS users and associating it with a Data Mover allows the Data

Mover to operate as an NFS Server. In a typical NFS server environment (Figure 14), the file system

is mounted on the Data Mover for export to, and mounting on, clients. Exported file systems

remain available across the network for mounting by remote users.

Data Mover

NativeUNIX Client

Windows 95Running NFS

Client Software

Windows NTRunning NFS

Client Software

IP Address

Celerra File ServerFileSystem

/.etc/passwd

CIFS-only Environment Configurations

Figure 15. Typical CIFS User Configuration

Data Movers configured for CIFS services provide file access features similar to those of a

Windows NT server and are typically associated with a specific NT domain (Figure 15).

Combined NFS/CIFS Environments

Figure 16. Typical Mixed NFS/CIFS User Configuration

DataMoverwithCIFS

Configuration

Primary DomainController Default

WINS Server

Native UNIXClient

NetBIOS


/.etc/passwdwith NT

user entries

Windows NTClient

Domain II

Domain I

NETLOGON

AdditionalWINS Server Primary Domain

Controller

UNIXClient

Trus

t R

elat

ions

hip

Data Mover

NativeUNIX Client

Windows 95Running NFS

Client Software

Windows NTRunning NFS

Client Software

IP Address


/.etc/passwd

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Users can configure a file system for access by both CIFS and NFS users (Figure 16). Typically, this

type of configuration allows users on UNIX and Windows machines to access files that reside in

directory locations on a single file system. To configure a file system for both CIFS and NFS users,

configure the file system for NFS users, then configure it for CIFS users.

Celerra File Server File NFS and CIFS provide different methods of authentication, file locking, and access checking. To

Security Architecture accommodate these differences, the Celerra File Server includes command options that allow

system mangers to select authentication, file locking, and access checking methods best suited for

the organization’s configuration.

Authentication Celerra File Server provides three authentication options for file systems configured for both NFS

and CIFS users:

• UNIX Authentication

• NT Authentication

• Share Level Authentication

UNIX Authentication Configurations that require user-level authentication for access primarily by NFS users use UNIX

authentication. This option authenticates CIFS users by checking the /.etc/passwd file, or NIS

(if enabled).

NT Authentication Configurations that require user-level authentication for access primarily by CIFS users use NT

authentication. This option verifies CIFS users on the Domain Controller of the NT domain. With

NT authentication, the system administrator uses automated tools provided by EMC to add an

entry for each CIFS user accessing the Data Mover in the /.etc/passwd and /.etc/group files on the

Data Mover. This entry contains the user name, UID, GID, and enables the Data Mover to assign

the correct access rights to NFS users subsequently requesting the file.

Share Level Authentication Configurations with few security requirements use share level authentication. This option allows

access to a file system without any password. Optionally, with passwords enabled, any CIFS or

NFS user presenting a valid password receives access to the data.

File Locking CIFS and NFS employ different restrictions for file locking, as described in Table 6.

Table 6. File Locking Comparison

CIFS NFSRestriction More restrictive than NFS. Less restrictive than CIFS.

Level

Access No other users can access a Co-operative access. Other users can access

Level locked file. a locked file (other users cannot use the

lock procedure, however).

System managers can configure file locks on a per-file-system basis and select from the following

three options:

• nolock option enforces no locking between NFS and CIFS users. NFS users can open and write to

a file, even one locked by CIFS users.

• wlock option enforces write locking between NFS and CIFS users. NFS users can open a file with

read-only access if a CIFS user already opened the file.

• rwlock option enforces all CIFS file locking modes on NFS users.

Opportunistic Locks Opportunistic locks (oplocks) enable CIFS clients to reduce network traffic by reducing the

(oplocks) frequency of messages to the server regarding changes to, and status of, a file. The Celerra File

Server supports exclusive and batch oplocks.

• Exclusive oplocks notify a client that the client is the sole entity opening a file. The server receives

updates about change or status only when the client closes the file.

• Batch oplocks allow a server to keep a file open even after the local accessing entity on the client

closes the file. Batch oplocks reduce the number of open/close requests on the network.

