Dell EMCConverged Technology Extensionfor Isilon® StorageProduct Guide

Document revision 1.7December 2017

Revision history

Date Document revision Description of changes

December 2017 1.7 Added Generation 6 information.

September 2017 1.6 Added information on the Cisco Nexus 93180YC-EX Switch.

November 2016 1.5 Update to include the Isilon HD400 node.

July 2016 1.4 Update to include the Isilon X210 node

May 2016 1.3 Update the elevations for the Isilon NL410 node

April 2016 1.2 • Update to remove physical planning information from thisbook and moved it to the Converged Systems PhysicalPlanning Guide

• Update to add Isilon NL410 node information

August 2015 1.1 Update to include Converged Systems and add IPI cabinet 2.0information

January 2015 1.0 Initial release

Revision history | 2

ContentsIntroduction.................................................................................................................................................4

Architecture overview................................................................................................................................ 5Network architecture.............................................................................................................................. 6Physical connectivity.............................................................................................................................. 6

Administration.............................................................................................................................................9

Sample configurations............................................................................................................................. 10Sample one cabinet Converged Technology Extension for Isilon storage........................................... 10Sample three cabinet Converged Technology Extension for Isilon storage......................................... 11

3 | Contents

IntroductionThis document describes the Converged Technology Extension for Isilon storage and how it is integratedwith Converged Systems.

The target audience for this document includes field personnel, partners, and customers who want todeploy a Converged System with the Converged Technology Extension for Isilon storage. This documentis designed for people familiar with:

• Isilon

• Converged Systems

• Cisco Nexus switches

Refer to the Glossary for terms, definitions, and acronyms.

Introduction | 4

Architecture overviewThe Converged Technology Extension for Isilon storage is a scale-out NAS storage solution that deliversincreased performance for file-based data applications and workflows from a single file-systemarchitecture. It works as an add-on component to Converged Systems, providing scale-out capacity foruse as Network File System (NFS) and Server Message Block (SMB) Common Internet File System(CIFS) shares within the VMware vSphere VMs in the Converged System.

Refer to the Dell EMC Converged Systems Physical Planning Guide for information about cabinets andtheir components, the Intelligent Physical Infrastructure solution, and environmental, security, power, andthermal management.

Depending on the specific configuration, the Converged Technology Extension for Isilon storage maycontain the following key hardware components:

• Cisco Nexus 93180YC-EX, or Cisco Nexus 93180LC-EX, or Cisco Nexus 5596UP, or CiscoNexus 5548UP switch

• Isilon 12300 InfiniBand switch

• Isilon 12800 InfiniBand switch

• Isilon S210 node

• Isilon NL400 node

• Isilon NL410 node

• Isilon X410 node

• Isilon X210 node

• Isilon HD400 node

The following table shows the differences between Generation 5 and Generation 6 components.

Isilon Generation 5 Isilon Generation 6

Cisco Nexus 93180YC-EX, or Cisco Nexus 93180LC-EX, or Cisco Nexus 55xxUP switch

Isilon Backend Infiniband switches

• 8 port

• 18 port

• 36 port

• 48 port (2 x 24 port leaf modules)

• 24 port leaf modules

Isilon Backend Ethernet switches

• 10 GbE 24 port

• 10 GbE 48 port

• 10 GbE 96 port (2 x 48 port leaf modules)

• 10 GbE 48 port leaf module

• 40 GbE 32 port

• 40 GbE 64 port (2 x 32 port leaf modules)

• 40 GbE 32 port leaf module

Isilon S210 Isilon F800

Isilon NL400 Isilon H600

Isilon NL410 Ision H500

Isilon X410 Isilon H400

5 | Architecture overview

Isilon Generation 5 Isilon Generation 6

Cisco Nexus 93180YC-EX, or Cisco Nexus 93180LC-EX, or Cisco Nexus 55xxUP switch

Isilon X210 Isilon A200

Isilon HD400 Isilon A2000

For Generation 5 configurations, leaf modules are only applicable over 36 nodes.

For Generation 6 configurations, leaf modules are only applicable in 10 GbE over 48 nodes and 40 GbEover 32 nodes.

Network architectureThe current Converged Technology Extension for Isilon storage supports up to 96 nodes. Each noderequires a virtual port channel (vPC).

Dell EMC offers two connectivity models:

• Isilon nodes connected to Converged System switches

• Isilon nodes connected to Converged Technology Extension switches

When choosing to connect to the Converged System switches, no Converged TechnologyExtension switches are installed, and node connectivity is limited to the number of available ofports on the Converged System switches.

The current Converged Technology Extension for Isilon storage supports up to 96 nodes. Each noderequires a vPC.

• vPC 3 connects the Converged System to the Converged Technology Extension for Isilon storagethrough an additional pair of Cisco Nexus 93180YC-EX switches, Cisco Nexus 93180LC-EXswitches, or Cisco Nexus 55xxUP switches.

• vPC 51 for connects the interconnects or peer-links on the Converged Technology Extension forIsilon storage Cisco Nexus switches.

