Life in the Data Center

Initializing your CX4 Array

So you got your CX4 cabled, power attached, and ready to start up.  Go ahead and flip on each SPS.  Let it start and give it plenty of time.  Be sure each SP’s light is steady green and there are there are no amber or red lights blinking.

Now find the “Navisphere Storage System Initialization Utility” CD.  Initializing allow you to access the array from the networking using a web browser.  It may be on the server support CD or may be the CD that says “install me first”.  Follow the instructions that say install products on server.

1. Connect each SP to a very basic network switch.  Nothing special, just a 10/100/ switch, and connect your laptop to it.  Give your laptop an IP address.  Anyone will do.  The array and laptop need to be on the same physical subnet.
2. Start the Initialization Utility: Start, Programs, EMC, Navisphere, Navaisphere Storage System Initialization.
3. The utility will automatically search for uninitialized storage systems.  They are identified by serial number.  Check the back of your CX4 and verify.  Especially if you did not do #1 and have it connected to your network.
4. Select the serial number from the Uninitialized Systems list.  Provide the information the utility requests.  It is all IP address stuff.  Use the IP addresses that you want to use once you have it connected to your network.
5. It likely will want to reboot the array.  Let it.
6. Connect the array and your laptop to your network.  Update the IP on your laptop if necessary.  Pull up a browser and browse to the IP address of SPA.  You should get Navisphere login.  Go a head and browse to SPB.  You should get a Navisphere login.
7. Register your array!

BAM!  Your ready for the next steps.  Which is to update the array with any patches and/or enable additional software.   More on both in a later post.