h8179-unisphere-vnxe-wp.pdf

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White Paper

AbstractThis white paper introduces EMCUnisphere for VNXe, aweb-based management environment for creating storageresources; configuring and scheduling protection for storeddata; and managing and monitoring other storage operations on

VNXe platforms. This paper provides a detailed description ofhow to use this new leading-edge interface to manage yourVNXe storage system.

July 2012

EMC UNISPHERE FOR VNXe:NEXT-GENERATION STORAGE MANAGEMENTA Detailed Review


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2EMC Unisphere for VNXe: Next-Generation Storage Management

Copyright 2012 EMC Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

EMC believes the information in this publication is accurate ofits publication date. The information is subject to changewithout notice.

The information in this publication is provided as is. EMC

Corporation makes no representations or warranties of any kindwith respect to the information in this publication, andspecifically disclaims implied warranties of merchantability orfitness for a particular purpose.

Use, copying, and distribution of any EMC software described inthis publication requires an applicable software license.

For the most up-to-date listing of EMC product names, see EMCCorporation Trademarks on EMC.com.

VMware, ESX, and VMware vCenter are registered trademarks ortrademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or otherjurisdictions. All other trademarks used herein are the propertyof their respective owners.

Part Number h8179.2


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Table of ContentsExecutive summary.................................................................................................. 4Introduction ............................................................................................................ 4

Audience ............................................................................................................................ 5Terminology ....................................................................................................................... 5

Management with Unisphere for VNXe ..................................................................... 6Getting started ........................................................................................................ 7

Using the Connection Utility to configure connections ........................................................ 7Using the Configuration Wizard .......................................................................................... 8

The Unisphere VNXe interface ................................................................................ 10Menu bar and Dashboard tab ........................................................................................... 10

Dashboard panels ........................................................................................................ 11System tab ....................................................................................................................... 11

System pages ............................................................................................................... 12Storage tab....................................................................................................................... 15

Storage pages .............................................................................................................. 16Settings tab ...................................................................................................................... 17

Settings pages ............................................................................................................. 18Hosts tab .......................................................................................................................... 21

Host tab panels ............................................................................................................ 22Support tab ...................................................................................................................... 25Unisphere online help ...................................................................................................... 27

System Health page alert pop-up ................................................................................. 27Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 28References ............................................................................................................ 29


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Executive summaryIn todays world of storage management, administrators are constantly looking forways to simplify the management process. This can be very difficult, because manystorage-management operating environments assume an in-depth knowledge of

storage concepts. Managing can also become a real challenge especially forcustomers who manage different storage products from different vendors and whenvendors use different terminology. Furthermore, navigation is mostly based onstorage concepts rather than management tasks, which makes it very hard for the ITgeneralist to manage storage. To address these concerns, EMC has introducedUnisphere for VNXe, a fundamentally different and new approach to storagemanagement. VNXe enables one to manage storage within the context of anapplication using easy-to-understand language instead of arcane storage terms.VNXe Unisphere also embeds best practices into the user interface for a faster andsimpler experience when completing everyday administrative tasks.

Unisphere for VNXe is a graphical, application-oriented model with a web-familiarlook and feel. Management of VNXe storage systems is simplified, allowing theutilization of advanced features such as thin provisioning, file deduplication, andcompression, without requiring an in-depth understanding of these technologies. Asupport ecosystem provides access to learning materials and support resources,making storage management easier than ever. This results in a more efficient andmore productive environment.

EMC has also introduced Unisphere Remote, a centralized network application thatenables administrators to remotely monitor the status, activity, and resources onmultiple VNXe storage systems residing on a common network. For more informationon Unisphere Remote, please refer to the EMC Unisphere Remote: Next-Generation

Storage Monitoring white paper available on the EMC Online Support website(https://support.emc.com)> VNXe Product Page.

IntroductionThis white paper discusses Unisphere for VNXe. It describes the Unisphere for VNXeinterface, and explains how an IT generalist can easily complete storage-related tasksusing this intuitive, easy-to-use interface.

