Storage

This course is designed for new or entry-level SAN administrators, offering an overview of general SAN technologies. It provides a comprehensive understanding of everyday administration within an HPE SAN solution, covering a broad range of technologies and concepts such as Fibre Channel (FC), iSCSI, and NVMe-oF. It discusses basics and building blocks of FC and IP-SAN, as well as the role of SAN-enabled hosts and disk targets. Other topics include SAN management, basic SAN security, and performance aspects of SAN as well as long distance connectivity overview.

Audience

This course is ideal for new or entry-level technical professionals seeking a learning path that includes conceptual knowledge of SAN technologies.

Prerequisites

Before attending this course, you should have:
Basic technical understanding of concepts and terminology related to networking and storage
Basic experience in managing Windows systems

Course objectives

After completing this course, you should be able to:
Define a storage area network (SAN)
Describe SAN benefits
Discuss data access methods
Identify SAN hardware components
Describe HPE Storage Networking elements and benefits
Recall the format of a WWN
Explain Fibre Channel (FC) terminology and port types
Describe FC topologies
Identify FC addressing
List the steps for port initialization
Identify the node and port types
Describe the role of Simple Name Service
Describe concepts associated with zoning
Explain the data center bridging (DCB) standard
Describe the Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) standard
Discuss the Non-Volatile Memory Express over Fabrics (NVMe-oF) standard, types, and building blocks
Discuss host connectivity
Discuss N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) support and products based on it
Explain the function of multipathing and load balancing
Discuss the need for SAN management
Discuss technologies driving SAN management
Describe HPE SAN management today
Discuss SAN extension technologies and implementations
Explain the use and effects of buffer (BB) credits on distance and speed
Describe approaches to planning security in a SAN
Outline the core components for securing a SAN
Outline topology choices and design considerations
Describe SAN performance factors
Identify levels of high availability in SAN architecture

Detailed course outline

Module 0: Course Overview

Course topics

Module 1: SAN Introduction

What is a SAN?
HPE Storage Networking: Enables systems for critical workloads
Business continuance
High availability
Server and storage consolidation
Centralized management
Basic methods of storage connectivity
SAN considerations
DAS versus NAS versus SAN
SAN components
HPE Storage Networking: Hardware positioning
Fibre Channel and Ethernet—Decoded and positioned

Module 2: Fibre Channel

Fibre channel introduction
World Wide Name (WWN)
Nodes, ports, and links
SAN topologies
Fibre Channel port types
Fibre Channel addressing
Basic Fibre Channel services
Simple Name Service
Zoning
Fabric segmentation
Fibre Channel networking products portfolios

Module 3: iSCSI

Overview of iSCSI protocol
iSCSI maps SCSI onto a network
iSCSI stack
iSCSI initiators
iSCSI target discovery
iSCSI operations
iSCSI authentication
Internet Storage Name Service (iSNS)
iSCSI advantages and disadvantages
M-series switches

Module 4: NVMe-oF

Data center bridging (DCB)
Data Center Bridging vs other technologies
Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA)
Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
FCoE integrated with FC SAN fabric
FCoE encapsulation
Converged network adapters
Non-Volatile Memory Express over Fabrics (NVMe-oF)
What is NVME?
Why NVMe over fabrics
NVMe based storage end-to-end
NVMe over the network—Fabric transport options
Deciding between the NVMe-oF options

Module 5: Host

Host role within the SAN
Host and adapters
N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) overview
HPE Virtual Connect
Boot from SAN
Host preparation and install
Multipath concepts and load balancing

Module 6: SAN Management

SAN management categories
B-series SAN management interfaces and tools
Web tools
SANnav management software
C-Series/Cisco Data Center Network Manager
HPE GreenLake for Storage Fabric Management
Management protocols and APIs
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
REST(ful) API

Module 7: Long Distance Connectivity

Why extend the SAN?
SAN extension technologies
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) options
Fibre Channel over SONET/SDH
Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP)
IP network considerations
FCIP security and encryption
Buffer-to-buffer flow control

Module 8: SAN Security

Basic security model
Attacks and exposures
Mitigation of risk
Storage security model
Data access
Management security
B-Series fabric security access control lists
SCC
DCC
FCS
IP Filter
B-Series role-based access control (RBAC)
B-Series authentication options
Data path and management path security summary

Module 9: SAN Design

Topologies
HPE standard supported SAN topologies
Design using HPE supported SAN topologies
Single-switch fabric
Cascaded fabric
Ring fabric
Meshed fabric
Core-edge fabric
Performance
Topology data access usage
ISL oversubscription
ISL bandwidth aggregation
Hop latency
Device attachment points
Performance guidelines within the SAN
Backup performance considerations
Availability levels
Single Point of Connectivity Knowledge
HPE SAN Design Reference Guide
Infrastructure documentation

Detailed lab outline

Lab 2: Switch Exploration

Connecting to a fabric switch using Web Tools
Exploring main Web Tools sections
CLI basics
Basic switch status commands
Viewing port status
Enabling/disabling the switch
Enabling/disabling a port
Changing the switch Domain ID
Backing up system configuration settings

Lab 3: Nimble-based iSCSI Configuration

Provisioning storage
Presenting storage
Connecting to a volume
Windows preparation and mounting the volume

Lab 4: Administration and Configuration

Identifying port types
Viewing port configuration
Persistent port disabling
Configuring a port name
Denying F-port mode

Lab 5: Host Preparation and Storage Allocation

HBA management via QConverge Console CLI
Host verification in SSMC
Volume provisioning
Disk discovery

Lab 6: Fabric Zoning

Clearing the zoning configurations
Setting default zone
Configuring WWN zoning via CLI and Web Tools

Lab 8: Basic Security Administration and Configuration

Creating user accounts
Working with user privileges
Testing the effect of RBAC

Overview

This course is designed for current and future HPE B-series SAN administrators. It introduces necessary FC theory such as routing, trunking, addressing, and services, as well as B-Series associated topics such as proprietary features, HPE B-series SAN management and monitoring options, SAN extension technologies, advanced SAN security, and hardware installation. NVME-oF theory is also presented. All practical parts are based on HPE B-series SAN devices. This course helps students gain the experience needed to tackle the challenges of working in medium-sized and enterprise-class HPE B-series SAN environments.

