Skip to main content

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 Linux host to a DE Series storage system. It is designed to get the storage system up and running as quickly as possible with minimal decision points.

The express method includes the following steps:

  1. Setting up one of the following communication environments:
    • Fibre Channel (FC)
    • iSCSI
    • SAS
  2. Creating logical volumes on the storage array.
  3. Making the volumes available to the data host.

This guide is based on the following assumptions:

ComponentAssumptions
Hardware
  • You have used the Installation and Setup Instructions included with the controller shelves to install the hardware.
  • You have connected cables between the optional drive shelves and the array controllers.
  • You have applied power to the storage array.
  • You have installed all other hardware (for example, management station, switches) and made the necessary connections.
Host
  • You have made a connection between the storage array and the data host.
  • You have installed the host operating system.
  • You are not using Windows as a virtualized guest.
  • You are not configuring the data (I/O attached) host to boot from SAN.
Storage management station
  • You are using a 1 Gbps or faster management network.
  • You are using a separate station for management rather than the data (I/O attached) host.
  • You are using out-of-band management, in which a storage management station sends commands to the storage array through the Ethernet connections to the controller.
  • You have attached the management station to the same subnet as the storage management ports.
IP addressing
  • You have not yet made an Ethernet connection between the management station and the storage array.
Storage provisioning
  • You will not use shared volumes.
  • You will create pools rather than volume groups.
Protocol: FC
  • You have made all host-side FC connections and activated switch zoning.
  • You are using Lenovo-supported FC HBAs and switches.
  • You are using FC HBA driver versions as listed on the DE Series Product Support Site.
Protocol: iSCSI
  • You are using Ethernet switches capable of transporting iSCSI traffic.
  • You have configured the Ethernet switches according to the vendor’s recommendation for iSCSI.
Protocol: SAS
Note
The instructions in this guide include examples for SUSE Linux and for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Examples for RHEL are specific to RHEL7.