DELL 7.1 Metro Node
Specifications
- Release Version: 7.1
- Release Type: Major (MA)
Product Information
The Dell EMC Metro node 7.1 is a high-performance solution designed for metro node setups. It includes new features such as support for SLES 15 SP3 and OpenSUSE 15.x, and the ability to upgrade firmware block components independently. The product also supports product-based logs and Syrcollect for data collection and analysis.
Product Usage Instructions
Upgrading Firmware Block Components
- Run the installer command to install the new metro node Block RPM on all nodes.
- Execute the start-upgrade command with the block name and peer node name to trigger the upgrade process.
- Complete the upgrade by running the complete upgrade command.
- Verify the installed and applied metro node Firmware versions on all nodes using the show-version command.
- Follow only the Metro node-provided documentation for MNFB upgrade to ensure system stability.
Configuring Product-based Logs
Product-based logs can be configured to send critical events and system logs to the Dell Backend on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Refer to the Administrator Guide for detailed instructions on setting up product-based logs.
Syrcollect Data Collection
Syrcollect collects and sends product configuration data to the backend every week. This data helps in understanding customer configurations. Detailed user documentation can be found on the metro node support page.
Configuration Limits
The product has various configuration limits including limits on virtual volumes, storage volumes, consistency groups, clusters, and more. Refer to the documentation for specific details on configuration limits.
Revision history
Table 1. Document revision history
| Document revision | Date | Description of changes |
| 1.2 | June 2024 | Updates for Expected Behaviors |
| 1.1 | February 2023 | Updates for 7.1 |
| 1.0 | October 2022 | 7.1 Initial Release |
Product Description
Dell EMC Storage metro node removes physical barriers within, across, and between data centers. Metro node-Local provides simplified management and non-disruptive data mobility across heterogeneous arrays. Metro node-Metro provides data access and mobility between two metro node clusters within synchronous distances. With advanced distributed coherency, the metro node provides workload resiliency, automatic sharing, balancing, and failover of storage domains, and enables both local and remote data access with predictable service levels.
New features
This section describes the new features that are added to metro node in the Release 7.1: Table 2. New features in Release 7.1
| Functional area | Feature description | Summary |
| Cluster Witness | Support for SLES 15 SP3 and OpenSUSE 15.x | The cluster witness adds support for SLES 15 SP3 and OpenSUSE 15.x. |
| Metro node Firmware Block | Firmware Block upgrade | From 7.1 onwards, the firmware block components like iDRAC, BIOS, NIC can be upgraded separately, independent of Metro node operating system releases (NDU) on a configured metro node setup. These firmware components can be updated as and when metro node releases new metro node firmware bundles for each supported platform type.
Commands that are involved: ● Installer command: Run install command to install the new metro node Block RPM on all the nodes. ● start-upgrade: Run start-upgrade command including the block name and peer node name to trigger the upgrade. ● complete-upgrade: Run complete command for completing the upgrade process. ● show-version command: Run show-version command |
|
Product-based logs |
Support for 7.1 |
to verify the installed and applied metro node Firmware versions on all the nodes.
NOTE: Follow only the Metro node provided documentation for MNFB upgrade. Any other means to load individual firmware updates without the direction of engineering is unsupported, and may cause a risk and harm to the system stability.
Product-based logs enable sending of the on-demand logs that are related to the critical events and system, using call home to the Dell Backend. Product-based logs can be configured for sending them on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. NOTE: See the Administrator Guide for the metro node |
|
Syrcollect |
Support for 7.1 |
appliance for further details.
Product configuration data is collected and sent to the backend on a weekly basis. This information is used for various purposes such as understanding the customer configuration. |
See the metro node support page on Metro node| Overview for detailed user documentation.
Configuration limits
The following table lists the configuration limits:
Table 3. Configuration limits
| Object | Limit |
| Virtual volumes | On the metro node hardware:
● 8000 (metro node Metro) ● 10000 (metro node Local) |
|
Storage volumes |
On the metro node hardware: |
| ● 8000 (metro node Metro)
● 10000 (metro node Local) |
|
| Distributed devices and remote devices (metro) | 8000 |
| Storage views | 1000 |
| Storage volume size | 64 TB |
| Virtual volume size | 64 TB |
| Consistency Groups | 1024 |
| Volumes per Consistency Group | 1000 |
| Clusters | 2 |
| Maximum round-trip-time (RTT) between clusters | 10 msec
NOTE: See the Dell Support Matrix for more details, as some applications and configurations have less tolerance |
|
IT nexus per cluster |
for RTT.
