DELLEMC SC7020 Storage Array : Disk Arrays
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.
Revision History
Document Number: 680-108-001
Table 1. Document Revision History
Revision | Date | Description |
A | August 2016 | Initial release |
B | February 2017 | Updated feature support |
C | November 2017 | Added all-flash array and power-up procedure |
D | November 2018 | Updated technical specifications |
E | December 2019 | Updated technical specifications |
F | August 2021 | Updated the total number of supported drives |
Audience
The information provided in this manual is intended for use by Dell end users.
Contacting Dell
Dell provides several online and telephone-based support and service options. Availability varies by country and product, and some services might not be available in your area.
To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer service issues, go to https://www.dell.com/support.
- For customized support, type your system service tag on the support page and click Submit.
- For general support, browse the product list on the support page and select your product.
SC7020 Series Storage System Hardware
The SC7020 series storage system ships with Dell Enterprise Plus drives, two redundant power supply/cooling fan modules, and two redundant storage controllers. Each storage controller contains the front-end, back-end, and management communication ports of the storage system.
Topics:
- SC7020 Series Storage System Front-Panel View
- SC7020 Series Storage System Back-Panel View
SC7020 Series Storage System Front-Panel View
The front panel of the storage system contains power and status indicators, and a system identification button.
In addition, the hard drives are installed and removed through the front of the storage system chassis.
Item | Name | Icon | Description |
1 | Power indicator | ![]() |
Lights when the storage system power is on
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2 | Status indicator | ![]() |
Lights when the startup process for both storage controllers is complete with no faults detected.
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3 | Identification button | ![]() |
Blinking blue continuously – A user sent a command to the storage system to make the LED blink so that the user can identify the storage system in the rack. |
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4 | Hard drives |
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Can have up to 30 internal 2.5-inch SAS hard drives |
SC7020 Series Storage System Drives
The SC7020 series storage system supports Dell Enterprise Plus drives.
- The SC7020 storage controller supports both spinning hard drives and SSDs.
- The SC7020F storage controller supports SSDs.
The drives in the SC7020 series storage system are installed horizontally. The indicators on the drives provide status and activity information.
Item | Control/Feature | Indicator Code |
1 | Drive activity indicator |
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2 | Drive status indicator |
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SC7020 Series Storage System Drive Numbering
The storage system holds up to 30 drives, which are numbered from left to right in rows starting from 0 at the top-left drive.
Drive numbers increment from left to right, and then top to bottom such that the first row of drives is numbered from 0 to 4 from left to right, and the second row of drives is numbered from 5 to 9 from left to right.
Storage Manager identifies drives as XX-YY, where XX is the number of the unit ID of the storage system and YY is the drive position inside the storage system.
SC7020 Series Storage System Back-Panel View
The back panel of the storage system contains the storage controller indicators and power supply indicators.
Item | Name | Icon | Description |
1 | Power supply/cooling fan module (2) | ![]() |
Contains power supplies and fans that provide cooling for the storage system, with AC input to the power supply of 200–240 V. In Storage Manager , the power supply/cooling fan module on the left side of the back panel is Power Supply 1 and power supply/cooling fan module on the right side of the back panel is Power Supply 2. |
2 | Storage controller (2) |
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Each storage controller contains:
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3 | Power switch (2) |
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Controls power for the storage system. Each power supply/cooling fan module has one power switch. |
4 | Power supply/cooling fan module LED handle |
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The handle of the power supply/cooling fan module indicates the DC power status of the power supply and the fans.
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5 | Power socket (2) |
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Accepts the following standard computer power cords:
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Power Supply and Cooling Fan Modules
The SC7020 series storage system supports two hot-swappable power supply/cooling fan modules.
The cooling fans and the power supplies are integrated into the power supply/cooling fan module and cannot be replaced separately. If one power supply/cooling fan module fails, the second module continues to provide power to the storage system
NOTE: When a power supply/cooling fan module fails, the cooling fan speed in the remaining module increases significantly to provide adequate cooling. The cooling fan speed decreases gradually when a new power supply/cooling fan module is installed
CAUTION: A single power supply/cooling fan module can be removed from a powered on storage system for no more than 90 seconds. If a power supply/cooling fan module is removed for longer than 90 seconds, the storage system might shut down automatically to prevent damage.
SC7020 Series Storage Controller Features and Indicators
The SC7020 series storage system includes two storage controllers in two interface slots.
SC7020 Series Storage Controller
The following figure shows the features and indicators on the storage controller.