This paper also describes different features found in Unisphere VNXe, and providesgeneral guidelines for using these features. Step-by-step instructions can be found in

Unisphere online help.
https://support.emc.com/https://support.emc.com/https://support.emc.com/https://support.emc.com/


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AudienceThis white paper is intended for EMC customers, partners, and employees who areconsidering the use of Unisphere for VNXe for managing VNXe storage systems. It isassumed that the reader is at least an IT generalist who has experience as a system ornetwork administrator.

Terminology Unisphere for VNXe The management interface for creating, managing, and

monitoring EMC VNXe storage resources and protection.

Unisphere Remote The new monitoring interface for monitoring VNXe storagesystems.

Common Internet File System (CIFS) An access protocol that enables users toaccess files and folders from Windows hosts located on a network. Userauthentication is maintained through Active Directory and file access isdetermined by directory access controls.

iSCSI protocol The internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) protocolprovides a mechanism for accessing raw block-level data storage over networkconnections. The iSCSI protocol is based on a network-standard client/servermodel with iSCSI initiators (hosts) acting as storage clients and iSCSI targetsacting as storage servers. Once a connection is established between an iSCSI hostand the iSCSI server, the host can request storage resources and services from theserver.

iSCSI Server A VNXe server that uses the iSCSI protocol to manage MicrosoftExchange storage groups, generic storage virtual disks, Hyper-V datastores, andVMFS-based VMwaredatastores.

Network File System (NFS) An access protocol that enables users to access filesand folders from Linux/UNIX hosts located on a network. Shared Folder Server A VNXe server that uses either the CIFS or NFS protocol to

catalog, organize, and transfer files within designated shares. A shared folderserver is required to create shared folders that contain CIFS or NFS shares, or NFSVMware datastores.

Snapshot A read-only, point-in-time copy of data stored on the storage system.You can recover files from snapshots or restore a storage element to a snapshot.

Storage pool A storage pool is a collection of disk drives configured with aparticular storage profile. The storage profile defines the type of disks used toprovide storage, as well as the type of RAID configured on the disks. The storagepools configuration defines the number of disks and quantity of storageassociated with the pool.

Storage Processor (SP) A hardware component that performs VNXe storageoperations such as creating, managing, and monitoring storage resources.


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Management with Unisphere for VNXeUnisphere for VNXe provides tools to configure system settings, view systemstatuses, and to manage a VNXe storage system, such as the example shown inFigure 1.Using Unisphere, administrators can easily configure storage resources tomeet the specific needs of their applications, their host operating systems, and allusers.

Unisphere wizards simplify storage provisioning by automatically implementing bestpractices as administrators provision storage. This optimizes system performanceand minimizes costs. Troubleshooting is also simplified by easily identifying failedcomponents and by providing direct access to EMC support options.

Figure 1. Unisphere for VNXe easily manages diverse storage environments


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Getting startedUsing the Connection Utility to configure connectionsBefore one can configure VNXe system settings or create VNXe storage resources, anIP address for managing the VNXe system needs to be established. To establish VNXeconnection settings, run the Connection Utility from a Windows host on the network.

When runningthe Connection Utility from a computer on the same subnet as theVNXe, the Connection Utility can automatically discover any unconfigured VNXesystems when Auto Discoveris selected. This window is shown inFigure 2. If theConnection Utility is run on a different subnet (or a machine not on the network)select Manual Configuration, save the configuration to a USB drive and transfer it tothe VNXe.

The Connection Utility helps configure the following VNXe system settings:

System name Name that identifies the VNXe storage system. Network address Management IP address (IPv4 or IPv6) assigned to the system

and used to access Unisphere.

Subnet mask Mask used to determine which subnet the management IPaddress belongs to.

Gateway address Default address of the network; this provides a single point ofentry to the site.

Figure 2. Running the Connection Utility


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Using the Configuration WizardAfter you run the Connection Utility, you can connect to the VNXe system through aweb browser to launch Unisphere. The Configuration Wizard (shown inFigure 3)opens the first time when connecting to the VNXe. The Configuration Wizard helpsconfigure these settings:

Default system Admin and Service account passwords Passwords used to log into Unisphere and the Service section of Unisphere. Disk pools A group of storage disks configured with the same storage profile. DNS server Network service that converts domain names to their corresponding

IP addresses. Configuring the DNS server settings is optional for disconnectedsites.

