External storage systems

An external storage system, or storage controller, is a device that coordinates and controls the operation of one or more disk drives. A storage system synchronizes the operation of the drives with the operation of the system as a whole.

The management GUI can be used to detect and configure internally attached storage to be used for virtualization. For external storage, you can migrate data only to internal storage. The system supports storage system migration through SAS and iSCSI connections, but requires an appropriate optional host interface adapter to communicate with storage systems that are attached with Fibre Channel connections. The system does not require a license for its own control and expansion enclosures. However, a license is required for each enclosure of any external storage systems that are being virtualized. For example, if the system is made up of one control enclosure, one expansion enclosure, and one virtualized storage system that is itself made up of two enclosures, two licenses are required.

In general, pools that consist of single-port attached systems are not supported. However, in some cases, specifically on HP StorageWorks MA and EMA systems that contain RAID partitions, the only way that these systems can be attached to the Storwize® V3700 is through single-port attach mode.