Audience

This course is ideal for intermediate to advanced IT professionals seeking a learning path that includes knowledge of FC-SAN technologies and experience in HPE B-series SAN environments.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course, but we recommend you have the following before attending:
A good technical understanding of networking and storage concepts
Basic experience in managing Windows systems

Objectives

After completing this course, you should be able to:
Perform initial installation and configuration
Explain Fibre Channel theory including Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) routing and trunking
List Fibre Channel services
Discuss NVMe-oF technology
Configure long distance connectivity including Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP)
Configure Fibre Channel-to-Fibre Channel routing (FC-FC routing) and Virtual Fabrics
Implement Fibre Channel security
List B-Series management and monitoring options
Perform maintenance and troubleshooting
Design a SAN network

Course outline

Module 1: Installation and Configuration

HPE B-series SAN portfolio
Installation and configuration of a new switch
Switch configuration procedure
Activate a license feature
Setting names
Configuring syslog support
Checking switch status
Configuring 10 Gb/s Fibre Channel on supported platforms
Taking a configuration backup
Booting a switch

Module 2: Fiber Channel Theory

Describe the Fibre Channel networking model
Different class of service
FC frame structure
Flow control
Recall the format of a WWN
Fibre Channel topologies
Port types
Fibre Channel addressing
NPIV technology and use-cases

Module 3: FCP Routing and Trunking

Fabric terminology
Principal switch
Fabric initialization
Frame routing—FSPF (Layer 2 routing)
Exchange-based routing
ISL Trunking
Inter-chassis links
Routing over trunks
Trunks monitoring
Deskew parameter

Module 4: Fibre Channel Services

Link services
Fabric services
Well-known addresses
Simple Name Service
Fabric login sequence
Zoning overview and types
Zoning management and administration
Default zoning
Zone fabric locking
Zoning granularity
Adding a new B-series switch to a zoned fabric
Zoning best practices
Peer Zoning
Target-driven peer zoning
QoS zoning

Module 5: NVMe-oF

What is NVME?
Why NVMe over fabrics
HPE Storage Networking—how NVMe improves performance
NVMe over fabrics (NVMe-oF) summary
NVMe over FC (FC-NVMe)
NVMe over Ethernet

Module 6: Long Distance Connectivity

SAN extension technologies and implementations
Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM) overview
CWDM
DWDM
FC over SONET/SDH
Fabric OS Extended Fabrics
Buffer to buffer flow control
Configuring Extended Fabrics
Trunking over long distance fabrics
Protective switching
Buffer-to-buffer credit allocation and management

Module 7: FCIP

Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP) and its role in SAN extension
FCIP circuits, trunking, and tunnels
FCIP performance
FCIP compression
FCIP selective acknowledgement
FastWrite and Open Systems Tape Pipelining
Adaptive rate limiting and FCIP QoS
FCIP best practices
FCIP advantages and disadvantages
Configure and verify a VE_port-to-VE_Port connection
FCIP performance and security
FCIP analysis
B-Series distance extension product lines

Module 8: FC-FC Routing and Virtual Fabrics

Fibre Channel-to-Fibre Channel routing (FC-FC routing)
SAN scaling
LSAN zones
Fabrics and EX_Port
EX_port trunking
Integration of Fibre Channel routing and FCIP
Logical fabrics and ISLs
Virtual fabrics theory
Fabric and Domain ID
Virtual fabric configuration

Module 9: Security

Connection control (SCC) policy
Device connection control (DCC) policy
Fabric configuration server (FCS) policy
Authentication policy for fabric elements
Security policy distribution and consistency
Identify IP filter policies (IPFILTER)
B-series role-based access control (RBAC)
Predefined and user-defined roles
Setting password rules
Authentication options and multi-factor authentication
Authentication policy for fabric elements
Switch and device authentication policy modes
Setting up the authentication protocol (FCAP)
Security and encryption
In-flight compression and encryption

Module 10: Management

Technologies driving SAN management
B-series SAN management interfaces and tools
Web tools
SANnav management software
Simple network management protocol (SNMP) overview
B-series SNMP Fabric OS commands
REST(ful) API theory and usage

Module 11: B-series Performance Monitoring

Fabric Vision technologies
Flow Vision overview
Flow definition and monitoring and management
SIM port concept
IO insight and VM Insight
Monitoring and alerting policy suite (MAPS) introduction
MAPS rules, policies, and dashboard
Fabric performance impact (FPI) monitoring
Configuration and operational monitoring policy automation services suite (COMPASS)
Other features
Discuss Fabric Vision licensing

Module 12: Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Back up and manage configuration files
Firmware upgrade
Troubleshooting techniques
Common troubleshooting problems and tools
End-to-end troubleshooting – SAN analytics
Features and capabilities
Traffic optimizer
Self-healing
Use cases
Instant visibility of SAN health

Module 13: SAN Design

Topology choices and design considerations
HPE standard supported SAN topologies
Single-switch fabric
Cascaded fabric
Ring fabric
Meshed fabrics
Core-edge fabric
Initial cost of deployment
SAN performance factors
Topology data access usage
ISL oversubscription
Hop latency
Device attachment points
Data locality
Performance guidelines within the SAN
Recommendations for switch ISL connectivity
Levels of high availability in SAN architecture
Single point of connectivity knowledge
HPE SAN Design Reference Guide
Infrastructure documentation

Lab outline

Lab 0: HPE vLabs Access

Access HPE vLabs

Lab 1: Switch Exploration

Connecting to a fabric switch using web tools
Exploring main web tools sections
CLI basics
Basic switch status commands
Viewing port status
Enabling/disabling the switch
Enabling/disabling a port
Changing the switch domain ID
Backing up system configuration settings

