Comments (7)

By admin, April 3, 2012 1:24 pm

I had  a WebEX session with US Equallogic Support yesterday, I saw the followings when he had direct access to EQL PS6000XV console.

cli-child-3.2# uname -a
NetBSD 1.6.2 NetBSD 1.6.2 (EQL.PSS)

Also during the booting process of PS6000XV, the active controller module shows 4 cores

All slave cpus (16) ack’ed userapp init
count = 4, total =4
All slave cpus (4) ack’ed message ring init

For a list of undocumented Equallogic CLI commands, see this link.

I was also told the CPU of PS4000 series is dual-cores, that’s why it’s slower than PS6000 series in terms of performance.

Comments (0)

By admin, April 2, 2012 9:45 pm

I noticed the latest Poweredge R720 is already available on Dell’s page, but after study the specs a bit, I think I will skip the 12th generation for the time being.

Mainly because Xeon E5 is very similar to Xeon 5600, it’s still 32nm, it only has 2 more cores (ie, 8 cores) and a bit more cache. (ie, 2.5MB/core vs 2MB/core) and the performance is not impressive at all, the extra 2 cores only contributes to the additional 40% in VMMark benchmark. Not to mention CPU is never a bottleneck after all, I/O and Memory are!

Yes, it has 24 dimms vs 16 dimms R710, so that’s 64GB more with 8GB DIMM being the main stream now, but ESX 5.0 Enterprise Plus has a 96GB per socket glass ceiling, so no point here to upgrade again.

The only two things can really sell are:

1. A lot more disks can be fitted into the 2U now than before, 12 x 3.5″ or 16 2.5″ drives.

2. PCI-e 3.0 is finally here! 800MB Per Lane with x4 that is 3.2GB/s. The new PERC H810 x8 with 1GB cache is designed exactly for this kind of hugh I/O, finally we can use 2 or more SSD to break that 3GB/s limit!

Comments (0)

By admin, March 31, 2012 5:10 pm

The reason I choosed to upgrade MEM first is becuase in the release note of MEM 1.1.0, it is said the minimum EQL FW should be v4.3.7 (which I’m on v5.0.2), but FW v5.2.2 states clearly that it only supports MEM 1.1.0, so I need to upgrade MEM first before I upgrade my EQL firmware to v5.2.2 and add HIT/VE v3.1.1 later.

1. Remember to put your ESX host to Maintenance Mode FIRST!!!

2. Use the MEM installation script as I found this is the most simple method, open vSphere CLI

C:\>setup.pl –install –server=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
You must provide the username and password for the server.
Enter username: root
Enter password:

Upgrading from existing Dell EqualLogic Multipathing Extension Module installed:
DELL-eql-mem-1.0.0.130413
Defaulting to offline bundle ‘C:\dell-eql-mem-esx4-1.1.0.222691.zip’
The install operation may take several minutes.  Please do not interrupt it.
Upgrade install was successful.
You must reboot before the new version of the Dell EqualLogic Multipathing Exten
sion Module is active.

3. Remember to Reboot it as well if your host is ESX 4.1

4. Check if the MEM is installed correctly, found out MEM setting has been set to default, so need to change it again to its maximum power to ultilize all 4 paths. (ie, volumesessions=12, membersessions=4)

C:\>setup.pl –query –server=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
You must provide the username and password for the server.
Enter username: root
Enter password:

Found Dell EqualLogic Multipathing Extension Module installed: DELL-eql-mem-esx4
-1.1.0.222691
Default PSP for EqualLogic devices is DELL_PSP_EQL_ROUTED.
Active PSP for naa.6090a078e03b90b5b1d654e6e700d0fc is DELL_PSP_EQL_ROUTED.
Active PSP for naa.6090a078c06ba23424c914a0f1889d68 is DELL_PSP_EQL_ROUTED.
Active PSP for naa.6090a078e03bd0aad3cc34ade700500f is DELL_PSP_EQL_ROUTED.
Active PSP for naa.6090a078e03b80201dcbe4a5e70010ee is DELL_PSP_EQL_ROUTED.
Active PSP for naa.6090a078e03b40e895cc74abe70000fd is DELL_PSP_EQL_ROUTED.
Found the following VMkernel ports bound for use by iSCSI multipathing: vmk2 vmk
3 vmk4 vmk5

C:\>setup.pl –listparam –server=xx.xxx.xxx.xxx
You must provide the username and password for the server.
Enter username: root
Enter password:

Parameter Name  Value Max   Min   Description
————–  —– —   —   ———–
TotalSessions   512   1024  64    Max number of sessions per host.
VolumeSessions  6     12    1     Max number of sessions per volume.
MemberSessions  2     4     1     Max number of sessions per member per volume.
MinAdapterSpeed 1000  10000 10    Minimum adapter speed for iSCSI multipathing.

