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CLARiiON / VNX Performing Storage Array Profile

Team Live Optics
  • Updated

Overview

Live Optics supports the profiling of several hardware storage arrays.  One of these is the Dell CLARiiON and VNX families.  Using the Live Optics collector, configuration and performance data is captured, analyzed, and compiled into a Project for viewing.  This document outlines the process to produce a CLARiiON and VNX array storage profiles.

 

Pre-Requisites

Before the Live Optics array profile is executed, the array configuration and performance data need to be gathered using the storage array management interfaces.  Performance data is stored on the array in .NAR (or sometimes .NAZ) files.  Configuration data is collected by executing a process called SPCollect which generates a compressed (.zip) file.  Both the SPCollect and NAR or NAZ files are needed to perform the profile.  Collect these files and place them in a folder. 

If you need assistance creating or retrieving VNX/CLARiiON NAR/NAZ files, please open a Support Request (SR) with Dell Support or contact your local Dell support engineer.

 

Quick-Start Directions

  • Download the Live Optics Collector (Windows .NET version).
  • Select Storage from the left menu
  • Select CLARiiON/VNX
  • Click Select Folder, browse to folder with NAR files, click OK
  • Click Next
  • Click Browse for File, browse and select the SPCollect zip file, click Open
  • Click Next
  • Select the Upload Option, either upload automatically (recommended) or upload later
  • Click Next
  • If upload automatically was selected, enter the project name to be created, click Next
  • After the files are processed and optionally uploaded, click Quit to exit the application

 

Detailed Instructions  

Download and run the Live Optics Windows collector software

  • There are two methods to download the collector software:
    • From the email you received from your systems consultant inviting you to Live Optics by clicking the Download Collector link.
    • From the Live Optics portal, select Collectors from the left menu, then Download Collector. For more information on how to download a Live Optics collector, please see knowledge base article Download the Live Optics Collector

Either option will bring you to the Download Collectors page. To perform storage array profiles, download the Windows collector. 

NOTE: the Windows collector requires .NET 4.5 or greater to be installed on the host running the collector.

Select CLARiiON/VNX and browse to folder 

  • Once the collector is running, select Storage from the Category list, and then select  CLARiiON /VNX.
  • Click Select Folder and browse to the folder where the previously extracted array performance (.NAR) files are located. The collector will automatically scan the folder for files and indicate a count of found files.  Once the files have been selected, click Next.

 

  • Click Browse for File and select the SPCollect zip file from the array. The dialog will default to the same folder of the NAR files.  Note, sometimes two SPCollect files are generated, one for each SP or service processor.  You only need to select one of them.  The information in the files is the same regardless which file is selected.  Once the file has been selected, click Next.

 

Select the method to upload to the Live Optics web site for processing

  • Selecting the default, “Upload my collection data to the Live Optics web portal automatically”, is the recommended method. This option will automatically upload the collected data to the Live Optics portal and start processing. Use this option when the host running the collector has Internet access. Once selected, click Next.

 

  • Enter the name of the project for your array profile. Click Next.

 

  • The files are processed and uploaded to the web portal. During the upload, a status bar indicates the progress.  As storage array data can be quite large, the upload may take some time to complete depending on the speed of your Internet connection.
  • The collector will indicate when the upload has completed. Click Quit to close the collector
  • You will receive an email from Live Optics when your project is ready for viewing on the web portal.
  • Selecting “I will upload later…” will process and save your array data to an encrypted file with the name [hostname]_ClariionVNX.siokit. The file is written to the same folder from where the collector was executed. Use this option when the host running the collector does not have Internet access.

  • After the collection process completes, the file will need to be uploaded to the web portal for processing using the collector.

Uploading the SIOKIT file (applies only if selected “I will upload later…”)

  • Run the Live Optics collector software and select Upload SIOKIT from the top menu.

 

  • Click Browse for File. Select the SIOKIT file.
  • Enter the name of the project for your array profile. Click Upload.

 

  • The file is uploaded to the web portal. During the upload, a status bar indicates the progress.  As storage array data can be quite large, the upload may take some time to complete depending on the speed of your Internet connection.
  • The collector will indicate when the upload has completed. Click Quit to close the collector.
  • You will receive an email from Live Optics when your project is ready for viewing on the web portal.

View Project Results

  • Log in to the Live Optics web portal https://www.liveoptics.com
  • Your recent projects are listed on your dashboard. Select your project. 
  • The project details page appears. From here you can download the report in PowerPoint format (PPT), download an Excel file (XLXS) containing all the array details, share your project with other Live Optics users such as your systems consultant, or delete your project.