Oplocks are configured per file system and turned on by default. Leave oplocks ON, except when:

• Using a database application that recommends turning off oplocks.

• Handling critical data with the need to avoid even slight data loss.

Access Checking Policy Celerra File Server provides four configurable file access checking policies to accommodate the

differences between the NFS and CIFS security models. Specify a native, NT, UNIX, or secure

policy when mounting the CIFS file system:

Native Celerra File Server employs a native access checking strategy, which gives access to CIFS and NFS

users. Celerra checks NFS users against file access and group permission, and CIFS users against

Security Descriptors.

NT Celerra File Server employs a native access checking strategy, which checks both CIFS and NFS

users. In addition, Celerra checks NFS users against the NT Security Descriptors assigned to the

object.

UNIX Celerra File Server checks both CIFS and NFS users against a native access checking strategy. In

addition, Celerra checks CIFS users against NFS file access and group permissions.

Secure Celerra File Server checks both CIFS and NFS users against NFS file access and group permissions

and also against the Security Descriptors assigned to the object.

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Chapter 4Enterprise Functionality

The Celerra File Server incorporates robust functionality and leading-edge features that provide high

value to enterprise-wide computing environments. Celerra supports current industry standards,

including file access protocols, network interfaces and protocols, and physical file system types.

EMC’s extensible architecture simplifies the process of incorporating additional protocols as user

requirements develop with a modular architecture that allows rapid, easy upgrades.

Hardware and Software Specifications

Data Movers • CIFS over TCP/IP

• NFSv2 and NFSv3 concurrently over TCP/IP and UDP/IP

• WebNFS

• FTP

• 10BaseT/100BaseT, ATM-OC3, FDDI, Gigabit Ethernet

• UxFS File System

• UNIX archive utilities

• Redundant Ultra FWD SCSI interface

• Fibre Channel connectivity

• Autonomous Data Mover architecture

• n+1 Data Mover Failover

Control Station • 10/100BaseT, FDDI

• SNMP MIB II manageability

• Dual redundant Control Station option

• Telnet manageability

• Remote management with an HTTP server management GUI

Celerra Cabinet • Battery backup

• n+1 load-sharing power supplies

• Hot-swappable subassemblies

• Redundant internal Ethernet for environmental status

monitoring and control

• Auto-Call remote maintenance parameter monitoring

Symmetrix • Concurrent disk mirroring

• Redundant power, battery, bus structures, and I/O subsystems

• Online hot spare disk assemblies

• Automatic cache and disk data scrubbing routines

• Auto-Call remote maintenance parameter monitoring

Power and • Power Consumption (kVA) 1.34

Cooling Data • Heat Dissipation (BTU/hr) 4,563

Values represent maximum figures for Celerra File Server cabinets only.

Values for multi-enclosure configurations vary.

Regulatory and • UL-950

Agency • IEC 950/EN 60950

• CISPR 22 Class A/EN 55022

• CSA C22.2 No. 950

• FCC Subpart B

• IEC 801-2/EN 55024-2

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Chapter 5EMC Enterprise Storage Network

An EMC Enterprise Storage Network™ (ESN) extends the value of enterprise storage solutions to

more of the organization, giving customers unlimited access to, and unlimited use of, their most

strategic information whenever they want it.

ESN enables IT managers to consolidate data faster and over greater distances than ever before.

Total cost of ownership is reduced as a direct result of centralized management, extending storage

over greater distances and improving performance.

With ESN, businesses can respond to change and remain more competitive. ESN allows companies

to take greater control of their information assets as business and information demands shift

and grow.

ESN extends connectivity by increasing the number of servers connected and extending distances.

ESN creates an information infrastructure, joining data center and distributed environments. The

ESN connectivity choices include FC-SW switched fabric, FC-AL point-to-point, FC-AL through

hubs, SCSI, and ESCON. ESN includes IP via Celerra.

