SANtricity 11.8 Solutions

Import remote storage

To initiate a storage import from a remote system to a local ETERNUS AB/HB Series storage system, use the Import Remote Storage wizard in the SANtricity System Manager user interface.

What you will need

The ETERNUS AB/HB Series storage system must be configured to communicate with the remote storage system. See Configure hardware.
For the remote storage system, gather the following information:
- iSCSI IQN
- iSCSI IP addresses
- LUN number of the remote storage device (source volume)
For the local ETERNUS AB/HB Series storage system, create or select a volume to be used for the data import. The target volume must meet the following requirements:
- Matches the block size of the remote storage device (the source volume).
- Has a capacity that is equal to or larger than the remote storage device.
- Has a state of Optimal and is available. For a full list of requirements, see Requirements and restrictions.
Recommended: Back up volumes on the remote storage system before starting the import process.

About this task

In this task, you create a mapping between the remote storage device and a volume on the local ETERNUS AB/HB Series storage system. When you finish the configuration, the import begins.

Because many variables can impact the import operation and its completion time, you should first perform smaller “test” imports. Use these tests to ensure that all connections work as expected and that the import operation completes in an appropriate amount of time.

Steps

From the SANtricity System Manager, click Storage > Remote Storage.
Click Import Remote Storage.

A wizard for importing remote storage is displayed.
In Step 1a of the Configure Source panel, enter connection information.
1. Under the Name field, enter the name for the remote storage device.
2. Under the iSCSI connection properties, enter the following for the remote storage device: IQN, IP address, and the port number (default is 3260).
  
  If you want to add another iSCSI connection, click +Add another IP address to include an additional IP address for the remote storage. When you are done, click Next.
  
  After you click Next, Step 1b of the Configure Source panel is displayed.
Under the LUN field, select the desired source LUN for the remote storage device, and then click Next.

The Configure Target panel opens and displays volume candidates to serve as the target for the import. Some volumes do not display in the list of candidates due to block size, capacity, or volume availability.
From the table, select a target volume on the ETERNUS AB/HB Series storage system. If needed, use the slider to change the import priority. Click Next. Confirm the operation in the next dialog box by typing continue, and then clicking Continue.

If the target volume has a capacity that is larger than the source volume, that additional capacity is not reported to the host connected to the ETERNUS AB/HB Series system. To use the new capacity, you must perform a file system expansion operation on the host after the import operation completes and is disconnected.

After you confirm the configuration in the dialog, the Review panel is displayed.
From the Review screen, verify the specified remote storage device, target, and import settings are accurate. Click Finish to complete the creation of the remote storage.

Another dialog box opens asking if you want to initiate another import.
If needed, click Yes to create another Remote Storage Volumes. Clicking Yes returns to Step 1a of the Configure Source panel, where you can select the existing configuration or add a new one. If you do not want to create another import, click No to exit the dialog.

Once the import process begins, the entire target volume is overwritten with the copied data. If the host writes any new data to the target volume during this process, that new data is propagated back to the remote device (source volume).
View the progress of the operation in the View Operations dialog under the Remote Storage panel.

The time required to complete the import operation depends on the size of the remote storage system, the priority setting for the import, and the amount of I/O load on both storage systems and their associated volumes. Once the import is complete, the local volume is a duplicate of the remote storage device.
When you are ready to break the relationship between the two volumes, select Disconnect on the import object from the Operations in Progress view. Once the relationship is disconnected, performance of the local volume returns to normal and is no longer impacted by the remote connection.