ISM v5
Popular protocols?
-Ethernet -TCP/IP -Fibre Channel (FC) -Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP) -Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) -NVMe over Fabrics
What are the two DIY approaches and explain each of them?
-Greenfield method: new environment from scratch, "new grass" -Brownfield method: repurposing old HW, updating & upgrading as needed, "old grass"
TCP/IP layers (transmission control protocol and Internet protocol)
-Hardware -Network Interface/Internet -Transport -Application
SCM
-High-performance non-volatile storage that addresses the performance needs to support digital transformation. -A new tier to the storage hierarchy, one that features memory-like performance at storage-like cost. -Slower than DRAM but read and write speeds are over 10 times faster than flash and can support higher IOPS while offering comparable throughput.
NVMe
-High-performance software interface for PCI express solid-state drives (SSDs) that use non-volatile memory (NVM). -Takes advantage of the microsecond latency provided by all-flash arrays and eliminates the SCSI bottleneck. -Offers greater storage throughput and lower latency
Physical components that connect compute to storage?
-Hot bus adapter -port -switches -cable
Data Center as a Service (DCaaS)
-IT operations: offload maintenance and refocus on value-added services -IT Architects: offload everything including initial deployment, patching and upgrades of the software, hardware and monitoring to simplify operations -IT Security: can uniformly apply security policies, eliminating the need to track and secure workloads that span multiple environments -IT decision makers: can negotiate one contract with one vendor for all core and edge data center needs
What are all the different types of storage?
-Magnetic tape drive: thin plastic film with a magnetic coating -HDD: circular disk with a ferromagnetic coating -SSD: a semiconductor-based memory -NVMe: High-performance software interface for PCI express solid-state drives (SSDs) that use non-volatile memory (NVM). -SCM: High-performance non-volatile storage that addresses the performance needs to support digital transformation -NVRAM: Subset of the larger category of non-volatile memory (NVM), which includes storage-class memory based on NAND flash.
OSI
-Open Systems Interconnection reference model -logical communications protocol for standardized network communication operation
7 layers of OSI model
-Physical (physical media) -Data link (local switching, MAC address) -Network (routing, IP addresses) -Transport (sequencing & integrity) -Session (app level connection & coordination) -Presentation (syntactic data representation) -Application (app interface to lower functions/interface)
What is RAID?
-Redundant Array of Independent Disks -a technique that combines multiple disk drives into a logical unit (RAID set) and provides protection, performance, or both.
Types of ISS?
-SAN storage (block) -NAS (file) -Object-based Storage Device (OSD) -Unified Storage
Benefits of App Virtualization
-Simplified application deployment and management - Eliminate OS modifications -Resolve application conflicts and compatibility issues -Simplified OS image management -Flexibility of application access
What are the key features of an Intelligent Storage System (ISS)
-Smart: ML to optimize performance & reduce cost -Fast: performance -Efficient: Scale up & out architecture -Trusted: data is always protected and available
What does SSD or EFD stand for?
-Solid State Drive -Enterprise Flash Drive
What is SAN and name examples of products that use SAN?
-Storage Area Network, a block-based storage system -PowerStore -PowerMax
Compute-to-Storage Connectivity
-Storage may be connected directly to a compute system or over a SAN -Connectivity and communication between compute and storage are enabled through physical components and interface protocols
HDD
-Stores data on a circular disk with a ferromagnetic coating. -Provides random read/write access. -Most popular storage device with large storage capacity.
SSD
-Stores data on a semiconductor-based memory. -Very low latency per I/O, low power requirements, and very high throughput. -Architecture is much sturdier, so the data is not so vulnerable to loss or damage.
Describe Magnetic Tape Drive
-Stores data on a thin plastic film with magnetic coating -provides only sequential data access -low-cost solution for long term data storage -for archiving
NVRAM
-Subset of the larger category of non-volatile memory (NVM), which includes storage-class memory based on NAND flash. -Used to store information about state of the components and devices in the computer for fast booting.
Rotational latency
-The time taken by the platter to rotate and position the data under the R/W head -affected by type you buy, more speed = better performance
Examples of CI products?
-VxBlock: uses VMware hypervisor, Cisco servers and switches and EMC storage -Ready Stack: VMware vSphere with PowerStore Storage
Examples of HCI products and describe them?
