Chapter 1: Memory Array Hardware Installation
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Violin 6000 Series Memory Array Installation Guide
535-0045-00 Rev 02
Each Array Controller Module (ACM) provides two PCIe x8 Gen2 ports, each of which has a 40
Gbps nominal bit rate. The Memory Array has two ACMs, with all four of the ports available to host
computers.
Multiple direct-attached storage configurations are available depending on the number of hosts and
whether the hosts require shared access to the volumes or LUNs within the Array. Typical
configurations are:
• Single Host: single or dual PCIe x8 connections from the host to the Memory Array.
• Two Hosts: single or dual PCIe x8 connections from each host to the Memory Array. Each
host has access to all volumes and flash on the Memory Array. Data may be shared.
Drivers for Direct-attached Configurations
A driver must be installed on the host machine if the Memory Array is directly attached to a Linux
or Windows host. In a direct-attached configuration, the Violin Memory driver enables the host
machine to access block storage on a Violin Memory Array.
See “Violin Drivers” in the Violin 6000 Series Memory Array User’s Guide for instructions on
installing the Linux driver. When available, a driver for Windows and the installation instructions can
be downloaded from the Violin Memory Customer Support site.
Direct Attached, Single Host
A direct-attached connection to a single host machine via dual PCIe x8 connections is supported.
For a dual configuration, the second PCIe x8 connection is required. This configuration also
increases system availability and bandwidth.
For improved High Availability (HA) protection, all four ports (two on each ACM) can be connected
to a single host for redundancy, as shown in Figure 1.4. The second set of connections present
another disk device with the same addressability as the first disk device. For a Linux system, the
device is shown as /dev/vtmsa.
Connect one PCIe cable to the top PCIe connector on one of the ACMs, and connect the other PCIe
cable to the bottom of the same ACM. Repeat these connections for the other ACM.
Figure 1.4 Direct-Attached to Single Host for Redundancy
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