EMC Vmax Architecture : Detailed

Explanation
Welcome back to my blog.After I started this blog,I am getting requests to publish a post
about EMC Vmax architecture.Finally I am publishing this post about vmax architecture.
Note:
Currently there are 3 types of EMC Vmax available EMC Vmax 10K,EMC Vmax 20K and
EMC Vmax 40K.This article describing the general architecture of Vmax models.
Symmetrix Vmax is EMCs prestigious product.Compared to the previous models, Vmax has
been optimized for increased availability,performance and capacity utilization on all tiers
with all RAID types.Vmaxs enhanced device configuration and replication operations results
in easier,faster and more efficient management of large virtual and physical environment.
The main architectural difference between DMX and Vmax model is that vmax has engine
concept.In DMX model,we have different hardware for front end(FA director),back end(DA
director) and memory modules.But in Vmax all these hardwares are integrated together and is
knows as Vmax Engine.
A EMC Vmax storage array support from 1 to maximum of 8 Vmax engines.Each of these
engines contains two symmetrix vmax directors.
Each director includes
- 8 multi-core CPUs (total 16 per engine)
Cache memory(global memory)
Front end I/O modules
Back end I/O modules
System Interface Module(SIB)
Apart from this,each engine has redundant power supplies,cooling fans,standby power
supplies(SPS) and environmental modules.All these engines are interconnected
usingVmax Matrix Interface Board Enclosure(MIBE).Each director has two connection to
MIBE via system interface module(SIB) ports as shown below.

Multi-core CPUs:
Multi-Core CPUs deliver new levels of performance and functionality in a smaller footprint
with reduced power and cooling requirements.Each director has 8 multi core CPUs and
a total of 16 CPUs per engine.

Cache memory(global memory):

Each director can be configured with 16, 32 or 64 GB of physical memory. Of this, a small
portion (4 GB) is reserved for local processing, and the rest constitutes Global Memory.
Global Memory on any given director is always mirrored to another director in the system.So
the minimum usable memory will be 16 GB(total 32GB, on a single engine configuration)
and maximum will be 512GB (total 1024GB,fully loaded eight VMAX Engines system)
Memory
is
accessible
by
any
director
within
the
system:
If a system has a single VMAX Engine, physical memory mirrors are internal to the
enclosure.
If a system has multiple VMAX Engines, physical memory mirrors are provided between
enclosures.

Front End I/O Module :

Front end modules are used for host connectivity.Host connectivity via Fibre Channel, iSCSI
and FICON are supported.

Back End I/O Module :

Back end module provide access to the disk drives.Disks drives are configured under these
I/O modules.

System Interface Module(SIB):

SIBs are responsible for interconnecting the Vmax engines directors through Matrix
Interface Board Enclosure(MIBE).Each Vmax engine has two SIBs and each has two
ports.
Similar to DMX3 and DMX4 arrays,Vmax has two types of bays
1. System bay :
System bay contains all Vmax engines.Apart from Vmax engines,it contains system bay
standby power supplies(SPS), Uninterrupted Power Supply(UPS),Matrix Interface Board
Enclosure (MIBE), and a Server (Service Processor) with Keyboard- Video-Mouse (KVM)
assembly.
2. Storage bay :
The Symmetrix V-Max array Storage Bay is similar to the Storage Bay of the DMX-3 and
DMX-4 systems. It consists of eight to sixteen Drive Enclosures, 48 to 240 drives, eight (8)
SPS modules, and unique cabling when compared with the DMX Series. The Symmetrix VMax array Storage Bay is configured with capacities of up to 120 disk drives for a half
populated bay or 240 disk drives for a fully populated bay. Drives, LCCs, power supplies,
and blower modules are fully redundant and hot swappable and are enclosed inside Disk
Array Enclosure(DAE).One DAE holds 15 physical disk drives and one storage bay has total
16 DAEs(hence a storage bay has maximum of 240 disk, 16*15)

Vmax Engine Front View :

Below is a Vmax engine front view.As described above,Vmax engines are located in Vmax
system bay.We can see the power supplies located at two sides and cooling fan module
located in middle.

Vmax Engine Rear View :

This example displays the rear view of the V-Max Engine.

As explained earlier each V-Max Engine contains two director boards named here as Odd
and Even director, four Front End I/O Modules, four Back End I/O Modules and two System
Interface Boards (SIB). The Back End I/O Modules are numbered as Module 0 and Module
1. The System Interface Boards are named as Modules 2 and 3. The Front End I/O Modules
are
numbered
as
Module
4
and
Module
5.
The top director board combined with the left Front End I/O Modules 4 and 5 represents the
even numbered director.The bottom director board combined with the right Front End I/O
Modules 4 and 5 represents the odd numbered director. For example, if this is engine 4 the
top director would be director number 8 and the bottom director would be director number 7.