EMC Online Support credentials Username and password for a registered EMCOnline Support account.

iSCSI or Shared folder server options Configure an iSCSI or shared folder serverto manage storage resources for applications and hosts that use the storageresource. You can configure the iSCSI or shared folder server at a later time usingUnisphere.

NTP server Protocol used to synchronize the VNXe system clock with othernodes on the network. Configuring the Network Time Protocol (NTP) server settingsis optional for disconnected sites.

Product support options Enables ConnectEMC and EMC Secure Remote Support(ESRS). ConnectEMC provides faster service response, time, expedited partreplacement, and enhanced diagnostic feedback. ESRS allows EMC Support toperform remote troubleshooting which accelerates problem diagnosis and results

in a fast and efficient time to resolution. Storage server options Type of the storage server that you want to create.


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Figure 3. Configuration WizardThe VNXe can be registered using the EMC Online Support website. When registering,access will be gained instantly to easy-to-use tools that help plan, install, maintain,and service the VNXe. Registration also allows for software updates, installationtools, and more.

After registering, EMC will email licenses for the features that were purchased. To

activate the licenses and features:

1. From a Web browser, open a URL to the VNXe management address. The loginscreen for VNXe appears.

2. Log on to Unisphere.3. Click the Settings tab in the menu bar to open the Settingslanding page.4. Select More Configurations > Manage Licenses. See Figure 4.5. Follow the instructions that appear.

When managing the licenses, information including if it has been installed, the

version number, and the date it was both issued and will expire can easily be viewed.


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Figure 4. Activating licenses

The Unisphere VNXe interfaceDashboardThe Unisphere menu bar consists of six tabs, as shown inFigure 5.

The first tab is the Dashboard tab which is the default tab shown once logged intoUnisphere. The Dashboard can be used to:

View a comprehensive summary of system storage usage. Monitor system alerts. Choose common task controls. View system and session status information such as alerts and login period.


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Figure 5. Landing page for the Dashboard tabDashboard panelsThe Dashboard page is divided into the following panels:

Welcome A graphical view of available storage resources, storage allocated fordifferent types of storage resources (for example, Microsoft Exchange Server andgeneric iSCSI storage), and storage used for snapshot data protection.

System Alerts A chronological list of alerts and messages associated withstorage operations, system processes, and user activity.

Common Tasks Shortcuts to frequently performed operations such as creatingstorage, viewing alerts, configuring system settings, and viewing system statusinformation.

System tabThe System tab provides pages that help monitor the VNXe system, as shown in

Figure 6.These pages can also be accessed by hovering the mouse cursor over theSystems tabto open a pull-down menu that shows the System pages.The System tab provides a central location for monitoring the status of the VNXesystem. The System tab can be used to:

View graphical information about current system, capacity, health, and status.


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View system alerts, messages, and notifications. Monitor system and storage processes. Display log information about system activity. Manage replication sessions.

Figure 6. Landing page for the System tabSystem pagesThe following pages can be accessed from the System tab:

System Capacity page Displays present utilization data in the followingcategories:

o Storage Resource View tab Utilization details and free space of all systemstorage resources.

o Utilization History View tab Utilization details for storage data of any kind. System Health pageProvides an interactive graphic of your VNXe hardware. I/Omodules can be configured as well as bring components to the front by clicking on

it. The carousel shows a front and rear view of each system component. This isshown inFigure 7.


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Figure 7. Interactive graphic on the System Health page System Replications page Lists replication sessions, so replication sessions

can be modified, failed over, synchronized, paused, or deleted.

System Alerts pageDisplays any system alerts, along with alert information. Storage Pools pageLists storage pools, so disks can be configured and

individual storage pool statuses can be viewed.

Storage Resource Health page Lists storage resources and their health, as wellas the health of the associated storage pool.