ESN goes beyond defining a specific configuration. ESN is a set of capabilities — available

exclusively from EMC — that allows customers to evolve their information infrastructures

with their enterprises. Each enterprise can achieve ESN capabilities in a way that meets the

organization’s needs. One customer may combine enterprise storage with Professional Services,

Connectrix™ and Celerra hardware, and software. Another may achieve ESN capabilities using

Enterprise Storage software and a single Symmetrix.

Celerra File Server (NAS) and Fibre Channel Solutions

Figure 17. Consolidation with Celerra

Celerra andSymmetrix

server 264

server 264

server 264

server 264

NT Consolidation with NAS - Celerra

Consolidation ofclient storage

Transparent sharingof files by NT and UNIX clients

Redeployment of NT file servers - asapplication servers

Network

Managers with responsibility for enterprise infrastructure decisions can quickly appreciate how the

combination of Celerra File Server and Fibre Channel solutions work to increase competitiveness,

efficiency, and productivity. While Connectrix connects more servers over greater distances, Celerra

File Server links clients, allowing file sharing between clients (Figure 17). Celerra makes it possible

to consolidate client storage, allowing NT and UNIX clients to transparently share files, and permit

redeployment of file servers as application and/or database servers (where they can fully realize their

CPU capabilities).

Adding to (or supplementing) an ESN infrastructure with Celerra allows the enterprise to extend

the value of Enterprise Storage throughout more of the organization. Consolidating servers and

sharing information allows the organization to maximize the value of the data while offloading

other requirements from the LAN/WAN network.

Infrastructure Consolidation Infrastructure consolidation can occur at both the Celerra and Connectrix levels (Figure 18).

• Celerra consolidates client storage and file service, allowing redeployment of existing file servers.

• Connectrix consolidates server storage.

Figure 18. ESN: Consolidation with Celerra and Connectrix

Table 7 compares the characteristics and application environments of Celerra File Server

and Connectrix.

Table 7. Complementary Aspects of Celerra and Connectrix

Celerra File Server (NAS) SANCharacteristics Characteristics

• Shared access to files and file systems • Access to disk blocks

• LAN/WAN based • Channel (direct) attached

• Uses standard network protocols • Uses device-level protocols

• Consolidates client storage • Consolidates and connects more servers

• Data sharing between UNIX and NT • No data sharing between servers (each

server stores its own data on Symmetrix)

Application Environments Application Environments•Internet/E-commerce •Database

•SW Development •Online Transaction Processing (OLTP)

•Manufacturing/Design •Data Warehouse

Each serverstores its owndata on Symmetrix

server 264

server 264

server 264

server 264

NT Consoldation with SAN

Consolidation ofserver storage

Greater distances fordirect connections

No sharing of dataserver 264

server 264

server 264

server 264

server 264

server 264

server 264

server 264

server 264

server 264

server 264

server 264

No file locking

Connectrix

Celerra File Server (NAS) SANCharacteristics Characteristics

• Shared access to files and file systems • Access to disk blocks

• LAN/WAN based • Channel (direct) attached

• Uses standard network protocols • Uses device-level protocols

• Consolidates client storage • Consolidates and connects more servers

• Data sharing between UNIX and NT • No data sharing between servers (each

server stores its own data on Symmetrix)

Application Environments Application Environments•Internet/E-commerce •Database

•SW Development •Online Transaction Processing (OLTP)

•Manufacturing/Design •Data Warhouse

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Figure 19. Extending the Reach of ESN

Celerra also acts as a gateway from the fibre storage network of ESN (Figure 19) by extending the

“reach” of the Enterprise Storage Network to include IP networks (e.g., workstations, clients, and

servers that reside on the traditional LAN and WAN).

Celerra and Symmetrix

Figure 20. Leveraging Celerra and Symmetrix

Figure 20 demonstrates how adding a Celerra File Server to an existing Symmetrix system can

create a Symmetrix file server. Such a configuration allows heterogeneous clients and servers to

exchange data over the network and optimize the Symmetrix storage capabilities. The system

administrator and installer must apply the same precautions when adding a Celerra File Server as

when they add a new server to the Symmetrix. They must:

• Ensure that sufficient free disk space exists on the Symmetrix.

