Dell POWERVAULT MD3600I - Manual (Page 193)

16
Premium Feature—Remote Replication (Legacy)
NOTE: The following section applies to the Fibre Channel-only Remote Replication premium feature. This premium
feature is referred to as Legacy to differentiate from the Remote Replication premium feature available on both
Fibre Channel and iSCSI-based MD storage arrays. For information, see
Premium Feature - Remote Replication .
The following types of Remote Replication are supported on the MD storage array:
• Remote Replication — Standard asynchronous replication using point-in-time images to batch the
resynchronization between the local and remote site. This type of replication is supported on both Fibre Channel
and iSCSI storage arrays (not between).
• Remote Replication (Legacy) — Synchronous (or full-write) replication that synchronizes local and remote site
data in real-time. This type of replication is supported on Fibre Channel storage arrays only.
NOTE: This chapter describes the Remote Replication (Legacy) premium feature only. To understand the standard
Remote Replication (asynchronous) premium feature, see
Premium Feature - Remote Replication .
Overview
The Remote Replication (Legacy) premium feature enables real-time replication of data between two Fibre Channel
storage arrays in separate locations. Using this type of remote replication, up to 16 replicated virtual disk pairs can be
created on a storage array.
A replicated virtual disk pair is created from two standard virtual disks, both of which are logical data storage structures
created on a storage array. A standard virtual disk can only be a member of one replicated pair. A pair consists of a
primary virtual disk at a local storage array and a secondary virtual disk at a remote storage array. Data written by the
host to the primary virtual disk is replicated directly from the primary storage array to the secondary virtual disk. No host
server or application resources are used during replication. The data can be written either synchronously or
asynchronously.
In the event of a disaster, loss of communications or catastrophic failure in the local storage array, the secondary virtual
disk in the remote storage array can be promoted to the role of primary virtual disk and assume responsibility for
maintaining business operations.
Switchable Host Access Configuration Required With Remote
Replication (Legacy)
Access to the host server from the local and/or remote storage arrays using remote replication (Legacy) must be
established through a supported Fibre Channel switch configuration. Direct-attached configurations between the host
server and Dell PowerVault MD storage arrays are not supported.
For more information on configuring the switch environment, see
Required Switch Zoning Configurations .
193