Dell poweredge VRTX - Overview of Poweredge VRTX Shared Storage Expansion Configurations

2 Overview of PowerEdge VRTX shared storage expansion
configurations
The Dell PowerEdge VRTX system supports the following three storage expansion configurations:
1. Single Shared PowerEdge RAID Controller (PERC) 8 External card configuration
- This configuration consists of single Shared PERC External card in the VRTX chassis
connecting to one of two MD1200 or MD1220 storage enclosures.
- It does not provide fault tolerance to SAS domain.
- The cable topology recommended in this configuration enables you to easily upgrade to Fault
Tolerant configuration.
2. Non-Fault Tolerant Dual Shared PERC 8 External card configuration
- This configuration consists of two Shared PERC External cards in the VRTX chassis, each
connecting to one of two MD1200 or MD1220 storage enclosures.
- It does not provide fault tolerance to the storage subsystems.
- Each Shared PERC 8 External card controls separate and independent storage subsystem.
3. Fault Tolerant Dual Shared PERC 8 External card configuration
- This configuration consists of two Shared PERC 8 External cards in the VRTX chassis with
cabling topology that supports up to two MD1200 or MD1220 storage enclosures in a Fault
Tolerant mode.
- The shared PERC cards are configured in an active-passive mode. Both the cards can access
the storage subsystem. However, only the active controller will provide data access. If the
active Shared PERC 8 card fails, the passive Shared PERC 8 card takes control in a seamless
transition.
5 Upgrading PowerEdge VRTX to Support Shared Storage Expansion