Preface

This installation guide explains how to install and use the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager software. You can use this software to manage RAID host bus adapters (HBAs), such as the Sun StorageTek SAS RAID HBAs.

Before You Read This Document

You must be familiar with computer hardware, data storage, RAID technology, and the input/output (I/O) technology. Also, you must be familiar with Direct-Attached Storage (DAS) or Network-Attached Storage (NAS)--whichever is appropriate for your storage space--and Storage Area Network (SAN) concepts and technology.

This document is written for advanced computer users who want to create a storage space for their data. Advanced knowledge of storage networks is not required, but you must be familiar with computer hardware, data storage, and Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) technology.

If you are using the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager software as part of a complex storage system, such as a SAN, you must be familiar with network administration terminology and tasks, have knowledge of Local Area Network (LAN), Direct-Attached Storage (DAS), and SAN technology, and be familiar with the input/output (I/O) technology--such as Fibre Channel (FC), iSCSI, or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS)--that you are using on your network.

Terminology Used in This Guide

Because this document provides information that can be used to manage multiple RAID products in a variety of configurations from DAS to SAN, the generic term “storage space” is used to refer to the HBA(s) and disk drives being managed with the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager software.

For efficiency, the term “components” or “component” is used when referring generically to the physical and virtual parts of your storage space, such as systems, disk drives, HBAs, and logical drives.

Many of the terms and concepts referred to in this document are known to computer users by multiple names. In this document, this terminology is used:

HBA (also known as adapter, controller, board, or card)

Disk drive (also known as hard disk, hard drive, or hard disk drive)

Logical drive (also known as logical device)

System (also known as a server, workstation, or computer)

Enclosure (also known as a JBOD, storage enclosure, or disk enclosure)

Internal RAID storage (also known as direct-attached storage or DAS)

How This Document Is Organized

Chapter 1 helps you get started. It describes the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager software and the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager Agent, explains the concept of storage space, and provides a checklist of getting-started tasks.

Chapter 2 walks you through installing and logging into the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager software, explains how to use the software with a firewall, how to start the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager Agent, and introduces the permission levels.

Chapter 3 provides information you will need to know before you build your storage space. It describes how to navigate the Main software window, use the different views, and see information about your disk drives.

Chapter 4 walks you through building your storage space by creating logical drives.

Chapter 5 explains how to customize the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager software. Tasks in this chapter are optional and include logging in to remote systems, creating display groups, customizing the views and other preferences, and customizing the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager Agent.

Chapter 6 works with logical drives and hot-spares. It tells you how logical drives work, how to create, modify, and delete them, and how to work with a hot-spare.

Chapter 7 provides information and steps to monitor your storage space.

Chapter 8 helps you schedule, monitor, and manage maintenance tasks.

Chapter 9 describes how to work with and manage display groups.

Chapter 10 describes how to manage the HBAs, disk drives, and enclosures in your storage space.

Chapter 11 describes how to configure SNMP support.

Chapter 12 is for troubleshooting. Use this chapter to help you identify and correct problems.

Appendix A provides a comparison of the RAID levels that the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager software supports. It provides an overview of each to help you select the best level of protection for your storage system.

Appendix B provides quick answers to common questions.

Appendix C provides a reference to the icons and buttons in the Sun StorageTek RAID Manager software.

Using UNIX Commands

This document might not contain information about basic UNIX^® commands and procedures such as shutting down the system, booting the system, and configuring devices. Refer to the following for this information:

Software documentation that you received with your system

Solaris Operating System documentation, which is at:

http://docs.sun.com

Shell Prompts

Shell	Prompt
C shell	machine-name`%`
C shell superuser	machine-name`#`
Bourne shell and Korn shell	`$`
Bourne shell and Korn shell superuser	`#`

Typographic Conventions

Typeface	Meaning	Examples
`AaBbCc123`	The names of commands, files, and directories; on-screen computer output	Edit your`.login` file. Use `ls -a` to list all files. `% You have mail`.
`AaBbCc123`	What you type, when contrasted with on-screen computer output	`%` `su` `Password:`
AaBbCc123	Book titles, new words or terms, words to be emphasized. Replace command-line variables with real names or values.	Read Chapter 6 in the User’s Guide. These are called class options. You must be superuser to do this. To delete a file, type `rm` filename.

Typeface

Meaning

Examples

AaBbCc123

The names of commands, files, and directories; on-screen computer output

Edit your.login file.

Use ls -a to list all files.

% You have mail.

AaBbCc123

What you type, when contrasted with on-screen computer output

% su

Password:

AaBbCc123

Book titles, new words or terms, words to be emphasized. Replace command-line variables with real names or values.

Read Chapter 6 in the User’s Guide.

These are called class options.

You must be superuser to do this.

To delete a file, type rm filename.

Note - Characters display differently depending on browser settings. If characters do not display correctly, change the character encoding in your browser to Unicode UTF-8.

Application	Title	Part Number	Format	Location
Hardware Installation	Sun StorageTek SAS RAID HBA Installation Guide Eight-Port, Internal HBA	820-1847-nn	PDF HTML	Documentation CD, Online
	Sun StorageTek SAS RAID HBA Installation Guide Eight-Port, External HBA	820-1260-nn	PDF HTML	Documentation CD, Online
RAID Management	Uniform Command-Line Interface User’s Guide	820-2145-nn	PDF HTML	Documentation CD, Online
	Sun StorageTek RAID Manager Software Release Notes	820-2755-nn	PDF HTML	Documentation CD, Online

Documentation, Support, and Training

Sun Function	URL
Documentation	`http://www.sun.com/documentation/`
Support	`http://www.sun.com/support/`
Training	`http://www.sun.com/training/`

Third-Party Web Sites

Sun is not responsible for the availability of third-party web sites mentioned in this document. Sun does not endorse and is not responsible or liable for any content, advertising, products, or other materials that are available on or through such sites or resources. Sun will not be responsible or liable for any actual or alleged damage or loss caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any such content, goods, or services that are available on or through such sites or resources.

Sun Welcomes Your Comments

Sun is interested in improving its documentation and welcomes your comments and suggestions. Submit comments about this document by clicking the Feedback[+] link at http://docs.sun.com. Please include the title and part number of your document with your feedback:

Sun StorageTek RAID Manager Software User’s Guide, part number 820-1177-13.