• Determine if the Symmetrix requires increased cache.

• Verify sufficient open connections on the Symmetrix (SCSI or Fibre Channel).

• Tune the system after installing Celerra to avoid compromising existing database performance.

server 264

Symmetrix Celerra

HeterogeneousClients

HP9000

SUN IBM

Network

Leveraging Existing Symmetrix with Celerra

Symmetrix Enterprise Storageand value-addedsoftware

CelerraNetworkAttachedStorage

Fibre Switch

CommunicationsNetwork

Enterprise StorageNetwork

Database and ApplicationsServers

Chapter 6EMC Services and Support

EMC meets customer needs through its extensive service and support organizations.

• Professional Services consultants leverage EMC product knowledge and project management skills

to facilitate the customer’s software implementation.

• Customer service personnel operate worldwide teams that provide high-level technical expertise.

• EMC Customer Support offers direct support for EMC hardware and software products.

EMC Professional Services EMC Professional Services consultants understand how Celerra File Server shares files over

networks and how it provides access to UNIX and Windows NT clients. This understanding,

combined with knowledge and experience of infrastructure, data consolidation, and enterprise

storage, allows Professional Services consultants to facilitate the customer’s Celerra

implementation.

Overview of Professional Professional Services offers both strategic consulting services and practical implementation services

Services Capabilities for Celerra in UNIX/NFS and Windows NT/CIFS environments. Professional Services helps

customers:

• Assess network file server requirements.

• Analyze existing environments as they affect Celerra File Server.

• Install EMC’s network storage products.

Installation and configuration of one Celerra File Server to a base level of operability (e.g., two to

14 Data Movers functioning and available on the client network) involves several Professional

Services tasks, including project management and pre-site survey, physical planning, verification of

the Symmetrix configuration, installation of the Celerra File Server and related software, testing of

the Control Station, system tests, and customer training.

Best Practices EMC Storage Logic™ — a framework of EMC-specific and storage industry best practices —

for Best Results allows EMC consultants to deliver time-tested and predictable software implementation services.

This methodology addresses all phases of an enterprise solution, reduces risk, and ensures a

consistent and effective process with repeatable and predictable results.

Implementation Options EMC Professional Services consultants handle all aspects of assessment, planning, design, and

implementation at basic and extended offering levels. Standard implementation includes standard

installation assistance and extended custom implementation services (with project management,

testing, and migration assistance). Extended implementation includes full integration of EMC

products in the customer’s unique environment and the capability to solve critical

business problems.

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Standard Implementation EMC Professional Services offers basic installation assistance preparatory to extending and inte-

grating Celerra File Server throughout an environment. This service includes:

• Basic installation and configuration of EMC Celerra File Server to achieve file sharing between a

network clients and a Symmetrix Enterprise Storage System.

• A demonstration of Celerra File Server capabilities, combined with a review of the installed sys-

tem’s functions and operations.

By ensuring proper installation and operation, the standard service creates a foundation that

enables continued, confident use of the Celerra File Server solution.

Extended Implementation Extended implementation offers additional assistance, including detailed testing of EMC Celerra

File Server in a high-availability environment. Consultants simulate failover conditions and

observe actual I/O re-allocation patterns. This combination of EMC Professional Services product

knowledge and project management skills maximizes customer confidence in the EMC solution.

In summary, EMC Professional Services eliminates the need for customers to divert in-house

resources from core business activities, brings expertise and resources to maximize business

impact, and helps customers experience the benefits of The EMC Effect.

Customer Service EMC’s world-class customer engineering personnel provide the technical expertise for seamless

transition to the Celerra File Server. EMC’s onsite customer engineers work closely with IT

managers to understand the unique needs of the customer’s business environment. Customer

engineers collect site information and provide total solutions based upon a thorough

understanding of the organization’s business needs, storage requirements, storage topology, and

network requirements.

• Business Needs: EMC technical personnel evaluate business needs and work cooperatively with

the customer to improve productivity by enhancing data availability, scalability, server

performance, and ease of management.