C:\>setup.pl –setparam –name=VolumeSessions –value=12 –server=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
C:\>setup.pl –setparam –name=MemberSessions –value=4 –server=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

* Make sure you have 4 NICs for iSCSI before setting MemberSessions to 4 or you will see high TCP Retransmit.

5. Double check the storage path in vCenter to make sure MEM is the default PSP and all 4 paths are Active.

Comments (4)

By admin, March 31, 2012 1:56 pm

Today I’ve finally got time to update some of the major components such as OSMA, EQL MEM, EQL FW, Dell Bios, etc.

The first thing I have done is to upgrade OpenManage to latest version 6.5 on ESX 4.1 hosts.

The whole thing is actually very easy, simply download OM-SrvAdmin-Dell-Web-LX-6.5.0-2247_A01.15.tar (762MB). Yeah, I know Dell site is confusing, but this is the right one to download, then install the package according to the Short Installation Guide on the download page.

The setup script will actually perform an automatic upgrade process. Oh…there are some warnings, saying something is not found such as symbolic links, etc. But don’t worry, just remember to start the OMSA (wsman) service again manually, not even need to reboot the host or put it into maintenance mode, everything was performed live without any problem.

Next, it’s time for me to upgrade MEM to v1.1.0 first and then EQL FW to v5.2.2, well I’ve waited almost a full year since my last update of EQL components.

Strange enough local Dell EQL technical support told me to shut down all VM before performing the EQL firmware update, luckily I didn’t listen to their advice as I vaguely remember that EQL FW  update can be done in real time without shutting down the host or VM.

Later I confirmed this with Danny, Thanks again! This is where Equallogic local support (HK and China region) starts to worry me a lot recently as Open Case is no longer handled by US EQL staff since the mid of last year, the technical knowledge and quality is just not there at all, worst, at times, they tend to ask their customers to do things ridiculously or suggest their customer to try it (without performed the step themselves). I’ve told them what if I have thousands of VMs and do I need to shut down all of them just to perform the firmware upgrade? The answer is Yes! HUH???? BS!!!

Yes I am complaining about local Equallogic support service is getting poorer and please correct this issue ASAP!

Update: April 6, 2012

OM-SrvAdmin-Dell-Web-LX-7.0.0-4614_A00.tar.gz is out today!

Comments (0)

By admin, March 24, 2012 5:36 pm

1比18車模收藏一直都有一個不成文的規矩，那就是黑色的超跑通常會在一段日子後身價倍升，可能是因為生產數量比較少吧。出名的例子多不勝數，如UT Ferrari 355 GTB/GTC, Autoart Lamborghini Countach, Diablo VT/Roadster/GTR, Kyosho Ferrari 328  GTB, Minichamps Bentley Continental GT等，這些”稀有動物”通常市場價格可以是原來的2-3倍，當然，有價無市的情況也普遍的很。

今天是不用返工的星期六，本來想睡到日上三杆，但二杆時就給窗外的一陣低吼引擎聲嘈醒了我的美夢。NND! 誰這麼沒公德心，停車還不熄匙。但潛意識馬上告訴我這應該是台”駿馬”。身體不由自主地以2秒的時間從床上彈起，再用3秒的極速從抽屜里拿出相機然後跑到窗前，果然沒猜錯，是台罕見的黑色F430，連對焦到拍攝整個過程用了大概10秒完成，之後才定過神來，原來我已經起床了，哈哈。。。

下午回來的時候，發現樓下又有3台黑色的車並排而列，其中的那台Audi TT還真可愛。

今天這麼多黑色的車，原來是Black Saturday!

Comments (5)

By admin, March 16, 2012 2:11 pm

Sometimes it really makes you wonder why big corporation collects rubbishes just to expand their portfolio.

