Year: 2025
-
MTU, VDS, and VMkernel: The relation among them
Reading Time: 4 minutesA friend asked me to help solve an issue related to an entire vSAN cluster going down after changing MTU values. Because this subject can sometimes seem complex and confusing, I created this simple post to explain it. What is the issue? Let’s explain it. The vSAN cluster is a standard cluster…
-
Creating an SMB File Server with PowerFlex
Reading Time: 6 minutesCreating an SMB File Server with PowerFlex shows how to create a File Server using the PowerFlex solution. First and foremost, our PowerFlex solution is a lab environment made of nested virtual machines (VMs). We are running the 4.5.2 version! PowerFlex can work as a file-based storage system, providing SMB and NFS…
-
PowerFlex SCLI Basics
Reading Time: 6 minutesPowerFlex SCLI Basics show some useful commands for managing a PowerFlex cluster by command line. PowerFlex CLI (SCLI) is installed as part of the MDM component. It can be found in the following operational systems: Before using most SCLI commands, you must log in using the following command (for the 4.5.2 version,…
-
Working with Fault Sets on PowerFlex
Reading Time: 5 minutesWorking with Fault Sets on PowerFlex shows what Fault Sets are and how they can be used.This is a simple example of how we can work with Fault Sets. All tests were performed in a lab environment using virtual machines (nested lab). The PowerFlex version is 4.5.2. First and foremost, what is…
-
Replacing a Failed Disk on an SDS Node
Reading Time: 4 minutesReplacing a Failed Disk on an SDS node shows all the necessary steps to replace a faulty disk on an SDS node part of a PowerFlex cluster. Replacing failed disk devices is a common task for any storage administrator. Because of that, it is fundamental to understand what steps are necessary to…
-
Performing a Clean Shut Down and Power On of a PowerFlex Cluster
Reading Time: 3 minutesPerforming a Clean Shut Down and Power On of a PowerFlex Cluster shows how to shut down and power on the PowerFlex cluster. So, a “clean” shutdown and power-on means to perform these activities safely, preserving the data stored in the SDS devices. We used the following public Dell KB as a…
-
Gracefully Shut Down or Reboot a PowerFlex Node
Reading Time: 3 minutesGracefully Shut Down or Reboot a PowerFlex Node shows all the necessary steps to shut down or reboot a PowerFlex Node. Enter the node into maintenance mode and gracefully shut down/reboot it to prepare it for a patching or maintenance operation. This is a common task for a PowerFlex administrator! 1- When…
-
Introducing PowerFlex File Services
Reading Time: 8 minutesIntroducing PowerFlex File Services is an article that introduces PowerFlex File Services. PowerFlex File Services was introduced in PowerFlex 4.0. This feature enabled file-based access via sharing protocols such as SMB (Server Message Block) and NFS (Network File System), expanding PowerFlex’s capabilities beyond block storage to include file storage functionalities. The PowerFlex…
-
PowerFlex Manager LDAP Integration
Reading Time: 3 minutesPowerFlex Manager LDAP Integration shows how to integrate the PowerFlex Manager with LDAP for authentication purposes. Our lab environment has a PowerFlex Manager 4.5.2 and an Active Directory on a Windows Server 2022.The default username to access the PowerFlex Manager UI is “admin.” It is a local username, and its password is…