Vmax Engine Port Assignment :

This is a typical Vmax port assignment diagram

Above diagram contains port assignment of System Interface Board, the Back End I/O
Modules, and the Front End I/O Modules.As I explained earlier Vmax engines are
interconnected using MIBE using System Interface Board ports Port A and Port B.Using
these ports all directors communicate through the Virtual Matrix via redundant connections.
Each director within a V-Max Engine contains two Back End I/O Modules. Each Back End
I/O Module has a single port, which holds a single Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable
(QSFP) connector. The QSFP connector cable contains 4 smaller cables ,each have a
connection to four Drive Enclosures, providing Back End Fibre Channel connectivity to the
disk drives. On Back End I/O Module 0 these connections are designated as A0, A1, B0, and
B1. On Back End I/O Module 1, these connections are designated as C0, C1, D0, and D1.
Each director also contains two Front End I/O Modules. The port designations on the Front
End I/O Module will vary based on the interface type. This example represents four Fibre
Channel Front End I/O Modules. In this ,configuration module 4 will contain ports E0, E1,
F0, and F1. Module 5 will contain ports G0, G1, H0, and H1.
As we discussed previously, the left two Front End I/O Modules are connected to the even
numbered director. If it is Engine 4(director number associated with engine 4 is director 7
and 8), then the first port on the left most module 4 would be director 8 port E0. This is a
significant departure from other Symmetrix systems and is a result of the overall increased
port count in the Symmetrix V-Max array.

Vmax Engine Configuration with Storage Bays:

Now lets have a look at how the vmax engine configures along with storage bay.I am giving
pictorial representation, from one vmax engine to 8 vmax engine configuration along with
storage bays.This is the standard EMC recommended configuration layout.
1. One Vmax engine with storage bay:

The Symmetrix V-Max array requires at least one V-Max Engine in the System Bay. As
shown, the first engine in the System Bay will always be Engine 4 as counted starting at
1 from the bottom of the System Bay. In this example,Engine 4 has two half populated
Storage Bays. One bay is directly attached and the second is a daisy chain attached Storage
Bay. This allows for a total of 240 drives. To populate the upper half of these Storage Bays
with drives you will need to add another V-Max Engine.
2.Two Vmax engine with storage bay:

In this example, the system has been expanded to include Engine 5. This allows the top half
of both Storage Bays to be populated with drives. This represents the correct order for adding
V-Max Engines to the System Bay. V-Max Engines are added from the middle, starting with
4, then 5, then 3.
3.Three Vmax engine with storage bay:

Again, working from the middle out the system has been expanded. The next V-Max Engine
is 3, allowing the attachment of two additional Storage Bays. This allows for a total of 720
drives.
4.Four Vmax engine with storage bay:

5.Five Vmax engine with storage bay:

6.Six Vmax engine with storage bay:

7.Seven Vmax engine with storage bay:

8.Eight Vmax engine with storage bay: (Fully populated)

Now that we have the general idea, lets take a look at how a system gets fully populated.
Still working from the inside,out alternating above and below Engine 4, each engine is added
until the System Bay is fully populated with 8 V-Max Engines. As more engines are added
the corresponding Storage Bays are added. In this example, the color coding indicates the
relationship between the engines and their associated Storage Bays. Fully populated, this
configuration allows for a total of 2,400. You will notice that Engines 1, 2, 7, and 8 each
manage two daisy chain attached Storage Bays. This represents a supported system
implementation, not a design limitation.
I tried to cover is,only the EMC Vmax architectural part in this post,not all Vmax features.I
will be writing more post related to Vmax features later. Hope now you got an idea about
Vmax architecture.

EMC Vmax Models EMC

Vmax10K,20K,40K A Comparison
Driven by constant data growth, todays storage platforms must efficiently accommodate
much larger capacities and higher performance while leveraging the best of emerging
technologies. EMC Vmax storage systems are best products which satisfy all over current
storage industry needs with its high performance, increased availability and optimized
capacity utilization on all tiers with all RAID types.
In my previous post,I have explained about EMC Vmax architecture. Currently there are 3
EMC Vmax models available in market.They are
1. EMC Vmax 10K
2.EMC Vmax 20K
3.EMC Vmax 40K
Here is a quick comparison of these 3 models with respect to some of ht key features.
Specifications
VMAX 10K
Engines
upto 4
Total Cache
Max 512 GB

VMAX 20K
upto 8
Max 1TB

VMAX 40K
upto 8
Max 2TB

Total Virtual
matrix band
200GB/s
width
maximum drive
1,560
count

192GB/s

400GB/s

3,200

3,200

4 PB (3.5 drives) and

2.8 PB (2.5 drives)
4 PB (3.5 drives) and
Usable Capacity 1.5 PB
2 PB
2.8 PB (2.5 drives)
Fibre Channel
Fibre Channel
Fibre Channel
Disk technology
Disks,Enterprise Flash Disks,Enterprise Flash Disks,Enterprise Flash
Supported
Disks,SAS,SATA drives Disks,SAS,SATA drives Disks,SAS,SATA drives
Front-end Ports 64
128
128
Local
TimeFinder,
TimeFinder,
TimeFinder,
Replication
RecoverPoint
RecoverPoint
RecoverPoint
Remote
SRDF, RecoverPoint
SRDF, RecoverPoint
SRDF, RecoverPoint
Replication
Usable Capacity 1.5 PB

2 PB