System Performance pageDisplays graphs that plot CPU activity, networkactivity, and volume activity for each Storage Processor (SP) in the VNXe system.The statistics are color-coded for each SP. Mouse over a line graph to view theusage percentage and date when the statistics were collected. This is shown infigure 8.


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Figure 8. System Performance graphs Logs pageThe VNXe system monitors and reports on a variety of events that

occur on the VNXe system. These events are collected and written to the user log.The user log lists the following information for each event:

o Severity ( ) Icon indicating an error or event that has occurred.o Date/Time Day and time when the event occurred.o SourceThe component associated with the event.o User User account (if any) associated with specific alerto Event IDAn ID associated with the event.o DescriptionShort description of event causes or effects.


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Storage tabUnder the Storage tab (shown in Figure 9), VNXe provides storage resourcesespecially suited to the needs of different applications, host operating systems, anduser requirements. The Storage tab provides pages that automatically implement bestpractices to:

Create storage for application-specific files and data from network hosts. Configure and manage storage resources accessed by applications, hosts, and

workgroups.

Protect data manually or automatically by creating and managing snapshots. Configure and manage replication for specific storage resources. Restore data protected by snapshots.

Figure 9. Landing page for the Storage tabThe information that is displayed in each Storagepage is organized into tables. Thistabular format (shown in Figure 10) is very intuitive, so storage resources can bequickly assessed. The view can be changed to see the storage resources listed in atile view, icon view, or detailed view that enables columns to be sorted andformatted.


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Figure 10. Shared Folder Storage resources displayed in details viewStorage pagesThe Storagetab provides pages to create, configure, and monitor the following typesof storage resources:

Microsoft ExchangepageProvides a resource for storing Microsoft Exchangedatabases, log files, and public folders based on simple parameters such as thenumber of users and the average user mailbox size.

Shared Folderpage Allows clients to store data and easily access sharedfolders and shares that integrate seamlessly into:

o Windows environments that use the CIFS protocol for file sharing, MicrosoftActive Directory for authentication, and Windows directory access for folderpermissions.

o Linux/UNIX environments that use the NFS protocol for file sharing and POSIXaccess control lists for folder permissions.

Generic iSCSI page Provides generic block-level storage to hosts andapplications that use the iSCSI protocol to access storage in the form of virtualdisks.

VMware page Provides storage for VMware virtual machines through datastoresthat are accessible through either the NFS protocol or VMFS (over iSCSI) protocol.


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Hyper-VpageProvides storage for Hyper-V virtual machines, including theirvirtual hard drives, configuration files, and snapshots, through datastores that areaccessible to Windows Server 2008 hosts using the iSCSI protocol.

Settings tabThe Settings tab opens a landing page (shown inFigure 11 )that enables system

settings to be configured. Use the Settings tab to: Configure system settings, network settings, storage servers, and alert settings. Create host configurations so that you can control access permissions for hosts

that access system storage.

Use tools for servicing and troubleshooting the system. Manage user access to Unisphere. Update system software. Manage licenses for system features and functionality. Change user preferences, set language settings, and reset the password for the

current login account.

Figure 11. Landing page for the Settings tab


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Settings pagesThe Settings page contains icons that open the following pages:

Management Settings page Set up and configure network and communicationsettings for the storage system. In the General tab, system managementconnections can be changed, enter system information, and set up a failback

policy. In the Network tab, DNS and NTP settings can be set, remote logging canbe configured, and Unisphere Remote can be setup.

For more information on Unisphere Remote, please see the VNXe Series EMCUnisphere Remote Next-Generation Storage Monitoring white paper available onEMCs Online Support website (https://support.emc.com)> VNXe Product Page.

iSCSI Server Settingspage Manage storage settings for iSCSI storageoperations. iSCSI servers can be configured and created, and iSNS and CHAPsettings can be setup from this page.

Preferences page Change user preferences, including language settings andaccount password.

Service System pageDiagnose, troubleshoot, and repair the storage system. Toaccess this page, service password must be entered. The Service System pageprovides tools for servicing the storage system, including repairing ortroubleshooting the system, servicing the SPs, collecting system/configurationinformation to assist the service provider with a service request, and changing theservice password.