• Storage Requirements: Customer engineers assess the amount of file system storage required to do

business today and help plan strategies to meet future storage needs.

• Storage Topology: Customer engineers analyze the size and number of current general-purpose or

dedicated servers and consider data distributed methods and management across the enterprise.

They assess groups of users within the enterprise to develop an understanding of how users need

to access storage data.

• Network Requirements: Customer engineers analyze current network topology and help assess

the number of users accessing data. They then determine the storage architecture and user

protections required. These assessments and strategies lead to enterprise-specific network

protocols and requirements (FTP, NFS, WebNFS, CIFS, TCP/IP, FDDI, Ethernet, ATM, SNMP

and NTP).

Installation Support EMC specialists configure every Celerra File Server according to the customer’s specifications and

requirements. During installation, customer support engineers and installation specialists:

• Configure the Symmetrix volumes to provide the needed capacity.

• Create the number of file systems requested.

• Map file systems to Data Movers, according to the requirements of the enterprise.

• Export file systems to the network and mount file systems on individual machines, if required.

• Set access rights, as required.

• Assist in the configuration of NIS, DNS, WINS and failover.

EMC Customer Service Service represents a key component of EMC’s total quality philosophy. EMC’s Customer Service

organization delivers customer satisfaction — and maintains the highest customer satisfaction

ratings in the industry.

Customer service at EMC starts with highly qualified and dedicated EMC engineers, well trained

on EMC equipment. Each customer is assigned a primary and secondary customer engineer.

EMC’s world-wide customer account database contains all information about the customer’s

account, which customer engineers can readily access.

Unlike traditional service operations, EMC employs remote service technology that enables

continuous monitoring and diagnosis on all installed EMC equipment. The Call-Home feature

available on the Celerra File Server provides self-monitoring algorithms that detect a potential

failure within a component. Implementing Call-Home means that the Celerra File Server

automatically notifies the EMC Customer Support Center before a failure actually occurs.

Qualified product support engineers immediately handle all calls. With the customer’s permission,

the product support engineer can dial in, conduct further diagnostics, and determine remedial

actions. Repair is accomplished through the dial-up connections or by dispatching a local

customer engineer, apprised of the problem and ready with the necessary components.

Worldwide Organization, EMC customer service dedicates more than 3,000 technical, field, and support personnel to its

Local Support worldwide organization. More than 1,900 experts, including over 700 customer engineers, support

customers in North and Latin America. International Customer Service is staffed by more than 1,100

professionals spanning 33 countries.

EMC Customer Support The EMC Customer Support Center, headquartered in the United States, directly supports

EMC hardware and software products. Use the following numbers to contact EMC and obtain

technical support:

U.S.: (800) 782-4362 (SVC-4EMC)

Canada: (800) 543-4782 (543-4SVC)

Worldwide: 1 + (508) 497-7901 (or contact the nearest EMC office)

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Data Access in Real Time (DART) — A software component of the Celerra File Server, included on

each Data Mover, that provides a realtime, multi-threaded operating system, optimized for

network file access.

Data Mover — A Celerra cabinet component, running software that retrieves files from a

storage device and exports the file to a network client. Each Celerra File Server can contain up to

14 Data Movers.

Distributed Storage System — A storage system based on general-purpose servers. Storage data is

distributed on general-purpose machines across the enterprise and accessed using the operating

system of the general-purpose machine.

Domain Name Service (DNS) — The standard Internet naming protocol, which maps host names

to IP addresses.

EMC Data Manager (EDM) — An EMC product that provides network backup and restore with

automated management of media. Contains EDM Backup software and optional HSM software.

Ethernet (10/100BaseT) — Ethernet running on unshielded twisted pair (UDP) cable. It allows

adjustment of network speeds from 10Mb/s to 100 Mb/s.

FDDI — See Fiber Distributed Data Interface.

Fibre Channel — The general name of an integrated set of standards being developed by ANSI

which defines new protocols for flexible information transfer. Logically, a point-to-point serial data

channel, structured for high performance.

Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) — A high-speed LAN or WAN interconnection

technology. Provides a 100Mbps transmission of dual, counter-rotating optical fiber rings (primary

and secondary) between single (SAS) and dual (DAS) access stations.

File System — A file system, composed of the files and directories on each individual disk partition,

uses an overall system directory tree to merge file systems into a single hierarchy.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) — A high-level protocol for transferring files from one machine to

another. Implemented as an application-level program (based on the OSI Model), FTP uses Telnet

and TCP protocols.

Gigabit Ethernet — IEEE standard for 1000Mbps Ethernet; compatible with existing 10/100

Ethernet standards. The IEEE, with the help of the Gigabit Ethernet Alliance, defined the standard

for full duplex over fiber optic cable and short-haul copper in early 1998.

Gigabyte — 2 to the 30th power (1,073,741,824) bytes. One gigabyte is equal to 1,024 megabytes.

Abbreviated as G or GB.

HTML — HTML, which along with HTTP, provides the main standards that control how the

World Wide Web works; specifies how to format and display Web pages.

HTTP — See Hyper Text Transport Protocol.

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Glossary of Terms

Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) — Allows systems to query the network to identify a machine

with a specific Internet address.

Allocation Request — A request for a volume sent by an application. An accompanying volume

template specifies the volume characteristics.

ARP — See Address Resolution Protocol.

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) — A broadband technology for transmitting voice, video,

and data over LANs or WANs.

Authentication — A process for verifying that a user trying to access a file or directory is who they

claim to be.

Automated Local Backup and Restore — This backup strategy uses an NDMP-compliant tool,

and backs up files to a local tape, attached directly to a Data Mover. Backup data does not travel

across the network.

Automated Network Backup and Restore — A backup strategy that uses a backup product, like

EDM, and backs up files to a tape drive attached to a remote UNIX backup server. Backup data

travels across the network.

Celerra File Server — EMC’s high-end network file server. Provides high availability, capacity, and

scalability for network accessible file storage.

Celerra File Server Manager — The graphical user interface (GUI) used to manage the Celerra

Network File Server.

Channel — A path that allows for the rapid transfer of data between a device and storage.

Channel Directors — The component in the Symmetrix system that interfaces between the host

channels and data storage. The channel director transfers data between the channel and cache.

CIFS — See Common Internet File System.

Common Internet File System (CIFS) — CIFS is a file system that uses the Server Message Block

(SMB) protocol to provide secure file access and transfer to a multitude of hosts such as LANs,

intranets, and the Internet.

CIFS separates naming conventions tied into SMB and allows use of any chosen standard, (e.g.,

Domain Name Service or DNS). CIFS complements existing file access protocols such as HTTP,

FTP, and NFS.

Control Station — A hardware and software component of the Celerra File Server that provides

the controlling subsystem to the Data Movers, as well as the software interface to all

server components. The Control Station is used to install, configure, and monitor Celerra File

Server components.

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Ping — A TCP/IP procedure that uses the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo to

confirm the status of a network device (e.g., active/inactive). SNMP-based Network Management

systems often use the ping procedure to give alarm signals.

RARP — See Address Resolution Protocol (ARP).

Reverse ARP — See Address Resolution Protocol (ARP).

Simple Local Backup — A backup strategy that uses the server_archive command and backs up

files to a local tape attached directly to a Data Mover.

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) — An application protocol developed in the mid

1980s for the purpose of managing network communications in the Internet Protocol suite. SNMP

controls the MIB database. It is most commonly employed using TCP/IP protocols.

Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) — A device-independent protocol that provides

peer-to-peer interface communication from host-to-host, host-to-peripheral device, or peripheral

device-to-peripheral device. This interface standard bus (8 bits wide) defines physical and electrical

connections for SCSI devices, including disk, tape, and CD-ROM devices.

Symmetrix — EMC’s high-performance Enterprise Storage system, a hardware and software

storage system designed for high-capacity, highly efficient online storage.

TCP/IP — Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. Protocols used in network

communications routing and data transfer. The accepted standard for UNIX-based operating

systems and the Internet.