Item | Control/Feature |
Icon |
Description |
1 | Identification LED | ![]() |
Blinking blue continuously – A command was sent to the storage system to make the LED blink so that you can identify the storage system in the rack.
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2 | Cache to Flash (C2F) | ![]() |
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3 | Health status | ![]() |
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4 | I/O card slots |
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5 | Serial port (micro USB) | ![]() |
Used under the supervision of Technical Support to troubleshoot and support systems. |
6 | MGMT port |
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Ethernet port used for storage system management and access to Storage Manager . Two LEDs with the port indicate link status (left LED) and activity status (right LED):
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7 | USB port | ![]() |
One USB 2.0 connector that is used for SupportAssist diagnostic files when the storage system is not connected to the Internet. |
8 | Mini-SAS (ports 1 and 2) | ![]() |
Back-end expansion ports 1 and 2. LEDs with the ports indicate connectivity information between the storage controller and the expansion enclosure:
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9 | Mezzanine card | ![]() |
The iSCSI ports on the mezzanine card are either 10 GbE SFP+ ports or 1 Gbe/10 Gbe RJ45 ports. The LEDs on the iSCSI ports have the following meanings:
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Replacing Storage System Components
This chapter describes how to remove and install components of the SC7020 series storage system. This information assumes that you have received the replacement component and are ready to install it.
Topics:
- Safety Precautions
- Bezel
- Hard Drives
- Power Supply and Cooling Fan Modules
- Rack Rails
- Power Up the Storage Center Hardware
Safety Precautions
Always follow these safety precautions to avoid injury and damage to Storage Center equipment.
If equipment described in this guide is used in a manner not specified by Dell , the protection provided by the equipment could be impaired. For your safety and protection, observe the rules described in the following sections.
NOTE: See the safety and regulatory information that shipped with each Storage Center component. Warranty information is included as a separate document.
Installation Safety Precautions
Follow these safety precautions when installing an SC7020 series storage system:
- Dell recommends that only individuals with rack-mounting experience install an SC7020 series storage system in a rack.
- When installing multiple expansion enclosures in a rack, fill the rack from the bottom up and empty the rack from the top down.
- The rack construction must support the total weight of the installed expansion enclosures. The design should incorporate stabilizing features suitable to prevent the rack from tipping or being pushed over during installation or in normal use.
- To prevent the rack from tipping, slide only one storage system out of the rack at a time.
- Make sure that the storage system is always fully grounded to prevent damage from electrostatic discharge.
- When handling the storage system components, use an electrostatic wrist guard or a similar form of protection.
Electrical Safety Precautions
Always follow electrical safety precautions to avoid injury and damage to Storage Center equipment.
- Provide a suitable power source with electrical overload protection. All Storage Center components must be grounded before applying power. Make sure that a safe electrical earth connection can be made to power supply cords. Check the grounding before applying power.
- The plugs on the power supply cords are used as the main disconnect device. Make sure that the socket outlets are located near the equipment and are easily accessible.
- Know the locations of the equipment power switches and the room’s emergency power-off switch, disconnection switch, or electrical outlet.
- Do not work alone when working with high-voltage components.
- Use rubber mats specifically designed as electrical insulators.
- Do not remove covers from the power supply unit. Disconnect the power connection before removing a power supply from the storage system.
- Do not remove a faulty power supply unless you have a replacement model of the correct type ready for insertion.
- Unplug the storage system chassis before you move it or if you think it has
- become damaged in any way. When powered by multiple AC sources, disconnect all power sources for complete isolation.
Electrostatic Discharge Precautions
Always follow electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions to avoid injury and damage to Storage Center equipment.
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is generated by two objects with different electrical charges coming into contact with each other.
The resulting electrical discharge can damage electronic components and printed circuit boards. Follow these guidelines to protect your equipment from ESD:
- Dell recommends that you always use a static mat and static strap while working on components in the interior of the chassis.
- Observe all conventional ESD precautions when handling plug-in modules and components.
- Use a suitable ESD wrist or ankle strap.
- Avoid contact with backplane components and module connectors.
- Keep all components and printed circuit boards (PCBs) in their antistatic bags until ready for use.
General Safety Precautions
Always follow general safety precautions to avoid injury and damage to Storage Center equipment.
- Keep the area around the storage system chassis clean and free of clutter.
- Place any system components that have been removed away from the storage system chassis or on a table so that they are not in the way of other people.
- While working on the storage system chassis, do not wear loose clothing such as neckties and unbuttoned shirt sleeves.