The System Components list shows the storage system SPs. This page is used toattempt to resolve minor or moderate issues such as, a component failure, asystem boot problem, or other persistent problems. From this page, the servicemode can be accessed, either SP can be rebooted or reimaged, and the

management software can be restarted, SSH enabled, and the system shut down.

The Service System page can be seen inFigure 12.
https://support.emc.com/https://support.emc.com/https://support.emc.com/https://support.emc.com/


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Figure 12. Service System page Shared Folder Server Settingspage Manage settings for shared folder storage

access for Windows shares (CIFS) using the Active Directory or Standalone optionand Linux/UNIX shares (NFS). One can configure and create shared folder servers,as well as configure Advanced Storage Access (ASA), and enable NDMP, Antivirus,and NIS from this page. This is shown inFigure 13.

Figure 13. Shared Folder Server Settings page


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More Configuration page View additional configuration options for the storagesystem, such as updating the software, and managing users, licenses, alerts, andEMC Secure Remote Support (ESRS). This page is shown in Figure14.

Figure 14. More Configuration pageThis page helps:

o Manage Licenses Acquire, install, and update licenses to add features andservices to the storage system.

o Manage Administration Create and manage user accounts, user access, andpermissions.

o Alert Settings Configure settings for tracking and reporting system alerts andnotifications, including ConnectEMC, SMTP, and SNMP settings, and emailalerts.

o View Schedules Maintain various schedules configured on the storagesystem.

o EMC Secure Remote Support Manage your EMC Secure Remote Support(ESRS) configuration.

o Manage Support Contracts View the current support contracts for the storagesystem.

o Update Software Acquire and install software updates and disk firmwareupdates for your storage system. From this page, the Health Check Wizard canbe opened as shown inFigure 15.


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Figure 15. Heath Check Wizard of the Update Software pageo Advanced Configuration Manage advanced system settings such as link

aggregation and link transmission rate.

o Routing Configuration Manage routing settings.Hosts tabThe Hosts tab landing page, shown inFigure 16,enables control of host access tostorage resources by creating and managing host configurations. Host configurationsprovide the VNXe with network profiles of the hosts that use storage resources. Hostconfigurations consist of a friendly name and a host network address (IP or iSCSI),subnet mask, or netgroup. Host configurations are used to control specific access tomost storage resources.

Use the Hosts page to:

Discover VMware vCenter/ESXhosts. View all hosts configured for the system. Create individual host configurations for accessing system storage. Create subnet and netgroup host configurations for enabling multiple hosts to

access system storage.


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Figure 16. Landing page for the Hosts tabHost tabThe Hosts tab contains the following three pages:

Hosts View and manage all hosts known to the system. This may includeWindows, Linux, ESX, Hyper-V, and Sun hosts.

Replication Connections Manage system-to-system connections for replication.This may include other VNXe storage systems, as well as VNX and Celerrastorage systems.

VMware View and manage all VMware hosts known to the system. The Add ESXHosts Wizard creates the VMware host configuration and adds it to the Unispherelist of VMware hosts.

Unisphere Host Wizards (as shown in Figure 17) create configurations for individualhosts, subnets, or netgroups. After a host configuration is created, it can beassociated with one or more storage resources.


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Figure 17. Host Configuration WizardInformation that is displayed in the Hosts pages is organized into tables, as shown inFigure 18. This tabulated view of the hosts can also be changed to a tile view, iconview, or a detailed view which allows for column sorting and formatting. Also, in thedetailed view of the virtualization hosts table, a VMware host can be expanded toshow its associated virtual machines and details about each one.

Figure 18. Virtualization hosts table


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Unispheres API integration with VMware enables one to fully configure and manageVMware storage from within Unisphere. Unisphere can discover existing VMwaredatastores hosted on the VNXe, and it can also automatically create and configuredatastores on the VMware host that are created in Unisphere.

