beautypg.com

Overview, Installation prerequisites, 1 overview – Dell POWERVAULT MD3620I User Manual

Page 7

background image

1

Overview

The Dell PowerVault MD Storage Array vCenter Plug-in allows integrated management of Dell MD-series storage arrays
from a VMware vSphere client. Enabling a single vSphere-based management interface eliminates the need to install,
maintain and learn to use proprietary storage array-based management tools. Using the MD vCenter Plug-in, an
administrator can:

Configure ESX/ESXi hosts to connect to MD storage arrays

Create, map, and delete virtual disks (both standard and from unconfigured space in a previously created disk

pool)

View the vCenter datastores available to the MD storage array's virtual disks

Create legacy or point-in-time snapshots, virtual disk copies, and Remote Replication between arrays (if

premium features activated)

The MD vCenter Plug-in uses an application server interface between the vSphere Client and MD storage array and fully
supports role-based user authentication.

NOTE:

The MD vCenter Plug-in requires that a vCenter Server be installed.

Figure 1. MD vCenter Plug-In In a VMware Environment

Installation Prerequisites

The MD vCenter Plug-in requires the following:

VMware vCenter Server 4.1, 5.0 or 5.1 (installed on host server)

One of the following servers operating systems to host the application server:

– Windows 2003 Server with Service Pack 2
– Windows 2003 R2 Server

7