- These items can come into contact with electrical circuits or be pulled into a cooling fan.
- Remove any jewelry or metal objects from your body. These items are excellent metal conductors that can create short circuits and harm you if they come into contact with printed circuit boards or areas where power is present.
- Do not lift the storage system chassis by the handles of the power supply units (PSUs). They are not designed to hold the weight of the entire chassis, and the chassis cover could become bent.
- Before moving the storage system chassis, remove the PSUs to minimize weight.
- Do not remove drives until you are ready to replace them.
NOTE: To ensure proper storage system cooling, hard drive blanks must be installed in any hard drive slot that is not occupied.
Bezel
The front bezel is a cover for the front panel of the SC7020 series storage system.
Remove the Front Bezel
Before you remove or install hard drives in the storage system, remove the front bezel.
Steps
- Use the system key to unlock the keylock at the left end of the bezel.
- Lift the release latch next to the keylock.
- Rotate the left end of the bezel away from the front panel.
- Unhook the right end of the bezel and pull the bezel away from the storage system.
a. Keylock
b. Front bezel
Install the Front Bezel
To secure the storage system, install the front bezel.
Steps
- Hook the right end of the replacement bezel onto the front panel of the storage system.
- Insert the left end of the bezel into the securing slot until the release latch locks into place.
- Secure the bezel with the keylock.
Hard Drives
The SC7020 series storage system supports hot-swappable hard drives.
- In the SC7020 storage system, a minimum of 4 SSDs or 7 drives must be installed in the chassis or in an expansion enclosure.
- In the SC7020F storage system, a minimum of 4 SSDs must be installed in the chassis or in an expansion enclosure.
The drives are installed from left to right, and then top to bottom. The first row of drives are numbered from 0–4 from left to right, the second row of drives are numbered from 5–9 from left to right, and so on.
Storage Manager identifies drives as XX-YY, where XX is the number of the unit ID of the storage system and YY is the drive position inside the storage system.
Identify the Failed Drive
To determine which drive failed, use Storage Manager.
Steps
- Click the Hardware tab.
- In the Hardware tab navigation pane, select the Enclosures node.
- Click the Disks tab.
- Find the drive with the status of Down.
- Record the location of the drive from the Name column.
Remove the Failed Drive
Use this procedure to remove a failed drive from the SC7020 series storage system.
Prerequisites
- Before removing the drive, make sure that the following alert is displayed in the Alerts tab of Storage Manager: Drive # is ready to be removed., where # is the drive position in the storage system.
- Use Storage Manager to edit the Storage Center settings and set the operation mode of the Storage Center to Maintenance mode.
Steps
- Remove the front bezel from the storage system.
- Locate the failed hard drive in the storage system.
- Press the release button to open the hard drive carrier release handle.
- Slide the hard drive carrier out of the hard drive slot.
Install the Replacement Drive
Use this procedure to install a drive in the SC7020 series storage system.
Steps
- Open the release handle on the drive carrier and insert the hard drive carrier into the open drive slot.
- Slide the drive into the slot until the drive carrier contacts the midplane.
- Close the drive carrier handle to lock the drive in place.
- Continue to push firmly until you hear a click and the drive carrier handle fully engages.
- Clear the drive swap status from the Hardware tab in Storage Manager.
For instructions, see the Storage Manager Administrator’s Guide.
Next steps
- Install the front bezel on the storage system.
- Use Storage Manager to edit the Storage Center settings and set the operation mode of the Storage Center to Production mode.
- Use Storage Manager to send Support Assist information to Technical Support.
Power Supply and Cooling Fan Modules
The SC7020 series storage system supports two hot-swappable power supply/cooling fan modules.
The cooling fans that cool the storage system and the power supplies are integrated into the power supply/cooling fan module and cannot be replaced separately. If one power supply/cooling fan module fails, the second module continues to provide power to the storage system.
NOTE: When a power supply/cooling fan module fails, the cooling fan speed in the remaining module increases significantly to provide adequate cooling. The cooling fan speed decreases gradually when a new power supply/cooling fan module is installed
CAUTION: A single power supply/cooling fan module can be removed from a powered-on storage system for no more than 90 seconds. If a power supply/cooling fan module is removed for longer than 90 seconds, the storage system might shut down automatically to prevent damage.
Identify the Failed Power Supply
To determine which power supply failed, use Storage Manager.
Steps
- Click the Hardware tab.
- In the Hardware tab navigation pane, click Power Supply.