Hosts and host subnets can be configured according to the following criteria:

iSCSI address (initiator IQN) Access to Microsoft Exchange or generic iSCSIstorage, VMware VMFS datastores, or Hyper-V storage. IP address or network host name Access to NFS shared folders or VMware NFS

datastores.

IP subnet range Access to NFS shared folders, or NFS datastores by hosts withina specific subnet range.

Netgroup Access to NFS shared folders or VMware NFS datastores by hosts orusers in a specific netgroup.

After creating hosts, you can specify host access permissions individually for each

storage resource. These permissions determine the access privileges permitted forindividual hosts or subnets with network connectivity to the storage resource. Thisassociation between hosts and storage resources in displayed in Figure 19.

Figure 19. Associating hosts to storage resources


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Support tabUnisphere is designed with the entire support ecosystem in mind. The integratedSupport page, shown inFigure 20, provides instant access to online supportinformation and communities. It is the central location for self-help resources. Thispage provides links to resources for learning about and getting assistance with thestorage system. From the Support landing page:

Watch how-to product videos. View the online help and documentation library. Access the EMC Online Support page for the latest product information and

updates.

Participate in online forums or live chat about the latest tools, tips, and bestpractices.

Search the online community for information posted by other users. Read white papers and access training about product features and use cases. Download software for your storage system. Order customer-replaceable parts.

Figure 20. Support page


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The Need more help?page is shown inFigure 21 .It contains links to the followingpages:

Product Support page Access all of the system support needs. Customer Replaceable Partspage Order or return a part for the storage system. Service Centerpage Access information regarding open support requests. Update User Profile page Update your online user profile. Live Chatpage Participate in live chat sessions with qualified technical support

representatives who are ready to answer technical questions or questions aboutordering parts.

Figure 21. Need more help? page


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Unisphere online helpThe Unisphere online help (shown in Figure 22) is the central repository for all helptopics, guides, and procedures. From this tool, a wide variety of information can belocated, including instructions for creating storage resources, detailed explanations,part replacement procedures, and instructions for servicing the VNXe system.

Figure 22. Unisphere online helpIn Unisphere, each page contains a question mark in the top right (as shown in Figure23) which can be clicked to access online help. Since Unisphere online help iscontext-sensitive therefore clicking this icon launches the Unisphere online help toolbased on the relative section that icon is located in. The information will help savetime and ease the process.

Figure 23. Unisphere online help iconSystem Health page alert pop-upIf a hardware fault occurs on the VNXe, the System Health page displays the fault witha pop-up message, as shown inFigure 24. This message displays a general faultmessage written in an easy-to-understand explanation. From the pop-up, relative


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documentation containing the procedure for replacing a faulted part can be directlyaccessed. This documentation can be found within the Unisphere online help tool orin the knowledgebase for solutions.

Figure 24. System Health page alert pop-up

ConclusionUnisphere for VNXe was designed with a simple philosophy in mind: keep it simple.It provides storage from the applications point of view with one clear way to handleany task from initial installation to creating storage resources for virtual servers. Anadministrator can shift from managing shared folders to creating application storagewithout missing a beat. Application-driven management enables one to easilyconsolidate storage.

A click on the Unisphere Support tab puts a world of resources at the administratorsfingertips. Comprehensive online documentation, help, training, and even how-to-videos are available to expand ones knowledge and answer questions. All thesefeatures make Unisphere for VNXe a powerful and easy-to-use tool for managing VNXe

storage systems.


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ReferencesThe following white papers can be found on theVNXe pageon EMC Online Support(https://support.emc.com)> VNXe Product Page:

EMC VNXe Series Storage Systems A Detailed Review EMC VNXe Data Protection - Overview EMC VNXe High Availability EMC Unisphere Remote: Next-Generation Storage Monitoring
http://www.emc.com/products/series/vnxe-series.htmhttp://www.emc.com/products/series/vnxe-series.htmhttp://www.emc.com/products/series/vnxe-series.htmhttps://support.emc.com/https://support.emc.com/https://support.emc.com/https://support.emc.com/http://www.emc.com/products/series/vnxe-series.htm

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