-VxRail: For VMware only and uses vSAN for storage, powerEdge servers running VMware -PowerFlex: Dell EMC solution and uses PowerFlex OS for storage, is heterogeneous
What is NAS and name examples of products that use NAS?
-a dedicated, high-performance file sharing and storage device -PowerStore -PowerScale
What is unified storage and what are some examples of products?
-a single storage system that consolidates block-level, file-level, and object-level access and is managed centrally. -Unity/PowerStore -PowerMax
Hyper-converged Infrastructure (HCI)
-combines the datacenter components of compute, storage, virtualization, and storage networking into a distributed infrastructure platform, managed by software. -Software-defined -no SAN/external storage
What is an SSD and what are its internal components?
-data storage devices that use non-volatile flash storage to store data persistently -I/O interface (connects the power & data connectors to SSDs), controller (includes RAM, NVRAM and drive controller), mass storage (pooled non-volatile flash drives)
What is an Object-Based Storage Device and what is an example of a product?
-stores data in the form of objects on a flat address space -ECS
SDDC Architecture
1) Service plane - Allows a user to request or order a service from the catalog in a self-service way. vRealize Automation 2) Management place -Used to perform administrative operations such as configuring a system and changing policies; orchestration 3) control pane - Provides the programming logic and policies that the data plane follows to perform its operations. Out of band 4) data plane - Performs the data processing and I/O operations aka in band
Which of the following statement is correct about converged and hyperconverged infrastructure? Choose all that apply. a. CI is a self-contained unit that can be deployed independently, or aggregated with other packages to meet additional capacity and performance requirements. b. Hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) combines the datacenter components of compute, storage, virtualization, and storage networking into a distributed infrastructure platform, managed by software. c. Converged infrastructure is a software-defined infrastructure which is more flexible and scalable than hyperconverged infrastructure. d. IT components that make up a data center can be packaged into a single, standalone computing box, called hyperconverged infrastructure.
A & B
What is a cylinder in a HDD?
A logical group of tracks in the same location
Network Router
A network device that uses IP addresses and makes the connection between end devices across different networks
What determines the portion of an IP addresses used to indicate the network or host address?
A subnet mask
Storage Virtualization
A technique of abstracting physical storage resources to create virtual storage resources.
Which is a SAN storage system? a. NAS-based storage system b. Block-based storage system c. File-based storage system d. Object-based storage system
B
What are spinning disks mostly used for?
Backup and Archiving
3 cross-layer functions of a Modern Data Center Architecture
Business continuity, security and management
Types of files in a VM
Configuration file, Virtual Disk File (VMDK), Memory State File and Log File
Container vs VM
Container - Shared OS, small image footprint, Quick start times, stateless, easily portable VMs - Separate OS, Large image footprint, Full boots, stateful, not easily portable (exports/conversions/etc)
What does compute virtualization create and how is it achieved?
Creates VMs and is achieved by a hypervisor which is virtualization software installed on a physical compute system
Network Virtualization
Creates logical, virtual networks that are decoupled from the underlying network hardware to ensure the network can better integrate with and support increasingly virtual environments
VDI
Desktop Virtualization Infrastructure
DAE
Disk Array Enclosure aka a shelf
Compute-to-Compute Connectivity
Each physical compute system is connected to a network through one or more host interface devices, called a network interface card (NIC)
Global caching?
Every request must be satisfied by cache
What is the "case" in an HDD?
HDA (Head and disk assembly)
Converged Infrastructure (CI)
IT components that make up a data center can be packaged into a single, standalone computing box, called converged infrastructure
What is the LBA in an HDD?
Logical Block Address "dumbed down address" for us to interpret -simplified # for the app to ask for
Which SDDC architecture plane performs administrative operations such as configuring a system and changing policies?
Management plane
Which storage device uses high-performance software interface for PCI express solid-state drives (SSDs).
NVMe
IP
Network layer of the OSI model and at the Internet layer of the TCP/IP model.
NVMe
Non-volatile Memory Express (a standardized high-performance software interface for PCI express SSDs that use nonvolatile memory (NVM) -eliminates SCSI bottleneck
Router
OSI layer-3 device that enables different networks to communicate with each other
Which data center architecture layer provides workflows for executing automated tasks to accomplish business outcomes?
Orchestration
What is the CHS in an HDD?