Lab 2: Administration and Configuration

Fibre Channel theory (optional)
Fibre Channel levels
Class of Service
Identify the frame format
Port types
Well known addresses
24-bit addressing
Configuring ports
Port types
Viewing the port configuration
Persistent portdisable
Configuring a port name
Configuring a port speed
Deny F-port
Fabric name

Lab 3: FC – Routing

Preparation
Preparation and locating the principal switch in a fabric
Enabling and disabling trunking on switches

Lab 4: Fabric Zoning

Verifying storage presentation
Clearing the zoning configurations
Setting default zone and Configuring
WWN zoning
Adding a second Windows zone using Web Tools

Lab 5: SANnav Preparation

Preparation
Starting the SANnav
Setting up discovery

Lab 6: Long Distance

Working with Long Distance settings from the CLI
Working with Long Distance settings from Web Tools

Lab 7: Configuring FCIP

Initial configuration tasks—Working with switches
Initial configuration tasks—Connectivity and domain IDs
Assigning IP addresses to ethernet ports
Creating an FCIP tunnel
Verification of FCIP configuration
Deleting FCIP Configuration

Lab 8: FC-FC routing and Virtual Fabrics

Preparation—Fabric and services
Results verification
Working with FC-FC routing (READ-ONLY LAB)
Working with Virtual Fabrics
Cleaning

Lab 9: Security Administration and Configuration

Connection control policies
Switch Connection Control (SCC)
Device Connection Control (DCC)
Testing DCC policy
Fabric Configuration Server (FCS)
DH-CHAP authentication
IP Filter Policy
Creating users for SANnav
Creating a new user account in Web Tools and CLI

Lab 11: Monitoring

Checking external storage
Configuring Iometer
Real time performance monitoring
Flow monitoring
Setting threshold policies (MAPS)
Reports

Lab 12: Troubleshooting

Using CLI to obtain information about different switch health aspects
Using D_port functionality

Overview

This course describes the HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 building blocks, theory of operation, and features. You learn how to perform common day-to-day management tasks, including how to create hosts, volumes, sets, and how to monitor the product. This course also provides knowledge of more advanced features, including local and remote replication, disaster recovery, and QoS as well as maintenance and data migration. You gain a practical understanding of the HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 capabilities using extensive hands-on lab exercises, performed on all applicable user interfaces.

Audience

This course is ideal for customers, administrators, and channel partner sales or technical sales.

Prerequisites

Before attending this course, we recommend that you:
Have an understanding of general storage concepts, including Fibre Channel, iSCSI technology, and RAID
Attend either Introduction to SAN (H41BQS/H41BQAAE) or Managing HPE B-series Fibre Channel Switches (H41BPS/H41BPAAE)
Have operator-level functionality in a Windows environment

Objectives

After completing this course, you should be able to:
Describe HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 hardware and features
List and compare HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 management options, roles, and security
Explain provisioning terminology
Perform on-boarding and initialization
Work with volumes, hosts, and corresponding sets
Protect data with snapshots, clones, and use protection policies
Describe priority optimization and quality of service (QoS)
Explain different types of replication implementations and failure scenarios
Briefly describe data migration, high availability, and disaster tolerance solutions
Describe monitoring and alerting options
Describe the HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 OS update procedure and maintenance

Course outline

Module 0: Introduction

Module 1: Hardware and Features

HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 built on the HPE Alletra Storage MP
Features of HPE Alletra Storage MP platform
Features of HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 series arrays
HPE Alletra Storage MP—the basics
HPE Alletra Storage MP chassis
Switchless configuration
Switched configuration
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 compute IO Module details
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 OCP adapters
Slot population rules for different platform models
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 JBOF IO Module details
HPE Alletra Storage MP drive enclosure/cage (JBOF) connectivity
HPE Alletra Storage MP—the architecture
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000
Data-at-rest encryption
Drive configuration best practices
Releases and features
HPE ArcusOS software details
Licensing structure
Software and support subscription
HPE Alletra Block Storage in the cloud
HPE Alletra Block Storage for AWS
HPE Alletra Block Storage for Azure

Module 2: Management Options

HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 manageability
HPE GreenLake cloud and Data Services Cloud Console
HPE GreenLake cloud services
Data Services Cloud Console introduction
Data Services Cloud Console overview
Data Ops Manager
Block storage
Intent-based provisioning
Read-only option for Data Services Cloud Console
Dual authorization option for Data Services Cloud Console
HPE Alletra Storage MP disconnected
Data Services Cloud Console Public REST API
Data Services Cloud Console Rest API
Knowledge training
YouTube demo for the Data Services Cloud Console API
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 local UI overview
Enabling read-only option for Data Services Cloud Console
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 command line interface (CLI)
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 web services API (WSAPI)
REST(ful) API Introduction
Usage basics
REST operations
URI
Usage example

Module 3: HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 Provisioning Terminology

HPE ArcusOS virtualization
Chunklet concept
System wide sparing
RAID concepts
High availability
Virtual volume overview
HPE ArcusOS—enhanced software vs. legacy architectures comparison
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 data reduction overview
Data reduction technologies overview
Thin provisioning overview
Windows server space reclamation
Linux space reclamation
VMware® space reclamation
Allocation units and alignment
Migrating virtual machines with VMware vCenter Converter
Deduplication and compression
Data packing

Module 4: HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 Initialization and Array Status

Installation
Documentation and resources
Initialization process
Create an HPE GreenLake user account
Collect information
Device registration and onboarding
Preparing for discovery
HPE Discovery Tool and Cloud Connectivity Wizard
Initializing using the mobile app
Data Services Cloud Console Setup Service

Module 5: Working with Hosts

HPE ArcusOS
Virtualization
Host OS support
Front-end configuration: FC example
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 block I/O connectivity
NVMe-oF host support
WWN format of host ports
Connectivity options with NFS access
Obtaining Host HBA WWNs
Switch
Command and utilities
Creation of host profiles

