Introducing Storage NavigatorThis help page provides information to guide you through the basic Navigator 2 procedures to set up storage on your storage area network. It contains the following topics:
Before using Navigator 2, please read the following notes and instructions.
If you are using Windows®, disable Windows power management to prevent the PC from entering the low power mode suspension state.
When connecting to the array with Navigator 2 through a LAN, depending on the LAN environment, the array could be disconnected if there is a data transfer time-out. If Navigator 2 cannot connect with the array, verify that the connection is correct by issuing a ping command, for example. If the response to the ping command is normal, the LAN environment may affect the data transfer. The length of data to be transferred can be changed with the lanconf.inf file in the directory in which Navigator 2 is installed. The default setting is 32768. Change the setting to 16384 or 8192 in that order, or to a multiple of 1024, and then retry. The new setting becomes effective during the next operation (restarting Navigator 2 is not required). Navigator 2 operations may be very slow, depending on the setting. If the connection cannot be made after the settings are changed, review the LAN environment.
Do not use the reserved words discrete for each OS or device names that indicate the input/output destinations as a file name when a file is output. Windows includes ”r;con”, ”r;pm”, ”r;aux”, and so forth. UNIX® includes ”r;/dev*", and so forth. For example, when context is specified as an output file name, an error message is displayed in a window.
If you connect Navigator 2 to an array through a LAN, set the TCP/IP port number to 1099. If you cannot connect, verify the TCP/IP port number.
See the Login help page for information on logging in.
Setting up storage on a Simple Modular Storage array is actually very easy. Navigator 2 includes a set of wizards that guide you through three basic procedures to (1) add arrays to Navigator 2, (2) set up basic array features, and (3) create LUNs and map them to hosts so that the hosts can manage the data contained in the LUNs. All three tasks can be accomplished easily and quickly with a built-in set of wizards that can guide you through the steps to complete the tasks. The links to the help pages for each wizard are included in the explanations below.
Whenever Navigator 2 is launched, it searches the Navigator 2 database for listings of existing arrays. If there are arrays listed in the database, Navigator 2 displays them in the Arrays window. If there are no arrays listed in the database, Navigator 2 automatically launches the Add Array wizard. This wizard guides you through the steps to discover existing arrays on the storage network and to add the arrays you select to the Navigator 2 database. Therefore, when Navigator 2 is first installed and no arrays are listed in the database, Navigator 2 automatically launches the Add Array wizard. For information about how to use the Add Array wizard, click here. To see an overview of all of the Navigator 2 wizards, click here.
When the Add Array wizard closes, in the Array List window, either click the name of an array or click the to the left of the name and click Show and Configure Array. Navigator 2 then read all the information on the selected array and then displays the Array Properties window for the selected array. This can take several seconds, depending on the network speed and whether hosts are currently accessing the array. The Array Properties window shows detailed information about the array you selected. The window includes several function buttons to configure the array settings.
The lower half of the window contains the Common Array Tasks area which includes several icons and underlying function buttons. Click Initial Setup to launch the Initial Setup wizard. This wizard guides you through the steps to configure email alerts and to map both management ports and iSCSI ports on the currently selected array. For information about how to use the Initial Setup wizard, click here. To see an overview of all of the Navigator 2 wizards, click here.
After an array has been added to Navigator 2, you can assign some or all of the storage space on the array to one or more hosts. The basic process is described here.
In the Common Array Tasks area of the array window, click Create Logical Unit. This launches the Create & Map Volume wizard. This wizard helps you create a logical unit and map it to an iSCSI target. It includes the following steps: 1) Create a new logical unit or select an existing one. 2) Create a new iSCSI target or select an existing one. 3) Connect to Host 4) Confirm 5) Finish. See the Create Logical Unit help page for instructions to create a logical unit.
An iSCSI target (host group) is a logical entity on the array that associates one or more hosts with a set of user-selected logical units in the array. The iSCSI target includes up to four ports that are associated with it. One or more of the ports can be mapped to ports on the host, establishing a connection between the target and the host. When the connection is established, the host has access to the iSCSI target, including the LUNs assigned to it. The host can then manage the storage space that is assigned to the LUNs in the iSCSI target, and the data they contain. Detailed information about iSCSI targets, how they work, and how to set them up is located in the iSCSI Targets help page.
The following table includes descriptions of the primary optional tasks to manage an array, and includes links to the help pages that describe each task in detail.
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Task |
Description |
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The resources in an array include RAID groups and iSCSI targets (host groups). The procedures for managing these resources are explained in detail in the Managing Groups help page and other help pages that are linked from that page. | |
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(Includes both local and remote backup for disaster prevention) |
Replication is the process of copying data from one volume (logical unit, LUN) to another. See the Managing Replication help page for information and procedures for details and procedures to accomplish this task. Replication can be accomplished via three different storage features on the Simple Modular Storage System, including Copy On Write (snapshot), True Copy, and True Copy Extended Distance. |
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The Alerts and Events window displays information about errors and all events that have occurred in the array. You should check it whenever you receive an email or other alert that an error has occurred. It is also a good idea to view this window on a regular basis to check for errors and review all commands and actions that have been used to make changes to the array to help determine the cause of an error. | |
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Most software applications that are preinstalled on the array have license keys installed with them. Some of the licenses are already enabled, but others are not. You must enable the licenses before you can use the software. Optional software applications do not have the license keys installed. These keys must be installed on the array before the software can be used. The procedure to install a license key is described in the Install Licenses help page. The list of supported storage features is located on the Introduction help page. |
Users may also refer to the Hitachi Storage Navigator Modular 2 Storage Features Reference Guide for either the AMS or SMS system. These documents provide details regarding the storage features available for your AMS or SMS system.
For AMS systems, please see
Hitachi Storage Navigator Modular 2 Storage Features Reference Guide for AMS, document number MK-97DF8148
For SMS systems, please see
Hitachi Storage Navigator Modular 2 Storage Features Reference Guide for SMS, document number MK-97DF8147
See Also (back to top)
The following topics within this online help provide information that may be helpful in understanding the information on this page, and/or may provide additional information that is related, but not required to understand this topic.