Physical Address (cylinder head sector) -the address of each sector
Components of HDD
Platter, Spindle, read/write head, actuator arm assembly, controller board
What are all the raid levels?
RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 1/0, RAID 5, RAID 6
Which compute system contains multiple servers stacked vertically in an enclosure?
Rack-mounted
How do you calculate Disk Service Time?
Seek Time (time that is taken to position R/W heads across the platter) + Rotational Latency (the time taken by the platter to rotate and position the data under the R/W head) + Data transfer rate (avg amount of data per unit time that the drive can deliver to the HBA)
What are the components of an ISS?
Storage and Controller
Server-centric Storage Architecture (Internal DAS)
Storage devices are connected directly to the servers and are typically internal to the server
Information-centric Storage Architecture (SAN)
Storage devices exist independently of servers, and are managed centrally and shared between multiple compute systems
What is a stripe?
The set of aligned strips that spans across all the disks within the RAID set
Configuration File
Type of VM file - stores the VM's configuration data
Memory State File
Type of VM file - stores the memory contents of a VM and is used to resume a VM that is in a suspended state
Log file
Type of VM file - used to keep a record of the VMs activity and is often used for troubleshooting purposes
VMDK
Virtual Machine Disk File - stores the content of a VMs disk drive
VMM
Virtual machine manager - abstracts physical hardware and presents it to the VM
What is a "sector" in a HDD?
a chunk of data
What is a controller?
a compute system that runs a purpose-built operating system that is responsible for performing several key functions for the storage system.
What is Parity in RAID?
a method to protect striped data from disk drive failure without the cost of mirroring, a mathematical construct that allows recreation of the missing data. -a redundancy technique that ensures protection of data without maintaining a full set of duplicate data.
App Virtualization
a technique of decoupling an application from the underlying computing platform (operating system and hardware) to enable the application to be used on a compute system without installation
What is Striping in RAID?
a technique of spreading data across multiple drives in order to use the drives in parallel
What is mirroring in RAID?
a technique whereby the same data is stored on two or more disks resulting in multiple copies of the data.
What is an Object ID?
allows easy access to objects without the need to specify their storage locations.
Containerization
an OS-level virtualization method that simplifies application development and requires fewer resources than virtual machines
Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC)
an architectural approach to IT infrastructure that extends virtualization concepts such as abstraction, pooling, and automation to all of the data center's resources and services to achieve IT as a service
Why should you use flash storage?
better performance, lower OpEx due to lower costs in cooling, etc. and higher throughput , reduced CapEx costs, faster decision making
Cache
built-in memory
What is the function of a host bus adapter?
connects compute system to storage or SAN
Cloud-native Apps or Modern Apps
consist of a set of business-related functional parts, called microservices, that are assembled with specific rules and best practices
Traditional Apps
designed for desktop first, and then extended to other devices as necessary
Switch
enables different compute systems in the network to communicate with each other
Intelligent storage system (ISS)
feature-rich storage array that provides highly optimized I/O processing capabilities
What does it mean when a full stroke occurs on a HDD?
going from inside track to outside track on a platter
Thin provisioning
grow as you go mentally, virtual provisioning, saves space and money
Hot Bus Adapter (HBA)
host interface device that connects a compute system to storage or to a SAN.
VM
logical compute system with virtual hardware on which a supported guest OS and apps run
Cache redundancy?
mirroring and vaulting
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) approach
organizations integrate the best in class infrastructure components including hardware and software that is purchased from different vendors
5 logical layers of a Modern Data Center Architecture
physical infrastructure, virtual infrastructure, software-defined infrastructure, orchestration, and services
Protocol
set of functions based on a set of rules.
Vendor Ready Solutions
single management software capable of managing all hardware and software within the package
Hypervisor
software that allows multiple OSs to share and run concurrently on a single compute system
Compute Virtualization
technique of abstracting physical compute hardware from the OS and apps enabling multiple OS to run concurrently on a single or clustered physical compute system
Desktop Virtualization
technology that decouples the OS, applications and user state from a physical compute system to create a virtual desktop environment that can be accessed from any client device
What is Data Transfer Rate?
the average amount of data per unit time that the drive can deliver to the HBA
What is seek time?
the time that is taken to position the R/W heads across the platter with a radial movement.
What are some examples of Software-Defined Storage (SDS)?
vSAN & PowerFlex OS