Module 6: Working with Volumes and Sets

HPE ArcusOSOS Virtualization
Virtual volume review
Host sets and virtual volume sets
Virtual volume sets and hosts
Working with sets
Data Services Cloud Console
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 UI
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 UI—on premises
CLI
Alletra Storage MP B10000 Online Virtual Volume Conversion
HPE Virtual Lock
Creating HPE Virtual Lock snapshots from Data Services Cloud Console
Creating HPE Virtual Lock snapshots from the CLI
File/NFS sStorage

Module 7: Protection Policies, Snapshots, and Clones

Snapshot—Virtual Copy
Virtual Copy for backup use case
Virtual Copy creation
Virtual Copy writes
HPE Virtual Lock review
Customer example: Cyber-attack
Creating HPE Virtual Lock snapshots from Data Services Cloud Console
Creating HPE Virtual Lock snapshots from the CLI
How to show how HPE Virtual Lock snapshots work
Promote or restore a Snapshot
Clone terms and specifics
Protection policies
Data Services Cloud Console
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 UI
Plan snapshots when creating app volume sets
Command line interface (CLI)
Snapshot CLI overview
Clone CLI overview

Module 8: Replication

Replication overview
Replication network transport methods
Volume set replication
Replication modes
Replication operations
Failure scenario
Replication actions
Replication setup and management
Data Services Cloud Console
CLI
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 UI

Module 9: Peer Persistence

Active Peer Persistence
HPE Peer Persistence infrastructure view
HPE Peer Persistence deployment matrix
Quorum Witness software
Automatic transparent failover
Failure scenarios
HPE 3DC Peer Persistence
3DC Active Peer Persistence details
HPE 3DC disaster recovery configurations
Working with the Quorum Witness
Review the Quorum Witness
Configuration via HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 UI

Module 10: Monitoring, Alerts and Events

Performance reporting introduction
Data Services Cloud Console—Data Ops Manager
Enhanced reporting
Extended reporting
Available options
system capacity views
Ransomware in-line detection, mitigation, and recovery
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 on-array management UI
Overview, alerts, and tasks
Performance
Capacity
Performance metrics available using API and CLI
CLI: stat commands
CLI: hist* commands
CLI: srstat commands
Performance alerts
SNMP
Alerts and events
Alerts overview
Alert message codes
Sample message
Managing alerts with the CLI
Setting system alerts
Example alert
Monitoring and managing the event log
Example event
Syslog support
Checkhealth procedure
Options available in Data Services Cloud Console
Options available in HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 UI
Sustainability for HPE Alletra Storage MP
FinOps for HPE Alletra Storage MP

Module 11: Maintenance, OS Update, and Data Migration

Software updates and recommendations
Operations performed via Data Ops Manager
Running readiness checks and installing updates
User notified of update requirements
On-array management/local UI
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 maintenance
On-array management UI
Customer self-repair option
Part replacement
HPE Call Home
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 CLI
Data migration
Storage migration methodologies
Peer motion
Online import
Appendix: Sustainability overview
Appendix: FinOps overview

Lab outline

Lab 1: Getting Started with UIs

Exercise 1: Accessing and browsing hardware information in Data Services Cloud Console Data Ops Manager
Exercise 2: Accessing and browsing hardware information in HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 UI
Exercise 3: Accessing and browsing hardware information in HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 CLI

Lab 4: Array Preparation Tools

Exercise 1: Working with Welcome Center

Lab 5: Hosts Configuration and Management

Exercise 1: Initial preparation of host
Exercise 2: Working with hosts and host sets in Data Services Cloud Console Data Ops Manager
Exercise 3: Working with hosts and host sets in HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 UI
Exercise 4: Working with hosts and host sets in HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 CLI

Lab 6: Volumes Configuration and Management

Exercise 1: Working with volumes and sets in Data Services Cloud Console - Block Storage
Exercise 2: Working with volumes and sets in HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 UI
Exercise 3: Working with volumes and volume sets in HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 CLI
Exercise 4: Disks preparation

Lab 7: Working with Protection Policies, Snapshots, and Clones

Exercise 1: Data preparation
Exercise 2: Working with protection policies and snapshots in Data Services Cloud Block Storage
Exercise 3: Working with snapshot schedules and snapshots in HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 UI
Exercise 4: Working with snapshots and clones using HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 CLI

Lab 8: Working with Replication

Exercise 1: Initial setup
Exercise 2: Creating and managing replicated sets in Data Services Cloud Console
Exercise 3: Outage Scenarios: failover to the remote site
Exercise 4: Outage scenario recovery: Recovery after the source system is back online
Exercise 5: Clean-up
Exercise 6: Configuring Remote Copy (replication) using the CLI

Lab 9: Working with Peer Persistence

Exercise 1: Initial setup
Exercise 2: Creating and managing Peer Persistence-enabled replicated sets
Exercise 3: Clean-up
Exercise 4: Configuring Peer Persistence using the CLI
Exercise 5: Final clean-up

Lab 10: Performing Monitoring, Alerting, and Events

Exercise 1: Working with monitoring, alerting, and events in Data Services Cloud
Exercise 2: Working with monitoring, alerting, and events in HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 UI
Exercise 3: Working with monitoring, alerting, and events in HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 CLI

Lab 11: HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 Maintenance

Exercise 1: Browsing maintenance options
Exercise 2: Performing firmware update preparation

Overview

This course provides additional knowledge on Windows, Linux®, VMware®, and HPE Morpheus VM Essentials Software connectivity to HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 storage arrays, as well as various integration capabilities of those families with listed operating systems. That includes toolkits, APIs, VMware integration plug-in, and VMware vSphere® Virtual Volumes™ (vVols) support. Additionally, an overview of containers support based on Kubernetes® is presented, along with Veeam® Backup & Replication™ integration with HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 replication features.

Using extensive hands-on lab exercises that comprise over 70% of the course, you gain a practical understanding of HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 Integration with Microsoft Windows, Linux, VMware, and VM Essentials connectivity to HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000and Veeam Backup & Replication.

Audience

This course is ideal for storage administrators who want additional training on the integration features of HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 storage arrays.

