Pass the EMC Storage Administrator D-XTR-MN-A-24 Questions and answers with CertsForce

In a multi X-Brick XtremIO X1 cluster, the failure of more than half of the COM (communication) cables forces the cluster into a degraded mode. This degraded mode is a protective measure to ensure that the cluster can continue operating with reduced performance and redundancy until the issues with the COM cables are resolved.

The SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) connection speed for an XtremIO X1 is 6 Gb/s, while for an XtremIO X2, it is 12 Gb/s. The increased speed in the X2 model enhances data transfer rates and overall performance, reflecting advancements in the hardware capabilities of the newer generation.

In an XtremIO X1 cluster, it is required that all SSDs (Solid State Drives) be configured with identical drive sizes. This uniformity ensures optimal performance and balanced wear leveling across the drives, which is crucial for maintaining the efficiency and reliability of the storage system.

This performance metric is derived from the system’s ability to deliver linear scalability, meaning that two X-Bricks can deliver twice the IOPS of a single X-Brick configuration2.

The calculation for this is based on the performance of a single X-Brick, which can achieve up to 300,000 IOPS under the same workload conditions.Therefore, with two X-Bricks, the system can achieve double that amount, resulting in 600,000 IOPS1.

This information is crucial for planning and sizing purposes, ensuring that the storage array meets the performance requirements of the applications it supports2.

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When comparing XtremIO X1 to XtremIO X2, the amount of memory installed in a Storage Controller with a DAE attached with 400 GB SSDs differs. For the X1, it is 256 GB, while for the X2, it is 512 GB. This increase in memory in the X2 model supports higher performance and improved handling of data operations.

Based on the provided exhibit, ports "b" and "d" are used for FC2 (Fibre Channel 2) and iSCSI1 connections on an XtremIO X1. These ports are designated for specific connection types to ensure optimal performance and correct configuration of the storage network.

ESRS (EMC Secure Remote Services) configuration verification is typically done using commands that check for system notifications and configurations.

The show-syslog-notifier command is used to verify the settings and configuration of syslog notifications, which is part of the ESRS setup.

This command helps in ensuring that the notifications are correctly configured and functioning as intended, allowing for remote monitoring and management.

In preparation for a single-to-dual online cluster expansion, the power cables that are pre-staged by being connected to Power Distribution Unit B (PDU-B) only are for the right-side Power Supply Units (PSUs) of the Storage Controllers (SCs). Specifically, these would be the power cables for X2-SC1-PSU-R and X2-SC2-PSU-R.This configuration ensures that there is a balanced power distribution across the PDUs and that the new cluster components will have power connectivity once they are physically installed1.

The process typically involves:

Identifying the correct power cables for the SCs’ PSUs.

Connecting these cables to the designated ports on PDU-B.

Ensuring that the cables are properly managed and labeled for easy identification during the expansion process.

This procedure is part of the standard practices for expanding an XtremIO cluster, as detailed in the Official Dell XtremIO Maintenance Achievement document1.

In Dell XtremIO X2 arrays, the Disk Protection Groups (DPGs) are organized in such a way that each DPG spans multiple rows of drives. Specifically, DPG-2 in an XtremIO-X2 DAE (Disk Array Enclosure) uses the drives in Row 1 and Row 2. This configuration is designed toensure redundancy and fault tolerance. The drives in these rows collectively form the DPG, which is responsible for data protection and performance optimization.

The show-storage-controllers command is used in XMCLI to verify the IP addresses of the Storage Controllers after they have been changed. This command provides detailed information about the status and configuration of the storage controllers, including their IP addresses.