- Find the power supply with a status of Down.
- Record the location of the failed power supply.
Identify the Failed Cooling Fan
To determine which cooling fan failed, use Storage Manager.
Steps
- Click the Hardware tab.
- Click the Fan Sensor node.
- Find the fan with a status of Down.
- Record the location of the power supply in which the fan has failed.
Replace a Power Supply and Cooling Fan Module
Use this procedure to replace failed a power supply/cooling fan module.
Prerequisites
- Use Storage Manager to send Support Assist information to Technical Support.
- Use Storage Manager to edit the Storage Center settings and set the operation mode of the Storage Center to Maintenance mode.
About this task
You can replace power supply/cooling fan modules one at a time without shutting down the storage system.
Steps
- Press the power switch on the power supply/cooling fan module to turn it off.
To prevent the module from overheating, replace it within 3 minutes. - Remove the hook-and-loop strap that secures the power cable to the LED handle and disconnect the power cable from the power supply/cooling fan module
- Push the release tab on the power supply/cooling fan module to the right and use the handle to slide the module out of the chassis.
CAUTION: The power supply/cooling fan modules are heavy. To avoid injury, use both hands while removing the module.
1. Power supply/cooling fan module
2. Power socket
3. Release tab
4. Power supply/cooling fan module LED handle
5. Power switch - Slide the replacement power supply/cooling fan module into the chassis until it is fully seated and the release tab clicks into place.
- Connect the power cable to the power supply/cooling fan module and make sure the cable is plugged into a power outlet.
- Secure the power cable using the hook-and-loop strap.
- Press the power switch on the power supply/cooling fan module to turn it on.
NOTE: Allow several seconds for the storage system to recognize the power supply/cooling fan module and determine its status. When the power supply/cooling fan module is functioning properly, the AC power status indicator turns green and the power supply/cooling fan status indicator is off.
- In Storage Manager, make sure that the replacement power supply is recognized and shows as up and running
Next steps
- Use Storage Manager to edit the Storage Center settings and set the operation mode of the Storage Center to Production mode.
- Use Storage Manager to send Support Assist information to Technical Support.
Rack Rails
Rack rails are used to install the storage controller into a rack
Remove the Rack Rails
Prerequisites
- Use Support Assist to send diagnostic data to Technical Support.
- Shut down the storage system using the Storage Manager Client.
About this task
NOTE: Replacing rack rails must be performed during a scheduled maintenance window when the Storage Center system is unavailable to the network.
Steps
- Make sure all the cables are labeled.
- Disconnect all of the cables from the storage system.
- Loosen the screws in the chassis ears that secure the chassis to the rack.
- Remove the storage system from the rack.
- Remove the rack rails from the rack.
Install the Rack Rails
Perform the following steps to install rack rails for an SC7020 series storage system.
Steps
- Install the replacement rack rails in the rack.
- Install the storage system in the rack.
- Tighten the screws in the chassis ears that secure the chassis to the rack.
- Reconnect the cables to the storage system.
- Start up the storage system.
Next steps
Use Support Assist to send diagnostic data to Technical Support.
Power Up the Storage Center Hardware
Perform these steps to power up the Storage Center hardware after powering off the hardware or after a power outage.
About this task
If the Storage Center hardware includes expansion enclosures, turn on the expansion enclosures first, then turn on the storage system.
Steps
- Connect the storage system and any expansion enclosures to a power source.
- Turn on any expansion enclosures attached to the Storage Center.
NOTE: After an expansion enclosure is powered on, its ID number is displayed on the back panel. If you want the expansion enclosures IDs to appear in sequential order, turn on each expansion enclosure one at a time, in the order that you want the IDs to appear.
a. Press both power switches on the back of the expansion enclosure at the same time to turn on the expansion enclosure.
The status indicator on the front of the expansion enclosure turns blue when the expansion enclosure is powered up and operational.
b. Power on any additional expansion enclosures attached to the Storage Center, waiting for each expansion enclosure to become operational before turning on the next expansion enclosure. - After all the expansion enclosures are powered on, turn on the storage system by pressing both power switches on the back of the chassis.
SC7020 Series Storage System Technical Specifications
This appendix contains the technical specifications for the SC7020 series storage system.