Prerequisites

Before attending this course, you should complete one of the following courses:
Managing HPE Alletra Storage MP 10000 (H40ZSS)
Managing HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 eLearning (H40ZSAAE)

Objectives

After completing this course, you should be able to:
Integrate HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 with:
Windows environments
Linux environments
VMware environments
HPE Morpheus VM Essentials Software
Describe integrations with Kubernetes containers
Integrate HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 with Veeam Backup & Replication backup software

Course outline

Module 0: Course Overview

Course objectives
Agenda

Module 1: Windows Integration

HPE Storage Management Pack for System Center Ops Manager (SCOM)
HPE Storage PowerShell Toolkit
Peer persistence for Windows Server overview
Windows space reclamation
Hyper-V ODX

Module 2: Linux Integration

Linux preparation
FC and NVME configuration
iSCSI configuration
Multipathing configuration
Space reclamation process

Module 3: VMware Integration

HPE Storage Integration Pack for vCenter
VMware vStorage APIs for Array Integration (VAAI)
VMware vVols
VMware space reclamation
VMware vSphere Metro Storage Cluster with Peer Persistence overview
vCenter Site Recovery Manager™ overview

Module 4: HPE Morpheus VM Essentials Software Integration

VM Essentials to unify VMware and HPE hypervisor
VM Essentials solution features
Hypervisor feature comparison
VM Essentials Software
Host requirements
Installation sequence
Storage overview and HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 integration

Module 5: Containers and Kubernetes

Containers overview and introduction
Kubernetes introduction
Container storage interface (CSI)
Implementation examples
Use cases

Module 6: Backup Integration: Veeam Backup & Replication

Introduction
Veeam integration with HPE Primary Storage
Traditional and storage snapshot-powered backups
HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 snapshot orchestration
Synchronously and replicated snapshots backup
Asynchronously replicated snapshots backup
Instant VM recovery from HPE Storage snapshot
Veeam DataLabs from HPE Storage snapshot
Storage snapshots integration for Windows Agents
HPE Virtual Lock
Use case

Lab outline

Lab 1: Lab Working with Windows Integrations

Task 1: Working with the local PowerShell Toolkit
Part 1: Preparation
Part 2: Usage

Lab 2: Working with Linux Integrations

Task 1: Configure the Linux host
Task 2: Create a host set for the Linux host
Task 3: Create a volume for the Linux host
Task 4: Perform SCSI discovery, work with multipathing, and configure the disk device

Lab 3: Working with VMware Integrations

Task 1: HPE Storage Integration Pack for VMware vCenter initial configuration
Task 2: Creating a VMFS datastore manually
Task 3: Working with vVols and HPE Storage Integration Pack for VMware vCenter
Part 1: Working with vVols using HPE Storage Integration Pack for VMware vCenter
Part 2: Testing vVols
Task 4: Using other functionalities of HPE Storage Integration Pack for VMware vCenter

Lab 4: Working with HPE Morpheus VM Essentials Software Integrations

Task 1: Exploring VM Essentials interface
Task 2: Basic VM Essentials configuration verification
Task 3: Storage management for VM Essentials
Task 4: Instance deployment

Lab 5: Working with Veeam Integrations

Task 1: Initial Veeam and HPE Alletra Storage preparation
Part 1: Log on to Veeam backup software
Part 2: Configure vCenter in Veeam
Part 3: Configure an HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 array in Veeam
Task 2: Creating backups using Veeam and HPE Alletra Storage
Part 1: Configure Veeam backup for vSphere
Part 2: Check status of the volumes and snapshots on the array and back up a virtual machine by using Veeam and array snapshots
Part 3: Monitor the snapshot on the array
Task 3: Instant Virtual Machine Recovery
Part 1: Verify the vSphere configuration
Part 2: Start Instant VM Recovery
Part 3: Verify the recovered VM in vSphere
Part 4: Start migration to the production volume

Lab 6: Using the REST API

Task 1: HPE Alletra Storage REST preparation and login
Task 2: Using the Postman client to create a resource
Task 3: Using the Postman client to delete a resource
Task 4: Using cURL to manage resources

Overview

This course covers the hardware building blocks, theory of operation, and features of GreenLake for File Storage MP. Using hands-on labs, you learn to perform common day-to-day management tasks, including how to set up users, shares, quotas, and connect to shares. This course also provides knowledge of more advanced features, including local and remote replication, data protection, monitoring, and alerts. You gain a practical understanding of GreenLake for File Storage MP capabilities using extensive hands-on lab exercises, performed on all applicable user interfaces.

Audience

This course is ideal for customers, administrators, channel partner sales, and technical sales.

Prerequisites

Before attending this course, you should have:
An understanding of general file share concepts including SMB and NFS

Objectives

After completing this course, you should be able to:
Describe the GreenLake for File Storage MP solution
Explain the basic concepts of GreenLake for File Storage MP
Create and manage file shares within GreenLake for File Storage MP
List various security flavors that are available with GreenLake for File Storage MP
Use advanced features like snapshots and protection policies
Use various analytics and monitoring features available in the web user interface (UI), command line interface (VCLI), and Data Services Cloud Console

Course outline

Module 1: GreenLake for File Storage MP Overview

Customer scenario
GreenLake for File Storage MP solution
Hardware architecture
Standard density (SD)
High density (HD)
Software architecture
Hardware building blocks
Interfaces
Management options
Data Services Cloud Console
Web UI
VCLI
API
Security–on-premises UI
Security in Data Services Cloud Console
HPE Remote Device Access (RDA)
Terminologies

Module 2: GreenLake for File Storage MP Concepts

Objectives
Element store
Supported protocols
Data path
Write data path
Data migration—SCM to SSD
Read data path
Controller pooling
Controller pooling, quality of service, and multitenancy
QoS overview
Enhanced NFS performance
Data reduction
Results
Adaptive chunking
Global deduplication
Similarity reduction
Local compression
Erasure coding protection
Defragmentation
Data placement foresight
Write buffer RAID
High availability (hardware)
High availability (software)