Well I am absolutely speechless when I saw the title today, so it’s time to sell your NASDAQ:DELL.

Comments (0)

By admin, March 14, 2012 8:57 pm

昨天的球聚邀請來了兩位好久沒見的老朋友，我們一行4人打了場心情放鬆兼好玩的混雙比賽。

大前天剛剛過了第3年的快樂網球生涯，這兩位老朋友的重臨又令我回想起了這些年因緣份而結識了很多球場朋友們的經過。

如果到了七八十歲還能夠與這班陪伴著我走過人生的網球朋友們繼續在球場上馳騁，那將會是多好的事情啊。

很感謝他們一直以來的鼓勵和無私的分享，令當年的我重拾起對網球的熱誠，雖然進步很慢，但還是有目共睹的。(厚著面皮的說，哈哈。。。)

今天的重聚令我再次感受到了快樂原來可以很簡單，幾個志趣相投的朋友聚首一堂，天南地北地暢談一番，打一場球，出一身汗，整個人舒服晒!

其實快樂就是這麼很簡單，你以為有幾困難呢﹖哈哈。。。

Comments (1)

By admin, March 13, 2012 10:02 pm

Yesterday I bought a 2^nd hand Fortigate 60B from a famous computer user group in Hong Kong.

During the trade, I found out the seller Danny also uses Equallogic in his company, umm…the way he talked reminded me a lot someone I must have come across before, but I couldn’t figure out who he exactly was at the time.

Later after I came back and opened my blog. Danny…isn’t there also a Danny always comments on my blog before regarding EQL products? Double checked the email on my blog and the one seller provided, Bingo, he’s the same person, what a miracle! Virtual world finally touched reality without knowing it’s actually happening during the trade, so wired and funny!

This reminds me Disney’s most well-known song “It’s a Small Small World”, I think one of these days we (one who is interested in EQL products) should form an informal Hong Kong Equallogic User Group gathering in a coffee shop or something, anyone got any solid idea, please contribute and make it happen.

Danny, thank you very much again for almost giving out this firewall for me to play with. Personally, I really like to play with this kind of toy (network appliances) during my spare time, because I like their intuitive UI and innovative features and find they are fascinating to play with and all these toys makes you to become the god of your own domain is of course exciting.  Btw, I also got some other fun toys on hand like Netscreen, Top Layer, Radware, BlueCoat, Riverbed etc , together with this FTG-60B, they will keep me very busy for a while.

Comments (2)

By admin, March 13, 2012 11:59 am

朋友在香港拍到的，和尚買相机/iPhone/iPad我明白，但這CHANEL手袋？

我自問大惑不解，有合理解釋的嗎？

Comments (0)

By admin, March 12, 2012 3:29 pm

他的一篇車模瘋吸引了我的眼球，因而也發現了頂級1比43套件(Kit)的存在。

某些大師的絕版名作，1/43不到十公分大小的模型車中竟然可以容納數百個零件，加上數量有限，拍賣拱到上千美元也是常見的事情，這對一般車模收藏者而言 可能匪夷所思，但對於收藏家而言卻是每每天人交戰才能在最後贏得競標。這只能印證一句話，限量是殘酷的，絕版是黃金打造的。

從小生長的年代，台灣經濟尚未發達，街上跑的汽車，除了冒著大黑煙的巴士之外，大抵都是日產，福特之類。雖然車輛數不多，但在街上呼嘯而過，煞是神氣。

而每個小男孩手裡，多少有著一兩部的火柴盒小汽車，五顏六色，在街角用手滑行，應著長輩的疼愛，小箱子裡的四輪玩具慢慢增多，這大概就是我的模型之路啟蒙。

中學時代，適逢台灣經濟準備起飛，街上的車子開始五顏六色百家爭鳴，汽車雜誌也開始成為必讀的課外伴侶，雖然學生無緣接觸真實的四輪寵物，然而每每邊讀雜誌邊發出讚嘆，心裡天馬行空，期望有一天可以真實駕馭。那時火柴盒小汽車已不再有吸引力，取而代之的是一盒又一盒的組裝模型，拙劣的用模型漆上著色，努力的讀著說明書，將零件剪下後修飾拼在一起，也慢慢因此瞭解了引擎懸吊等汽車構造，一盒一盒的模型完成後成為書架上的展示品，雖然不甚完美，然而卻欣喜滿滿，這是，年少的模型之路。