1600 |
| IT nexus per front-end port | 400 |
| Paths per storage volume per metro node director
NOTE: A path is a connection from a back-end initiator port on the director to the target port on the array (IT |
4 |
| connection).
Minimum bandwidth for metro node metro IP WAN links |
5 Gbps |
Software versions
The software versions are as follows: Table 4. Software versions
| Software Release | Software Version |
| Release 7.1 | 7.1.0.00.00.26 |
The software version number can be interpreted as follows: A.B.C.DD.EE.FF
Where each position has the following meaning:
Table 5. Software version numbers
| Digit Position | Description |
| A | Major release number |
| B | Minor release number |
| C | Service pack number |
| DD | Patch number |
| EE | Hotfix number |
| FF | Build number |
Table 6. Software version numbers
| Digit Position | Description |
| 7 | Major release number |
| 1 | Minor release number |
| 0 | Service pack number |
| 00 | Patch number |
| 00 | Hotfix number |
| 26 | Build number |
Metro node Firmware Block Support
Table 7. Software version
| Software Release | Current MNFB Version |
| Release 7.1 | metro-node_Mar_CY22 |
Changed features
This section describes the changed features. Table 8. Changed features in 7.1
| Functional area | Feature description | Summary |
| Security | In metro node and User roles, accounts and privileges sections, service or admin users, will not have privileges to create, modify, and delete new user accounts. | The following user management commands are deprecated in VPlexcli :
● user –help ● user list ● user remove -u service ● user passwd ● user event-server change-password -u service ● user reset -u service ● user add -u testvplex |
Resolved issues
The following issues are resolved in the Release 7.1:
Table 9. Issues fixed in Release 7.1
| Issue ID | Functional area | Description |
| VPLEX-21477 | NSFW | In 7.0.1 and earlier, a high rate of VAAI UNMAPs pressing a director greater than 400 unmaps/sec can cause a performance impact. It includes director CPU usage spikes to 100%, front-end domain latency spikes, and front-end latency increasing beyond acceptable levels for non-UNMAP operations (reads and writes). It can cause a DU on other hosts.
In release 7.1, a high rate of VAAI UNMAPS no longer causes an impact to other hosts, and shows an improvement on UNMAP response times. |
| VPLEX-22599 | UI | Fixed an issue in release 7.1 where, when listing RAID 1 local devices and distributed devices by the RESTv2 API, the legs of the device were not printed. |
| The API output has been modified to now include all child mirrors using the legs
property. |
||
| VPLEX-23827 | NSFW | In 7.0.1 and earlier, an incoming SCSI UNMAP operation overlapping with a previously issued SCSI I/O for the same block region, can lead to a director software failure.
In release 7.1, the metro node software is corrected to properly sequence reads and writes with UNMAP operations, thus correcting the software failure. |
| VPLEX-28757 | UI | Fixed an issue in release 7.1 where, the Online Help page navigation buttons appeared cut by page content and were difficult to use. |
| VPLEX-29215 | CLI | Fixed an issue in release 7.1 where, the CLI command health-check
–configuration would return errors that related to connectivity. The unnecessary check for COM port power levels is removed because the property of port power is not applicable on metro node. |
| VPLEX-30780 | Security | In release 7.1, Qualys QID 11827 (Security Vulnerability: HTTP Security Header Not Detected) is now fixed. |
| VPLEX-33616 | UI | Fixed an issue in release 7.1, that prevented the proper application of filters between the table headers and the URL bar in the HTML5 UI. |
| VPLEX-34516 | UI | Fixed an issue in release 7.1 where, the Storage View > Add Virtual Volume wizard could make many simultaneous requests, resulting in the request queue of the browser becoming full, and some requests failing. |
| VPLEX-34701
and VPLEX-35052 |
UI | In the HTML5 UI, sorting and filtering added on different columns of various wizards screens:
1. To Device column in create virtual volumes from device side panel. 2. To Storage Volume & Use columns in provision from storage volumes wizard step 3(Storage Volumes). 3. To Initiator column in create Storage View wizard step 1(Select Initiators). 4. To Virtual Volume & Locality columns in create distributed cg step 3(Select |
|
VPLEX-34743 |
UI |
Virtual Volumes).