Module 3: Managing GreenLake for File Storage MP

Administration basics
Objectives
Administration basics
User management
Authorization providers
Network access
Views and view policies
Connecting to management interfaces
Connecting to Data Services Cloud Console
Connecting to web UI
Navigating Data Services Cloud Console
Navigating web UI
Configure network access
File Share access

Module 4: Security

Security
Objectives
Security in Data Services Cloud Console
Web UI security (RBAC)
Authorization providers
Multi-protocol access
Security flavors
Access Control List (ACL)
Security Features
NFSv4.2 Security labels
Attribute-based access control (ABAC)
WORM
Protocol (datapath) audit
Protocol audit levels
Enabling protocol audit

Module 5: Data Protection

Customer scenario
Data protection overview
Data protection in GreenLake for File Storage MP
Data protection in the data path
Snapshots
Protection policies
Activate and deactivate protection
How are snapshots accessed?
How much capacity do snapshots consume?
Restoring a file or directory
Global snapshot clones
Indestructibility
Indestructibility overview
Actions restricted and allowed with indestructibility
Using indestructibility
Replication
Replication and theory of operation
Replication process flow
Protected paths (only in the web UI)
Replication: failover
Failback scenarios
Failover actions on protected shares
Restore actions on protected shares
Seamless failover

Module 6: Monitoring and Reporting

Customer scenario
Learning objectives
Data collection
Dashboard
Data Services Cloud Console
Web UI dashboard
General monitoring analytics
Data Services Cloud Console
Data Ops Manager
Web UI
Capacity analytics
Usage distribution among the larger subfolders
Data flow analytics
Data flow analytics overview
Viewing data flow analytics
Using the data flow tool
Tasks and activities
Data Services Cloud Console
Web UI
Big catalog
Big catalog overview
Configuring big catalog

Module 7: Troubleshooting Basics

Learning objectives
Alarms and events
Alarms and events overview
Event types
HPE Remote Device Access (RDA)
Allow remote access
Type of data collections
Data Ops Manager
Web UI
Handling alarms
Disabling and re-enabling default notification actions
Interfaces to invoke data collection
Collecting on-demand data via GreenLake Cloud Platform fleet manager
Creating support bundle via TUI
Download support bundle files from the device
Contacting HPE Support
Create a case from DSCC
Secure and strong password management
Welcome to support.hpe.com
HPE Support Center workspace
HPE Support Center resources

Lab outline

Lab 1: GreenLake for File Storage Management MP Interfaces

Task 1: Log in to the HPE Virtual Labs environment
Task 2: Explore Data Services Cloud Console
Task 3: Explore Web UI (on-premises)
Task 4: Explore command line interface (CLI)
Task 5: Explore REST API
Task 6: User management (local authentication)
Task 7: Managing management (VMS) users

Lab 2: Managing File Shares

Task 1: Configuring network access through virtual IP pools
Task 2: Create and manage view policies (share settings)
Task 3: Create and manage views (file shares)
Task 4: Mount the shares to a NFS or SMB host
Task 5: Cross-protocol access
Task 6: Managing quotas on file shares

Lab 3: Data Protection

Task 1: Create and manage protection policies
Task 2: Applying protection policies
Task 3: Restore data from snapshots manually
Task 4: Create replication configuration
Task 5: Use asynchronous replication for data protection
Task 6: Perform failover operations

Lab 4: Lab Monitoring and Log Collection

Task 1: Monitoring tasks, activities, and performance
Task 2: Alarms and events
Task 3: Generating logs for troubleshooting

This course covers the general concepts of Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) and disaggregated Hyperconverged Infrastructure (dHCI), as well as HPE offerings from the HCI portfolio with focus on HPE Alletra dHCI using HPE Alletra 6000 or HPE Alletra 5000, or HPE Nimble Storage. Hands-on labs are used to reinforce selected content discussed in the lecture.

The course covers HPE Alletra dHCI features and theory of operation, including building blocks, available deployment options, and networking aspects. It also lists HPE Alletra dHCI management options, such as on-premises integration with VMware vSphere® client and HPE GreenLake cloud-based management. HPE InfoSight support for dHCI is covered as well.

In addition, the course discusses use cases and integration of HPE Alletra dHCI with VMware (vCenter® plug-in, vSphere® Virtual Volumes™(vVols), and vSphere Metro Storage Cluster with HPE Peer Persistence, plus VMware Site Recovery Manager™ (SRM) and VMware Cloud Foundation™) as well as integration with Kubernetes® (including overview, CSI driver, and architecture). The course then presents the Intelligent Upgrade process.

Audience

This course is for anyone who manages the HPE Nimble Storage or HPE Alletra dHCI solutions.

Prerequisites

Prior to taking this course, we recommend knowledge and experience with HPE Alletra 6000 or HPE Alletra 5000, or HPE Nimble Storage.

Course objectives

After completing this course, you should be able to:
Understand the concepts of HCI and dHCI
Describe HPE Alletra dHCI features and theory of operation
List HPE Alletra dHCI building blocks, variants, and options, as well as solution installation
Discuss networking of HPE Alletra dHCI
Overview HPE Alletra dHCI management options
List HPE Alletra dHCI main use cases and integrations
Explain the HPE Alletra dHCI upgrade process

Detailed course outline

(d)HCI Introduction

(d)HCI definition
Drivers for hyperconvergence
Drivers for converged adoption
dHCI advantages
HPE HCI offerings

HPE Alletra dHCI Technical Introduction

Architectural principles
HPE ProLiant servers for private cloud
Traditional three-tier vs HPE Alletra dHCI deployment
Traditional HCI vs HPE Alletra dHCI efficiency
HPE Alletra dHCI architecture
HPE Alletra dHCI scalability
Non-dHCI hosts compatibility
HPE Alletra dHCI use cases

HPE Alletra dHCI Solution Building Blocks

HPE Alletra dHCI platform building blocks
HPE Alletra dHCI: Greenfield and Brownfield deployment paths
Stack setup flow with Greenfield and Brownfield
HPE Alletra dHCI reference configurations
dHCI + HPE Services installation and startup service