Telnet — As the Internet standard protocol for remote terminal connection, Telnet allows a user at

one site to interact with a remote device or system that expects terminal-mode traffic.

Terabyte — 2 to the 40th power (1,099,511,627,776) bytes, or approximately 1 trillion bytes.

Transport Control Protocol (TCP) — A transport control protocol offering reliable connection-

orientated transport service in the Internet suite of protocols. Used with the IP connectionless

network protocol in TCP/IP configurations to transport information across networks.

User Datagram Protocol (UDP) — A connectionless transport protocol service in the Internet suite

of protocols. Used by the standard Internet name (DNS) and file services (NFS), and more efficient

than TCP, UDP can be used effectively where the application takes care of reliability issues.

UxFS — A high-performance Celerra File Server file type based on traditional Berkeley UFS,

enhanced with 64-bit support, metadata logging for high availability, and several performance

enhancements.

WebNFS — See NFS.

Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) — A name resolution system that determines the IP

address associated with a particular network computer. This service provides mapping between the

machine name and the Internet address, allowing Microsoft networking to function over TCP/IP

networks.

WINS — See Windows Internet Naming Service.

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Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP) — HTTP, the underlying protocol used by the World Wide

Web, defines message formatting and transmittal, as well as responses to various commands that Web

servers and browsers need to take. Called a stateless protocol, HTTP allows independent execution

of each command, without any knowledge of previous commands. HTTP 1.1 supports “persistent

connections;” a browser can receive multiple files through the same Web server connection.

ICMP — See Internet Control Message Protocol.

Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) — A communications protocol that reports errors in

datagram processing between networked nodes. Part of the Internet (IP) suite of protocols.

Management Information Base (MIB) — The database controlled by SNMP. The MIB holds

information about all resources managed by a network management system.

Media Access Control (MAC) Address — The media-specific access control protocol within

IEEE802 specifications.

Meta Volume — A concatenation of volumes composed of disk, slice, or stripe volumes.

MIB — See Management Information Base.

Mount — In combination with NFS, mount attaches to a subdirectory of a remote system over a

dummy directory on the local machine. This protocol allows clients to mount or unmount file

systems for access through NFS. Mount is accessible over UDP or TCP.

NDMP — See Network Data Management Protocol.

Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP) — A network protocol designed for the backup

and retrieval of data.

Network File Server — A self-contained, intelligent storage system that operates independently of

the server’s operating system. Network file servers provide files storage as a shared resource and

contain the standard network protocols required to communicate directly with the network.

Network File System (NFS) — A distributed file system that provides transparent access to remote

disks. NFS allows all systems on the network to share a single copy of the directory (the alternative

involves duplicating common directories on every system). Web NFS enables this same

functionality to occur over the Internet.

Network Information Services (NIS) — This Yellow Page service of Sun® Microsystems maps host

names to IP addresses and vice versa. It also can map usernames, user ids, groups, ARP tables,

services, mail aliases, etc.

NTFS (NT File System) — This file system for the Windows NT operating system improves

reliability, such as transaction logs to help recover from disk failures. It allows control access to

files, allowing users to set permissions for directories and/or individual files. Other operating

systems (e.g., DOS) cannot access NTFS files. NTFS supports spanning volumes for large

applications, allowing distribution of files and directories across several physical disks.

Peripheral Connect Interface (PCI) Bus — A local bus specifically designed for use with the Intel

Pentium® processor.

4544

NOTES NOTES

4746

NOTES NOTES

48

NOTES

EMC Celerra File Server

best-of-breed solutions

mission-critical applications

unlimited capabilities

unprecedented control

EMC Corporation

Hopkinton

Massachusetts

01748-9103

1-508-435-1000

In North America

1-800-424-3622, ext. 362

EMC2, EMC, and Symmetrix are registered

trademarks and EMC Enterprise Storage,

Celerra, EDM, SRDF, and where information

lives are trademarks of EMC Corporation.

Other trademarks are the property of their

respective owners.

© 2000 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.

Printed in the USA. 6/00

Produced by EMC Global Communications.

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