5. To Status column in Virtual Volume Export side panel. 6. To Virtual Volumes, Status & Consistency Group columns in create storage view wizard step 3(Select Virtual Volumes). In various UI workflows and wizards where, the user must select source and target objects, the wizard would display some target objects before the user has selected the source objects. It would cause workflow confusion if the target objects were not valid given the source objects. In release 7.1, this workflow has been improved to only show that valid target objects, after the user has selected the source objects. |
| VPLEX-35650 | NSFW | Fixed an issue where, if a VAAI XCOPY operation fails, metro node was not returning the expected SCSI ASC/ASCQ sense code, for VMware ESXi to automatically fall back to using traditional reads and writes to perform the operation.
In release 7.1, metro node now returns copy aborted or unreachable copy target instead of illegal request or lu not supported as per recommendations by VMware. |
| VPLEX-37191 | NSFW | In 7.0.1 and earlier, an XtremIO upgrade may trigger the metro node back-end path management (BEPM) to incorrectly assume that it was experiencing array issues.
In release 7.1, metro node BEPM settings were modified to account for XtremIO pauses in servicing I/O. NOTE: I/O to these volumes will still experience a pause but, no longer they are marked flap degraded by metro node BEPM code. |
| VPLEX-37220 | System Configuration | If retyped new password entry, does not match with the new password, then three attempts would be given to type the correct password, else the user is asked to enter a NEW password. |
| VPLEX-37442 | System Configuration | The vplex_system_config –reset command fails because the WAN COM ports are not present at the NSFW level, during the reset.
Fixed the issue, if any of the ports are removed from SCIF or missing at the NSFW level, during the system config reset. Also, all the port types like FE, BE, LCOM, and WANCOM are handled. |
| VPLEX-37535 | UI | Fixed the SCIF inconsistency issues where, SCIF is not in sync between director-1-1-A and director-1-1-B during NDU, by removing the port-related operation. Now, the SCIF is consistent during software upgrade. |
| VPLEX-37552 | System Configuration | A user must not run vplex_system_config –cw-reset on a partly configured CWS, or where the CWS configuration failed.
Fixed this issue in release 7.1 where the user can now reset the CWS configuration on partially configured system, and then configure the CWS from beginning. |
| VPLEX-38148 | NSFW | Changing BEPM settings from default can result in Metro node not being able to recover degraded (but now healthy) ITLs due to a software issue.
This issue is addressed in 7.1. See KBA 000186241 for more details. |
| VPLEX-38185 | NSFW | Corrected an issue in release 7.1 where the stuck I/O monitor could detect a false positive in a metro setup in cases where the remote monitoring interfered with the local monitoring. |
| VPLEX-38208 | System Configuration | Fixed an issue in release 7.1, that could cause Collect Diagnostics to fail, if
vplex_system_config is run, while the Collect Diagnostics is in progress. |
| VPLEX-38395 | UI | The internally initiated diagnostics commands that are run regularly could cause the audit log of VPlexCLI to unnecessarily fill up. This leads in difficulty with seeing actual administrator entered CLI commands.
In release 7.1, these diagnostics commands no longer print to the audit log. |
| VPLEX-38822 | OS | In release 7.1, to aid in director troubleshooting, if the I/O path firmware of the director becomes unresponsive, the backtrace will now print to the journal. |
| VPLEX-38851 | System Configuration | After system configuration, if the cluster name was changed, the CWS configuration fails with an error: KeyError: ‘health_state’ in get_rest_url().
Fixed this issue in release 7.1, to fetch the correct or new cluster name. |
| VPLEX-38907 | UI | Fixed an issue in 7.1 release, by changing cluster status cli command code to display only enabled idrac alerts. |
| VPLEX-39209 | UI | Fixed an issue in release 7.1, to show error message as:
1. Please accept SSL certificate for peer node by opening the following URL in separate tab: https://<NODE IP> 2 . 2. Instead of Logout of the current session and re-login |
|
VPLEX-39333 |
UI |
wrong error message as: The notification service seems to be
unavailable now, please refer Metro node User guide to start/enable . Fixed an issue in release 7.1, which prevented the admin user from logging in to the metro node UI. |
| VPLEX-39431 | UI | On metro node, an NDU fails with waiting for director firmware to recognize all devices. This occurs if the user does not run vplex_ndu_installer before ndu start .