HPE GreenLake and (d)HCI

HPE GreenLake consumption on-premises concept
HPE GreenLake for HPE Alletra dHCI
HPE GreenLake for Private Cloud Business Edition
FAQ

dHCI Networking Recommendations

Networking considerations
Selecting the right switch
Third-party switch support
Cabling topologies
The use of dHCI compute nodes’ ports
Cabling and networking examples

Network Automation

Network automation overview
Network automation flow
Network automation supported network topology
Stack setup with network automation

VMware vSphere Distributed Switch Support

VMware vSphere Distributed Switch—Greenfield support
VMware vSphere Distributed Switch—Stack setup changes

dHCI Stack Manager

dHCI Stack Manager
Home
Datastores
vVol VMs
Inventory
Inventory: network
Inventory: server
Adding compute
Inventory: storage
Events
Configuration checks
HPE InfoSight Welcome Center
dHCI applicable HPE InfoSight features

HPE Alletra dHCI: Main Use Cases and Integrations

HPE Storage Integration Pack for VMware vCenter
VMware vVols
VM recycle bin
VMware vSphere Metro Storage Cluster with HPE Peer Persistence
VMware vCenter Site Recovery Manager
VMware Cloud Foundation
Containers and Kubernetes
Containers vs VMs
HPE CSI Driver for Kubernetes
Implementation using the native VMware vSphere CSI Driver

Intelligent Upgrades

Upgrades and lifecycle management
dHCI Intelligent Upgrades
Intelligent Upgrades for full-stack automation
Software update catalog
dHCI Intelligent Upgrades flow overview
Catalog matching
HPE Alletra dHCI upgrade process
One-click upgrades in action
dHCI Intelligent Upgrade example

Additional Resources

Useful information
Lightboard
Video demos

Appendix

Stack setup with network automation—Greenfield
Stack setup—Brownfield
VMware Cloud Foundation—HPE dHCI integration setup

Detailed lab outline

Lab 1: Initial Configuration

Task 1: Discovering and initializing the storage array
Task 2: Configuring the dHCI stack

Lab 2: Managing the dHCI Environment from within vCenter

Task 1: Touring the HPE Storage vCenter plug-in
Task 2: Storage system information
Task 3: Configuration check

Lab 3: Storage System Management from the Plug-in

Lab 4: VMFS Datastores

Task 1: Creating a VMFS datastore
Task 2: Growing a VMFS datastore
Task 3: Snapshots and snapshot schedules
Task 4: Zero-copy clones
Task 5: Deleting VMFS Datastores

Lab 5: HPE Alletra/HPE Alletra dHCI and VMware vVols

Task 1: Create a vVol datastore
Task 2: Create a VMware storage policy
Task 3: Create a vVol VM by using a storage policy
Task 4: vVol delete and restore from recycle bin
Task 5: Create manual snapshots for vVols from VMware
Task 6: Restore or create a clone from a snapshot

Lab 6: One Button Upgrade (read-only lab, do not perform)

Overview
Procedure

The HPE InfoSight Analytics Professional course provides an overview and hands-on lab exercises covering the AI-driven management and predictive analytics features and functionality of HPE InfoSight. In this course, you use HPE InfoSight to analyze performance issues and to gain recommendations for HPE Alletra, HPE Primera, HPE 3PAR, HPE Nimble, HPE servers, HPE SimpliVity and HPE virtualization infrastructure solutions. This course is updated to include new and advanced features of HPE InfoSight.

Audience

The training targets HPE Alletra, HPE Primera, HPE 3PAR StoreServ, HPE Nimble, HPE server, HPE SympliVity, and HPE virtualization customers.

Prerequisites

No previous experience with storage arrays and virtualization are necessary, but some knowledge of storage array and virtualization terminology is recommended.

Course objectives

After completing this course, students will be able to:

Describe device registration requirements

Navigate dashboards

Analyze performance issues

Analyze recommendation insights

Forecast storage, server, and virtualization requirements

Detailed course outline

Module 0: HPE InfoSight Analytics Professional Class Agenda

Welcome
Day 1 agenda
Day 2 agenda

Module 1: Introduction to HPE InfoSight

What HPE InfoSight can provide
Review of HPE InfoSight case studies
Discuss the three core features of HPE intelligent storage AI vision (self-managing, self-healing, self-optimizing)
Identify the three pillars of how HPE leads AI for hybrid cloud (customer impact, cloud-based AI platform, cross-stack telemetry)
Identify the HPE Infosight O-L-P-R-A model (observing, learning, predicting, recommending, acting)
List what HPE InfoSight sees and predicts behind the scenes
Describe the AI process for self-healing storage (telemetry, scan, identify, fingerprint, signature, automated case lifecycle)
Describe the two requirements of predictive analytics (analytics/automation and AI recommendation engine)
Describe the architecture of the AI recommendation engine
List the common questions and answers that drive prescriptive insights
List the top five insights of Cross-Stack Analytics
Discuss the value of resource planning
Describe the four areas of HPE InfoSight unique value

Module 2: HPE InfoSight Portal and Product Support Paths

Login to HPE InfoSight portal
Navigate and configure the HPE InfoSight home/landing page
Invite additional users to HPE InfoSight
Manage HPE InfoSight organizations
Use the Resources menu to get HPE InfoSight support

Module 3: HPE InfoSight for HPE Alletra 6000 and HPE Nimble Storage

• HPE InfoSight for HPE Alletra and HPE Nimble Storage support strategy
• HPE InfoSight for HPE Alletra 6000 and HPE Nimble initial configuration
• HPE InfoSight for HPE Alletra 6000 and HPE Nimble Storage theory of operation
• HPE InfoSight for HPE Alletra 6000 and HPE Nimble Storage connectivity prerequisites
• HPE InfoSight for HPE Alletra 6000 and HPE Nimble Storage wellness issues
• HPE InfoSight labs for HPE Alletra 6000 and HPE Nimble Storage

