11.3 and Above Standard PowerVault Configuration Walkthrough.

Over the past year several changes have been made to how storage is configured.  For many users it is a confusing and frustrating task that may be difficult to deploy.  To help the customers I work with, I have made simple high level, easy to understand process that you may employ for our standard PowerVault storage.

References:

• PowerVault Setup Guide
• Storage Guide
• Netwitness Architecture

Consider:

1. Decoder vs Concentrator PowerVaults:  The main difference beyond the size of the PowerVaults is that the Concentrator PowerVault has SSDs where Decoder PowerVaults do not.  In Short, you will need to assign the PowerVaults to the corresponding appliance.
2. The number of PowerVaults to be used with the corresponding appliance.  This document only demonstrates the process of connecting one PowerVault.  Please review the Storage Guide for additional details.
3. API uses port 50106 for storage - example https://.x.x.x.x:50106
   
   1. The main API ports
      1. Decoder = TCP: 22, 5671, 50004 (Non-SSL), 50006 (Non-SSL), 50104 (REST), 50106 (REST), 56004 (SSL), 56006 (SSL) UDP: 123
      2. Concentrator =

         TCP: 22, 5671, 50005 (Non-SSL), 50006 (Non-SSL), 50105 (REST), 50106 (REST), 56005 (SSL), 56006 (SSL) UDP: 123

PowerVault Sizes:

• Concentrator: 76TB and 113TB
• Decoder: 96TB and 144TB

What has changed with saTools? 

• /opt/rsa/saTools
  • nwraidutil.py is now GONE in 11.2.  All Configuration moving forward must be done via CLI, API, or the GUI (Explore)
  • nwraidtool.py is now used in 11.3+.  You can use this tool instead of nwraidutil.py
  • nwarrayconfig.py is now GONE in 11.2.  Automated/script driven allocation is no longer available from RSA in saTools.

Configuring the storage:

1. There are many ways to configure storage and I think, that is the main contributing factor to the storage guide being so confusing.
2. For Simplicity, I would recommend the configuration to be done via explore. 
3. The commands for execution are the same for both the Explore and API.
4. CLI can be done using commands like vg, lv, pv, and perccli64 - I would recommend contacting RSA support for assistance.

The Process:  This walkthrough uses the API, but as I have mentioned, you can also use explore on the corresponding appliance.

Decoder (API)

Log in as Admin --> https://x.x.x.x:50106

Click on the (*) next to appliance to access the REST command set

raidList --> Display current configuration

appliance raidNew controller=1 enclosure=xx scheme=decoder preferSecure=false

To enable it... add the commit

appliance raidNew controller=1 enclosure=xx scheme=decoder preferSecure=false commit=1

Update the fstab

devlist --> Display current list of devices

Must be in this order for a decoder (decoders have a decodersmall and decoder setting) critical step

appliance partNew name=sdc service=decoder volume=decodersmall commit=true

appliance partNew name=sdd service=decoder volume=decoder commit=true

execute the vgs command for validation

Concentrator (API)

Log in as Admin --> https://x.x.x.x:50106

Click on the (*) next to appliance to access the REST command set

raidList --> Display current configuration

appliance raidNew controller=1 enclosure=xx scheme=concentrator preferSecure=false

To enable it... add the commit

appliance raidNew controller=1 enclosure=xx scheme=concentrator preferSecure=false commit=1

Modify the fstab

devlist --> Display current list of devices

Must be in this order for a concentrator (critical step)  Note: The metadb (sdd) is the largest volume.  Note:sdd comes first

Metadb = 85 TB - sdd

Index = 2.1 TB -sdc

appliance partNew name=sdd service=concentrator volume=concentrator commit=true

appliance partNew name=sdc service=concentrator volume=index commit=true

execute the vgs command for validation

Configure 10g (decoder) (Explore)

View > Explore > decoder --> right click properties

                         reconfig update=1 op=10g

View > Explore > database --> right click properties

                         reconfig update=1 op=10g

Check your work:

Decoder

Concentrator

This concludes the walkthrough, please let me know if there are any questions.