Fixed an issue in release 7.1, by preventing ndu start to run if vplex_ndu_installer has not run first. The error message cause: Please run vplex_ndu_installer before starting NDU. has been added to ndu start if this situation occurs. |
| VPLEX-39742 | UI | The report capacity-related CLI commands that were removed in 7.0.1 have been restored in release 7.1:
● report capacity-arrays ● report capacity-clusters ● report capacity-hosts For more information, see KB article 000194939. |
| VPLEX-39852 | UI | In the UI where when adding many virtual volumes to a storage-view, they might not all get added successfully.
Fixed an issue in release 7.1 where all the virtual volumes can be added successfully. |
| VPLEX-39875 | System Configuration | Fixed an issue in release 7.1 where the CWS password can have $ as part of the supported characters. The supported list of special characters is – $ . ? / * @ ^ % # + = ~: – _ space. |
| VPLEX-40056 | NSFW | In a rare situation, a director may fail if a VAAI XCOPY operation is aborted when the virtual volume is at its maximum supported number of active concurrent I/O operations in the cache of the director. This issue is fixed to properly clean up the canceled XCOPY. |
| VPLEX-40511 | NDU | Fixed an issue of authentication, during NDU FE port disable operation. This was happening as the FE port disable operation was a rest call and the changed service credential was causing the authentication issue.
In release 7.1, the NDU has removed the FE port-related operation, thus avoiding the authentication issue altogether. |
| VPLEX-40709 | UI | Fixed an issue in release 7.1, with the virtual-volume perpetual monitor datafile where if the VPlexcli management service was restarted, the output sink files may get data rows written in the improper column order, which confused performance analysis. |
| VPLEX-40928
and VPLEX-41833 |
System Configuration | In 7.0.1, the custom signed certificate update task was failing during the Cluster witness certificate update. This issue has now been fixed in 7.1 release . |
| VPLEX-41546 | System Configuration | If user runs vplex_system_config -s command on an already configured system, and quits the command execution in between, it could cause NSFW service to be unresponsive, causing DU.
Fixed this issue in release 7.1 by introducing to ensure, to check the state of the system, and if it is already configured. If the user is still intended to run the command, they are asked for a confirmation. |
| VPLEX-41736 | UI | Fixed an issue by adding cli command output (ll /clusters/*/exports/**) in CD collection to capture host config and login information. |
| VPLEX-41741 | UI | Fixed an issue by creating separate log file “callhomes.log” at
location /var/log/vplex/SupportAssist to store Event payloads. |
| VPLEX-41745 | UI | Fixed an issue by adding DefaultProperties.json and ESEProperties.json files in collect diagnostics which contains configuration of SupportAssist. |
| VPLEX-42172 | NDU | The NDU fails, when there is huge amount of initiator information that is required to be saved in ndu state file. In release 7.1, the NDU has resolved the issue by saving the initiator information as a separate information. |
| VPLEX-42572 | Platform | If the LCLReplication setting is disabled, iDRAC HW events may not be sent to the metro. LCLReplication can get disabled, if racresetcfg is run as it is not performed as a part of any known procedure.
LCLReplication setting must be enabled to restore metro node HW eventing, if racresetcfg is run for any reason. |
| VPLEX-42605 | UI | During ndu pre-check, the scsi view unit command runs on system-id of storage volume. However, when the storage volume is named, the VPD ID of that storage volume was running this command on the storage volume name which caused errors.
This issue is now fixed to get the system-id of the storage volume name, and then run scsi view unit command on it. |
| VPLEX-42978 | UI | The perpetual monitor performance logs in director, were missing statistics ip- com-port stats on the local COM IP ports (LC-00, LC-01). In release 7.1, it has been fixed to include them. |
| VPLEX-43863 | NSFW | In 7.0.1 and earlier, a host continually retried I/O to an underlying VMAX SRDF disk that was Write Disabled could lead to a situation where the internal requests could not be processed quickly enough and would queue up in memory, eventually causing memory to become exhausted and the director to stop.