Module 4: HPE InfoSight for HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera, and HPE 3PAR

• HPE InfoSight for HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera, and HPE 3PAR StoreServ organization creation and device enrollment
• Provide access to an organization
• Merge/manage organizations
• Use HPE Infosight to access the HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera, HPE 3PAR storage
• Troubleshooting HPE InfoSight devices enrollment issues
• HPE InfoSight for HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera, HPE 3PAR frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Module 5: HPE InfoSight for Servers

• HPE InfoSight for Servers support strategy
• Initial configuration
• HPE InfoSight for Servers theory of operation
• HPE InfoSight for Servers connectivity prerequisites
• HPE InfoSight for Servers user management
• HPE InfoSight for Servers List, Wellness and Operational Dashboards
• HPE InfoSight for Servers email notifications
• HPE InfoSight for Servers case creation
• HPE InfoSight for Servers frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Module 6: HPE InfoSight Cross-Stack Analytics for VMware

• Cross-Stack Analytics
• HPE Alletra 6000 and HPE Nimble Cross-Stack Analytics configuration
• HPE Alletra 9000 and HPE Primera Cross-Stack Analytics configuration
• HPE 3PAR Cross-Stack Analytics configuration
• Cross-Stack Analytics case study

Module 7: HPE InfoSight for HPE SimpliVity

• The what, why and how
• HPE InfoSight for HPE SimpliVity vs servers and storage
• Requirements for HPE InfoSight on HPE SimpliVity
• Evolution of HPE InfoSight for HPE SimpliVity
• Getting connected: general topology considerations
• Register with HPE InfoSight
• Registering the HPE SimpliVity plug-in for VMware vSphere® client
• Using HPE InfoSight or HPE SimpliVity
• Visibility: data center, cluster and host details
• Predictive analytics
• VM resource utilization

Module 8: Challenge and Course Review with Q&A

• HPE InfoSight Analytics Professional Challenge
– Introduction and scenario
– Getting started
• Review learning objectives
• Review how to access available resources

Detailed lab outline

Lab 1: General Navigation

• Activity 1: Main menu and navigation
• Activity 2: Bookmarks
• Activity 3: Display and manage filters

Lab2: HPE InfoSight Portal Help Navigation

Activity 1: HPE InfoSight portal help navigation

Lab 3: HPE Alletra 6000, HPE Nimble Storage Dashboards, Pools, Arrays and Volumes

• Activity 1: The HPE Alletra 6000, HPE Nimble Storage Operational Dashboard
• Activity 2: The HPE Alletra 6000, HPE Nimble Storage Recommendations Dashboard
• Activity 3: The HPE Alletra 6000, HPE Nimble Storage Executive Dashboard
• Activity 4: The HPE Alletra 6000, HPE Nimble Storage Wellness Dashboard
• Activity 5: The HPE Alletra 6000, HPE Nimble Storage Capacity Dashboard
• Activity 6: The HPE Alletra 6000, HPE Nimble Storage labs
• Activity 7: HPE Alletra 6000, HPE Nimble Storage pools
• Activity 8: HPE Alletra 6000, HPE Nimble Storage arrays
• Activity 9: HPE Alletra 6000, HPE Nimble Storage volumes

Lab 4: HPE Alletra 9000, Primera and HPE 3PAR Dashboard and Systems

• Activity 1: Using the HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera and HPE 3PAR Operational Dashboard
• Activity 2: Using the HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera and HPE 3PAR Wellness Dashboard
• Activity 3: The HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera and HPE 3PAR systems summary
• Activity 4: The HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera and HPE 3PAR systems capacity
• Activity 5: The HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera and HPE 3PAR systems performance
• Activity 6: The HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera and HPE 3PAR systems monitoring services/support
• Activity 7: The HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera and HPE 3PAR system details
• Activity 8: The HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera and HPE 3PAR performance
• Activity 9: The HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera and HPE 3PAR capacity
• Activity 10: The HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera and HPE 3PAR wellness history
• Activity 11: The HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera and HPE 3PAR case history
• Activity 12: The HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera and HPE 3PAR correlated history
• Activity 13: The HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera and HPE 3PAR disk details
• Activity 14: The HPE Alletra 9000, HPE Primera and HPE 3PAR status details

Lab 5: HPE InfoSight for Servers

• Activity 1: Using the Servers Operational Dashboard
• Activity 2: Using the Servers Wellness Dashboard
• Activity 3: Using the Servers Reports Dashboard
• Activity 4: Using the Servers List
• Activity 5: Server jobs and analyze logs

Lab 6: HPE InfoSight Cross-Stack Analytics for VMware

• Activity 1: Viewing VMware datacenters
• Activity 2: Viewing VMware clusters
• Activity 3: Viewing VMware ESXi hosts
• Activity 4: Viewing VMware datastores
• Activity 5: Viewing VMware VMs
• Activity 6: Contention tree maps and trends

Lab 7: HPE InfoSight for HPE SimpliVity

• Activity 1: View Storage Efficiency Dashboard
• Activity 2: View data centers
• Activity 3: View cluster details
• Activity 4: View details for top virtual machine contributors
• Activity 5: View details for HPE SimpliVity hosts
• Activity 6: View details for virtual machines
• Activity 7: View details for backups

Lab 8: HPE InfoSight Analytics Professional—Challenge

• Exercise 1: HPE servers
– Activity 1: HPE server hardware
– Activity 2: HPE server firmware
– Activity 3: Recommendations
• Exercise 2: HPE 3PAR StoreServ
– Activity 1: HPE 3PAR health
– Activity 2: HPE 3PAR configuration
– Activity 3: HPE 3PAR performance
– Activity 4: Recommendations
• Exercise 3: HPE Primera storage
– Activity 1: HPE Primera health
– Activity 2: HPE Primera configuration
– Activity 3: HPE Primera performance
– Activity 4: Recommendations
• Exercise 4: Cross-Stack Analytics
– Activity 1: Hosts
– Activity 2: Datastores
– Activity 3: Virtual machines
– Activity 4: Recommendations