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• Host server — On a host server system, MD Storage Manager and the storage array communicate
management requests and event information using in-band or out-of-band connections.
• Management station — On a management station, MD Storage Manager communicates with the
storage array either through an Ethernet connection to the storage array management port or
through an Ethernet connection to a host server. The Ethernet connection passes management
information between the management station and the storage array using array connectivity.
Using MD Storage Manager, you can configure the physical disks in the storage array into logical
components called disk groups and Dynamic Disk Pool (DDP), then divide the disk groups into virtual
disks. Disk groups are created in the unconfigured capacity of a storage array. Virtual disks are created in
the free capacity of a disk group.
Unconfigured capacity comprises physical disks not already assigned to a disk group or DDP. When a
virtual disk is created using unconfigured capacity, a disk group is automatically created. If the only virtual
disk in a disk group is deleted, the disk group is also deleted. Free capacity is space in a disk group that is
not assigned to any virtual disk.
Data is written to the physical disks in the storage array using RAID technology. RAID levels define the
way in which data is written to physical disks. Different RAID levels offer different levels of accessibility,
redundancy, and capacity. You can set a specified RAID level for each disk group and virtual disk on your
storage array. For more information about using RAID and managing data in your storage solution, see
the Dell PowerVault MD Series Storage Arrays Administrator's Guide at dell.com/powervaultmanuals.
Related Documentation
NOTE: For all PowerVault documentation, go to dell.com/powervaultmanuals and enter the
system Service Tag to get your system documentation.
NOTE: For all Dell OpenManage documents, go to dell.com/openmanagemanuals.
NOTE: For all storage controller documents, go to dell.com/storagecontrollermanuals.
Your product documentation includes:
• Dell PowerVault MD3460/MD3860i/MD3860f Storage Arrays Getting Started Guide — Provides an
overview of system features, setting up your system, and technical specifications. This document is
also shipped with your system.
• Dell PowerVault MD3460 Storage Arrays Owner’s Manual — Provides information about system
features and describes how to troubleshoot the system and install or replace system components.
• Rack Installation Instructions — Describes how to install your system into a rack. This document is
also shipped with your rack solution.
• Dell PowerVault MD Series Storage Arrays Administrator's Guide — Provides information about
configuring and managing the system using the MDSM GUI.
• Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Arrays CLI Guide — Provides information about configuring and
managing the system using the MDSM CLI.
• Dell PowerVault MD3460 Storage Arrays Deployment Guide — Provides information about deploying
the storage system in the SAN architecture.
• Dell PowerVault MD Series Support Matrix — Provides information about the software and hardware
compatibility matrices for the storage array.
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