In release 7.1, issue is addressed by improving how the system handles these errors internally, thus preventing memory exhaustion. |
| VPLEX-44269 | Security | In release 7.1, TLS versions less than 1.2 are no longer supported. |
| VPLEX-44328 | UI | Fixed an issue in release 7.1 where, the UI of Virtual Volume Create wizard would create many simultaneous requests, resulting in some requests getting rejected by the RESTv2 API. |
| VPLEX-44589 | UI | Fixed an issue in release 7.1 where, the customers who had upgraded were not calling home with the correct versions. The proper version is now set in the call homes. |
| VPLEX-44963 | UI | Fixed an issue where /var/log/ partition would fill up over time by changing the log file name to include day of the week postgresql-
<day_of_the_week>.log so that it is overridden by the log file of the next week, and at any given time maximum 7 days of logs are present. |
| VPLEX-44964 | UI | Fixed an issue by removing print logs for connection, disconnection, and duration of query execution, from postgresql.log files present under /var/log/ postgresql/ as they were filling up over time and were not informative. |
| VPLEX-46025 | Security | Fixed an issue by overriding LDAP/AD home directory creation with /home/ nohomedir as, when the user is setting a different LDAP/AD home directory at server side, it was causing an issue. |
Known issues
At the time of release, the metro node has the following known issues:
Table 10. Known issues
| Issue number | Functional area | Description | Workaround |
| VPLEX-26775 | UI | When there are no storage views present on the system, then you are not able | Go to the Storage View page through the Provision Storage menu, then from the drop-down select |
| to go to the Storage View page fromthe System Status and System Health dashboards directly. | Storage Views from the View By drop-down, then selectCreate. Once one storage view is created, then from the main status dashboard click the Storage Views circle to create
the other storage views. |
||
| VPLEX-27760 | UI | Performance Dashboard hover-over statistics window may get stuck across other pages. | Refresh the page from your browser. |
| VPLEX-37482 | CLI | If a part of the collection takes more than 2 hours to finish, the collect-diagnostics command may appear to fail. Although the CLI session ends with the message “Connection closed by foreign host,” but the collection continues in the background. The user is unable to reenter
the CLI to continue monitoring the process. |
For collection progress, monitor the file /
diag/collect-diagnostics- tmp/collect-diagnostics- <date>-<time>.log. For a final collect-diagnostics bundle, when the collection starts, the content of the files in /diag/collect- diagnostics-out/ should match. |
| VPLEX-37688 | UI | The HTML5 UI performance dashboard charts may appear ‘choppy’, or have missing data points between the lines plotted. | Follow the KBA 000331967 (Delete perpetual monitors and restart the VPlexCLI which will automatically re- create the monitors). |
| VPLEX-37720 | UI | Unable to update the LDAP/AD certificates in metro node. | Remove existing LDAP/AD configuration and reconfigure using updated certificates. For removing and configuring LDAP/AD, see Authenticate Directory Service document available at SolVe Online. |
| VPLEX-37787 | UI | The LDAP/AD configuration in metro node is not backward compatible. | Before upgrading from 7.0 or
7.0 P1 to 7.0.1 or 7.1, remove existing LDAP/AD configuration and reconfigure it post upgrade to 7.0.1 or 7.1. For removing and configuring LDAP/AD, see Authenticate Directory Service document available at SolVe Online. |
| VPLEX-38097 | CLI | For <director>/ports/<port>::sfp-status, the CLI displays a value of DIAG_PAGE_CHECKSUM_FAILED. | Ignore this parameter and the SFP status, this concept does not apply to the metro node platform. |
| VPLEX-43036 | Platform | The iDRAC root password must be consistent with the stored iDRAC password. If the metro node OS is unable to validate the HW, then it will not start
on boot. The iDRAC password may become inconsistent with the stored password, if it is changed or reset manually through the iDRAC. |
Contact Dell Customer Support to correct or reset the iDRAC password. |
| VPLEX-46489 | NSFW | PowerVault ME5 presents an enclosure services device to metro node, even though no actual LUNs are exposed.
Hence, metro node users end up seeing these LUNs. |
It is only a minor UI issue. No workaround. |
| VPLEX-46999 | NDU | The issue is seen during NDU in 7.1 release, during NDU grub menu entered with the wrong kernel version. | Workaround is provided in the updated NDU Procedure document. Download the latest NDU Procedure document which has the steps to fix the system before performing the NDU. |
| VPLEX-47035 | NSFW | A PowerStore controller panic can lead to a metro node stuck I/O due to a
software error where the metro node fails to properly failover, and use the AAN paths of PowerStore. |
To clear the stuck I/O, restart
the firmware(ser abort) of the director which has the stuck I/O. |
| VPLEX-47351 | NSFW | Sometimes an UNMAP operation on DR1s may encounter a software error which can lead to mulogle unnecessary log rebuilds. This can cause a performance impact on the system. | If unnecessary rebuilds are observed due to this issue, host-based UNMAPs can be disabled. |
| VPLEX-52133 | UI | The performance dashboard in the UI does not show any data on the WAN latency chart for any of the directors. | No workaround. |
| VPLEX-53397 | UI | Security restrictions in their environment may alter the email properties of
SMTP callhomes from the metro node (such as from/to/subject). Hence, restricting emails from domains (for example, Dell) outside their organizations. The callhomes always come from VPlex_(cluster_guid)@dell.com. |
No workaround. |
Expected behaviors
This section describes expected behaviors in the metro node.