Topics:
- Technical Specifications
Technical Specifications
The following tables provide technical specifications for the SC7020 series storage systems:
Drives
SC7020: SAS hard drives | Up to 30 2.5-in. SAS hot-swappable HDDs (12 Gb SAS) |
SC7020F: SAS SSDs | Up to 30 2.5-in. SAS hot-swappable SSDs (12 Gb SAS) |
Storage Controllers
Storage controllers | Two hot-swappable storage controllers with one mezzanine card and three I/O card slots per storage controller. Each storage controller has an internal battery backup unit. Write cache is mirrored between the two storage controllers. If a power failure occurs, the battery backup unit provides power to the storage controller so that the write cache can be saved to an SSD within the storage controller. |
Storage Connectivity
Configurations | SC7020: Supports a total of 606 drives and 192 drives per SAS chain. Each SAS chain supports up to sixteen SC400 expansion enclosures, eight SC420 expansion enclosures, three SC460 expansion enclosures, and two SC280 expansion enclosures. SC7020F: Supports a total of 606 SSDs and up to 192 SSDs per SAS chain. Each SAS chain supports up to eight SC420F expansion enclosure. |
Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)
Controller | Two hot-swappable storage controllers |
Management | RAID management using the Storage Manager |
Back-Panel Ports Connectors (per Storage Controller)
Fibre Channel or iSCSI front-end connectors | Connection to a Fiber Channel fabric or iSCSI network |
Ethernet connectors | MGMT – 1 Gbps or 10 Gbps embedded Ethernet port used for Storage Center management |
SAS back-end connectors | 12 Gb SAS ports for connections to expansion enclosures NOTE:![]() |
Serial connector (micro USB) | Used for initial configuration and support-only functions |
LED Indicators
Front panel |
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Hard drive carrier |
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Storage controller |
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Power supply/cooling fan | One dual-color LED handle indicating power supply and cooling fan status |
Power Supply Units (PSU) | PSU Type 1 | PSU Type 2 (Japan Only) |
Maximum output power | 1485 W | 1485 W |
Maximum input power | 1688 W | 1707 W |
Maximum input current | 8.8 A | 17.5 A |
Maximum inrush current | 55 A for 10 ms or less | 55 A for 10 ms or less |
Nominal input voltage operating range | 200–240 VAC | 100–240 VAC |
Nominal input frequency | 50/60 Hz | 50/60 Hz |
Thermal output/heat dissipation | 693 BTU per hour | 757 BTU per hour |
Inlet type | C14 | C20 |
Available Hard Drive Power (Per Slot)
Supported hard drive power consumption | Up to 1.2 A at +5 V |
(continuous) | Up to 0.5 A at +12 V |
Physical
Height | 13.34 cm (5.25 in.) |
Width | 44.50 cm (17.5 in.) |
Depth | 78.27 cm (31 in.) |
Approximate weight (maximum configuration) | 45 kg (100 lb) |
Approximate weight without drives | 35 kg (77 lb) |
Environmental
For additional information about environmental measurements for specific storage system configurations, see https://www.dell.com/environmental_datasheets.
Temperature | |
Operating | 10°C (50°F) to 35°C (95°F) with a maximum temperature gradation of 20°C/ hour (36°F/hour) Operating above 35°C could result in data loss |
Storage | –40° to 65°C (–40° to 149°F) at a maximum altitude of 12,000 m (39,370 ft) |
Relative humidity | |
Operating | 10% to 80% (noncondensing) with 29°C (84.2°F) maximum dew point |
Storage | 5% to 95% (noncondensing) with 33°C (91°F) maximum dew point |
Maximum vibration |
Environmental
Operating | 0.26 Grms at 5–350 Hz for 15 min |
Storage | 1.88 Grms at 10–500 Hz for 15 min |
Maximum shock Operating | 31 G +/- 5% with pulse duration of 2.6 ms +/- 10% (equivalent to 20 in./sec [51 cm/sec]) |
Storage | 71 G +/- 5% with pulse duration of 2 ms +/- 10% (equivalent to 35 in./sec [89 cm/sec]) |
Altitude Operating | 3,048 m (10,000 ft) ≤35°C (95°F) Maximum Rating – Maximum temperature is reduced by 1°C/300 m (1°F/547 ft) above 950 m (3,117 ft) |
Storage | 12,000 m (39,370 ft) |
Airborne Contaminant Level Class | G1 or lower as defined by ISA-S71.04-1985 |
Documents / Resources
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DELLEMC SC7020 Storage Array : Disk Arrays [pdf] Owner's Manual SC7020 Storage Array Disk Arrays, SC7020, Storage Array Disk Arrays, Array Disk Arrays, Disk Arrays, Arrays |