This chapter describes how to configure a Windows-based
host using the express configuration method.
Decide whether to use this Express method
The express method for installing your storage array and accessing ThinkSystem System Manager is appropriate for setting up a standalone Windows host to a DE Series system. It is designed to get the storage system up and running as quickly as possible with minimal decision points.
Understand the workflow
This workflow guides you through the express method for configuring your storage array and ThinkSystem System Manager to make storage available to a host.
Configure port IP addresses using DHCP
In this express method for configuring communications between the management station and the storage array, you use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to provide IP addresses. Each controller has two storage management ports, and each management port will be assigned an IP address.
Configure the multipath software
Multipath software provides a redundant path to the storage array in case one of the physical paths is disrupted. Before you can use multipathing, you need to enable Windows Multipathing feature and the ThinkSystem Windows DSM package. This package contains the multipath software for Windows.
Install and configure Windows Unified Host Utilities 7.0
Windows Unified Host Utilities 7.0 includes tools to enable you to connect host computers to Lenovo storage systems and set required parameters on host computers. You can also set appropriate disk timeouts for best read/write performance with Lenovo storage.
Install ThinkSystem Storage Manager for Host Utilities
When you install the ThinkSystem Storage Manager software on your management station, the Host Context Agent is installed that helps the host push configuration information to the storage array controllers through the I/O path. For the 11.60.2 release, Storage Manager (Host Utilities) can only be installed on host servers. All multi-system management functions have been moved to SAN Manager.
Perform FC-specific tasks
For the Fibre Channel protocol, you configure the switches and determine the host port identifiers.
Perform iSCSI-specific tasks
For the iSCSI protocol, you configure the switches and configure networking on the array side and the host side. Then you verify the IP network connections.
Perform SAS-specific tasks
For the SAS protocol, you determine host port addresses and make the settings recommended in the Interoperability Matrix document.
Discover storage on the host
LUNs on your storage system appear as disks to the Windows host. When you add new LUNs, you must manually rescan the associated disks to discover them. The host does not automatically discover new LUNs.
Configure storage on the host
A new LUN is offline and has no partition or file system when a Windows host first discovers it. You must bring the volume online and initialize it in Windows. Optionally, you can format the LUN with a file system.