- System volumes such as metadata and logging volumes are supported on thin devices. However, the metro node relies on these volumes for system operations. All extents should be pre-allocated, to prevent out-of-space conditions.
- While the clusters are in contact, the metro node prevents the same storage volume from being claimed at each cluster. However, if the clusters are partitioned, a metro node cannot prevent the same storage volume from being claimed at both clusters. If this happens, once the metro node detects this, a call home is sent. This issue should be corrected when it is detected.
- When one leg of a distributed device within a consistency group is unhealthy and marked for a rebuild, you are prevented from removing the unhealthy leg. A distributed consistency group requires two-legged distributed device members. Any of the below workarounds can be followed to avoid this issue.
- Workaround 1
Use the attach mirror command to attach a new mirror to the healthy leg.
Use the detach-mirror command to detach the old unhealthy mirror. - Workaround 2
- 1. Remove the virtual-volume from the consistency group.
2. Change the detach rule accordingly for the particular virtual-volume.
3. Detach the bad leg.
4. Attach the appropriate new mirror.
5. Add the virtual-volume back to the consistency group.
- 1. Remove the virtual-volume from the consistency group.
- If the metadata usage at a cluster exceeds 90%, metro node triggers the call home event 0x30012. If the metadata on the other cluster also exceeds 90% within 8 hours of the first cluster, metro node does not trigger a call home event. This is by design and occurs in metro node Metro configurations.
- In Unisphere, Provision by pools and Provision by Storage volumes wizards allow you to select only consistency groups that have a value set for storage-at-clusters property.
- If host I/O performance is impacted during a data migration or during a rebuild, then lower the rebuild transfer-size setting for the devices, or reduce the number of concurrent migrations/rebuilds. For more information, see the Admin guide for metro node features available at Metro node| Docs.
- Ensure that the host resources are sufficient to handle the number of paths provisioned for the metro node system.
- Poor QoS on the WAN-COM link in a Metro configuration could lead to undetermined behavior and data unavailability in extreme cases. Follow the SAN Connectivity – VPLEX and Metro node Best Practices to configure and monitor WAN-COM links available at Metro node| Docs.
- Metro node-Metro configurations do not provide native encryption over the IP WAN COM link. Customers should deploy an external appliance to achieve data encryption over the IP WAN links between clusters.
- When a claimed storage volume becomes hardware dead, metro node automatically probes this unhealthy storage volume within 20s. If the probe succeeds, metro node removes the “dead” status from the volume, thus returning it to a healthy state.
- CAUTION: While the device is hw-dead, do not perform operations that change data on the storage volumes underneath metro node RAID 1 (through maintenance or replacing disks within the array). If such operations are required, first detach the storage volumes from the metro node RAID 1, perform the data changing operations, and then re-add the storage volumes to the metro node RAID 1 as necessary to trigger a rebuild. Failure to follow these steps changes data underneath metro node without its knowledge. Without a data rebuild, the RAID 1 legs might be inconsistent and this may lead to data corruption on resurrection.
- Storage volumes that are used as system volumes (metro node metavolume RAID 1 mirror legs, logging volumes, and backups for the metavolume) must be formatted/zeroed out before being used by metro node as a system volume.
- There are two types of failure handling for backend array interactions.
- The unambiguous failure responses, such as requests rejected by storage volume or port leaving the backend fabric.
- The condition where storage arrays enter fault modes such that one or more of its target ports remained on the fabric, while all SCSI commands sent to it by the initiator (metro node) timed out.
Metro node isolates the paths which remain on the fabric but stay unresponsive. In this case, I/O requests sent by a host initiator to metro node virtual volumes are redirected away from unresponsive paths to the backend array, onto paths that are responsive. At the time of isolation, the metro node issues a call home event.
- The export port summary of a frontend port with no-link status has the export status as suspended.