上了大學之後，世界更加寬廣，然而課業繁重，根本無暇像之前一般能有時間好好製作模型，那時，全台灣青少年的流行聖地，就在台北的西門町。而其中的萬年大樓，各式各樣的進口商品，書籍漫畫，還有整層樓各式各樣的模型玩具店，就成為流連忘返之處。後來跟一些模型友聊起，趴在玻璃櫥窗前瞪大眼睛流著口水，看著五顏六色的模型精品，似乎是那個年代共有的獨特回憶。當初的主流金屬汽車模型是1/18 跟 1/43, 雖然選擇繁多，然而在精密度及售價上很難取得一個平衡，加上住宿空間收藏的限制，因此只能挑個幾部1/43的模型讓自己開心。直到偶然間逛火車模型店，才發現為了搭配1/87 HO比例的火車模型場景，竟然出了許多汽車模型！當手上拿著不到五公分大小的模型，卻細緻得無可挑剔，這就是德國人的用心，也從此開始收集1/87 汽車模型，雖然1/87的製造商跟1/43,1/18 的製造商家數天差地別，選擇跟車型也相對少了許多，但十多年來努力收集各式車型，至今約收了一千兩三百部，一字排開的時候，坐擁名車，不亦快哉！

出社會後，開始擁有屬於自己的第一部車，也終於把對車的興趣落實下來，東摸西摸，東改西改，不知是否為了彌補當初未能選讀汽車機械工程的遺憾，開始對汽車的心臟—–引擎產生極大的興趣，可惜很少有專門的汽車引擎模型，網路上的資料也少得可憐，一點一點拼湊之下，竟然也收集了一二十顆大大小小的引擎模型，大至 1/4 的 Nascar 引擎，數量最多精密度最佳的1/6 引擎，還有搭配模型改裝的1/18,1/24引擎，也有只有指尖大的1/43引擎模型，藉由收藏組裝的過程，也對引擎內部構造及功能有更深的瞭解，這應該也算是寓教於樂吧。

這幾年工作生活狀況都穩定下來，空閒時間，忽然又興起製作模型的念頭，台灣幾乎沒有汽車模型的書籍及雜誌，只好往鄰國日本著手，找了一些專門的汽車模型刊物好好研究。雖然1/24的塑膠模型越來越精美，然而收藏上卻是極大的問題，手邊已經有近1500部模型車，很難再挪出空間，後來卻在雜誌中小篇幅的報導找到新的方向。原來有個小眾的1/43 模型市場，幾乎都是鉛錫合金及樹脂鑄造而成，由於成本高昂，售價不斐，加上開模精細度的限制，一堆超小的蝕刻金屬零件，製作上比一般塑膠模型難上許多，因此幾十年來只有少數在歐洲流通，亞洲也只有日本稍稍熱門一點。但是許多難以購得的稀有名車，或是具有引擎細節的經典賽車，也只有1/43套件可以滿足需求，尤其是製作完成後的精細度，更是遠超過市面販售的一般模型。也因此，又掉進了另一個敗家地獄。

也由於1/43金屬模型的稀有性，在台灣很難購得，專門販售的店也僅有位於台北縣三重的ISAM，店主陳先生本身也是模型狂熱者，才有辦法支持此般獨特的店的生存。而對於我而言，更癡迷於具有引擎細節的1/43模型，也只好在eBay等拍賣網上尋尋覓覓，兩年多下來，也有近百套的斬獲。如果是一般沒有引擎細節的F1 或賽車模型，大約都在30-60美元之間，具有引擎細部等的更是屢屢超過100美元，也有超精密等級的要價300-400美元，至於某些大師的絕版名作，1/43不到十公分大小的模型車中竟然可以容納數百個零件，加上數量有限，拍賣拱到上千美元也是常見的事情，這對一般車模收藏者而言可能匪夷所思，但對於收藏家而言卻是每每天人交戰才能在最後贏得競標。這只能印證一句話，限量是殘酷的，絕版是黃金打造的。

看來，這個模型瘋還有得瘋很久勒…………..