• Configure each node port using LACP.

• Use vPC 1001 - 1096 for node vPCs.

You must extend VLANs to the Converged Technology Extension for Isilon storage cabinet. These arespecified in the Logical Configuration Survey.

Physical connectivityThe Converged Technology Extension for Isilon storage uses the following connection types on eachIsilon node:

• 10 Gb Ethernet or 40 Gb Ethernet – 10 Gb Ethernet or 40 Gb Ethernet external front-endconnection used for client connectivity.

• Isilon InfiniBand Backend switches- InfiniBand or Ethernet back-end switches are internalbackend connections used for intra-cluster data and messages.

Architecture overview | 6

InfiniBand is used only in Generation 5 configurations.

The 1 GbE connection on the Generation 5 Isilon nodes are not used.

• Each Isilon node has two connections for front-end communication and two connections forbackend communication.

• Isilon Generation 5 nodes do not have a dedicated out-of-band management port. Nodemanagement is performed in-band over a management VLAN.

• In the Converged Technology Extension for Isilon storage cabinet, the management ports on theCisco Nexus 93180YC-EX switch, Cisco Nexus 93180LC-EX switch, Cisco Nexus 5548UPswitch, or Cisco Nexus 5596UP switch must be connected to the management switches in theConverged System.

• The Isilon backend switches do not have a management port that needs to be connected for out-of-band management.

• Between the Converged System and the Converged Technology Extension for Isilon storagecabinet:

— 10 GbE uplink ports – eight cross connections are used by default (which is also themaximum) for each switch.

— 40 GbE uplink ports – four cross connections are used by default (which is also themaximum) for each switch.

— 100 GbE uplink ports – four cross connections are used by default (which is also themaximum) for each switch.

You can use either two or four ports, but this may increase the over-subscription of the network, riskinglower performance.

When you choose to connect to the Converged System switches, node connectivity is limited by thenumber of available ports on those switches.

Connecting nodes to Converged System switches

• The first 10 GbE connection goes to the Converged System switch A, which may be any one ofthe following switches:

— Cisco Nexus 93180YC-EX

— Cisco Nexus 9396PX

— Cisco Nexus 5548UP

— Cisco Nexus 5596UP

• The first backend connection goes to backend switch A.

• The second 10 GbE connection goes to the Converged System switch B, which may be any oneof the following switches:

— Cisco Nexus 93180YC-EX

— Cisco Nexus 9396PX7 | Architecture overview

— Cisco Nexus 5548UP

— Cisco Nexus 5596UP

• The second backend connection goes to backend switch B.

Connecting nodes to Converged Technology Extension switches

• The first 10 GbE or 40 GbE connection goes to the Converged Technology Extension switch A,which may be any one of the following switches:

— Cisco Nexus 93180YC-EX

— Cisco Nexus 93180LC-EX

— Cisco Nexus 5548UP

— Cisco Nexus 5596UP

• The first backend connection goes to backend switch A.

• The second 10 GbE or 40 GbE connection goes to the Converged Technology Extension switchB, which may be any one of the following switches:

— Cisco Nexus 93180YC-EX

— Cisco Nexus 93180LC-EX

— Cisco Nexus 5548UP

— Cisco Nexus 5596UP

• The second backend connection goes to backend switch B.

Architecture overview | 8

AdministrationThe Converged Technology Extension for Isilon storage is shipped with the base features enabled.However, you must configure the different features according to your own specific requirements. Use theOneFS web interface to perform all required administration tasks on the Converged TechnologyExtension for Isilon storage.

Some basic administration tasks you may want to perform include:

• Activating a license

• Monitoring the cluster

• Viewing node status

• Viewing event information

• Managing storage pools

For detailed administration information, refer to the Isilon OneFS Web Administration Guide. To find this,search support.emc.com for the following string: Isilon OneFS Web Administration Guide

9 | Administration

Sample configurations

Sample one cabinet Converged Technology Extension forIsilonCabinet elevations vary, based on the specific configuration requirements. These are provided for samplepurposes only.

For specifications for a specific Converged Technology Extension design, consult your vArchitect.

Sample configurations | 10

Cabinet 1

Sample three cabinet Converged Technology Extensions forIsilonThese are provided for sample purposes only. For specifications for a specific three cabinet ConvergedTechnology Extension design, consult your vArchitect.

11 | Sample configurations

Cabinet 1

Sample configurations | 12

Cabinet 2

13 | Sample configurations

Cabinet 3

Sample configurations | 14

The information in this publication is provided "as is." Dell Inc. makes no representations or warranties of any kind withrespect to the information in this publication, and specifically disclaims implied warranties of merchantability or fitnessfor a particular purpose.

Use, copying, and distribution of any software described in this publication requires an applicable software license.

Copyright © 2015-2017 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. Dell, EMC, and other trademarks aretrademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be the property of their respective owners. Publishedin the USA in December 2017.

Dell EMC believes the information in this document is accurate as of its publication date. The information is subject tochange without notice.

15 | Copyright