EMC Vmax Architecture : Detailed Explanation

Welcome back to my blog.After I started this blog,I am getting requests to

publish a post about 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 V-Max 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.

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