Limitations
This section lists the limitations for metro node in the Release 7.1. Table 11. Limitations
| Functional area | Limitation | Affected Platforms/Models |
| IPv6 support | For Release 7.1, IPv6 for the Ethernet ports is not supported. | – |
| License support | For Release 7.1, licensing is not supported in metro node. Ignore any CLI or UI errors that are related to the license status errors. | – |
| SNMP support | For Release 7.1, SNMP is not supported. | – |
| VIAS support | For Release 7.1, VPLEX-Integrated Array Services (VIAS) is not supported. | – |
| Upgrade support | Upgrade Support to 7.1 on unconfigured system NOTE:
● NDU is only supported on the configured systems. ● Upgradation of unconfigured setup to the newer code version can be done. See KBA 000191025 for more information. For now, it is recommended that you perform the following steps before connecting any hosts to the system: 1. Complete the system configuration steps and include the Create meta-volume backup. NOTE: See the system configuration steps in the Configuration and Installation Guide for the metro node appliance available at SolVe (SolVe Online). This guide is only viewable by Dell Badged employees as needed.
NOTE: Metro node NDU Upgrade Guide is only viewable by Dell Badged employees as needed. NOTE: Once the system is upgraded, then the configuration of additional functionality can continue as per the Configuration and Installation guide including the connecting of hosts to the system. This guide is only viewable by Dell Badged employees as needed. |
– |
Installation and upgrade considerations
Installation considerations
Before you install a metro node cluster, review the Configuration and Installation Guide for the metro node appliance, available at SolVe (SolVe Online). When you have completed all the planning steps in the metro node Deployment Checklist, you are ready to install your system.
NOTE: Configuration and Installation Guide for the metro node appliance is only viewable by Dell Badged employees as needed. Also, only Dell is allowed to perform new installations.
Upgrade considerations
Before you upgrade a metro node cluster, review the Metro Node Upgrade procedures, available at SolVe (SolVe Online).
NOTE: Metro Node Upgrade procedures is only viewable by Dell Badged employees as needed.
For systems with Support Connectivity enabled, upgrade packages can be automatically downloaded to the system when they become available on Dell support. The Metro node upgrade packages are also available for download from the Dell support site. However, the upgrade packages can only be accessed when you are logged into the Dell Support Site, using an account associated with the Metro node.
Where To Get Help
The Dell Technologies Support site includes important information about the products and services including drivers, installation packages, product documentation, knowledge base articles, and advisories.
A valid support contract and account may be required to access all the available information about a specific Dell Technologies product or service.
Security Information
This release includes multiple security fixes. For information about the Metro Node security fixes, go to this link Dell Security Advisories and Notices . Scroll down, in the lower right you see a Search field. Enter Metro Node to search for Metro Node DSAs. All the available DSAs are displayed for security issues, which are fixed for Metro node.
Default Service Password
For security reasons, it is recommended to change the default service password. The default service password change is enforced during the initial system configuration. If a customer wants to change the service account password, see the Security Configuration Guide for the steps on how to reset the service account password. Notify your local Dell Field Engineer or SAM to have the password updated in the appropriate locations.
Open-Source Licensing Changes
This product is distributed with open-source code, licensed to you in accordance with the applicable open-source license. If you want a copy of any such source code, Dell EMC can give a copy that is required in accordance with the applicable open-source license. Dell EMC may charge reasonable shipping and handling charges for such distribution. Direct requests in writing to:
Dell EMC Corporation
Office of the General Counsel
176 South St.
Hopkinton, MA 01748
ATTN: Open Source Program Office
For more information about the open-source packages that are used in metro node and their applicable licenses, see the Open Source Licenses Guide for the metro node appliance available at Dell Support Site.
Notes, cautions, and warnings
- NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your product.
- CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem.
- WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
FAQ
What are the new features in Release 7.1?
In Release 7.1, new features include support for SLES 15 SP3 and OpenSUSE 15.x, as well as the ability to upgrade firmware block components independently.
How often can product-based logs be sent?
Product-based logs can be configured to be sent on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Where can I find detailed user documentation for Syrcollect?
Detailed user documentation for Syrcollect can be found on the metro node support page under Metro node | Overview.
Documents / Resources
 | 7.1 Metro Node |
References
- mailto:VPlex_(cluster_guid)@dell.comdell.com
- Support Home | Dell USwww.dell.com
- Security Advisories, Notices and Resources | Dell St. Vincent & Grenadineswww.dell.com
- User Manualmanual.tools