Glossary:

Vblock System Foundations Training

Application Software

An application software (or program) is software that provides instructions

to a computer and its operating system with directions to perform specific
tasks. Application software that you may be familiar with includes word
processors, spread sheet software, email client, computer games, etc.

Blade Server

A blade server operates like other computer servers, but they are unique
in that they are inserted into a blade enclosure or chassis and do not
require power cords and network cables. Power and network
connections are made when the blade server is properly inserted into the
blade enclosure or chassis.

Blade Server Chassis

A blade server chassis is an enclosure that contain several blade servers.

The chassis provides power and network connectivity to the server
without cables when the blade server is properly inserted into the chassis.

Business Applications

Business applications are software that runs on a computer and its

operating system. They are used by people in business and other
settings to complete business related tasks. Some examples of business
applications include email software, word processors, spread sheets, and
customer data entry databases.

Central Processing Unit

- CPU

The processor or central processing unit (CPU) is considered the brain

of the computer. It contains electronic circuits that:

CIFS

Interprets instructions to the computer

Performs the logical and arithmetic processing operations
Coordinates the activities of all other components of the
computer
Directs the computer input and output operations
See Common Internet File System.

CIMC

See Cisco Integrated Management Console - CIMC

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Cisco Integrated
Management Console CIMC

The Cisco Integrated Management Controller (CIMC) is the management

tool for the C-Series rack mount servers. CIMC runs within the server and
users can use a web-based graphical user interface (GUI) or commandline interface (CLI) to access, configure, administer, and monitor C-Series
rack mount servers.

Cisco Unified Computing

System (UCS) Manager

Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) Manager provides unified,

embedded management of all software and hardware components in the
Cisco UCS. Serving as the central nervous system of the Cisco Unified
Computing System, it provides management controlling rack servers,
multiple blade chasses, and is capable of managing resources for
thousands of virtual machines. Cisco UCS Manager manages Cisco
UCS as a single entity through an intuitive GUI, or a command-line
interface (CLI).

Common Internet File

System - CIFS

Common Interface File System (CIFS) is a network file system with a set
of auxiliary services supported by an underlying protocols. CIFS is most
commonly known as representing the standard networking protocols used
in Microsoft applications and networks.

Compression

Compression is a technique for reducing the size of files so they contain

fewer total bits than the original version of the file. Data is compressed
by eliminating bits of data in files that represent duplicate patterns, or by
identifying and removing unnecessary information.

CPU

See Central Processing Unit

DAE

See Disk Array Enclosure.

Deduplication

See File Deduplication.

Demilitarized Zone

An area of concern for many organizations is external facing IT

infrastructure exposed to potentially unsafe networks, like the Internet.
Here, companies are most vulnerable to intrusions from external threats
that can disrupt operations or steal data.
Borrowing a concept and phrase from military strategy, some companies
today create a DMZ or "demilitarized zone" between their internal IT
infrastructure and external threats. IT hardware and software deployed in
a DMZ exposes only limited IT infrastructure and data to external
networks as needed to run its business. But it does not provide a means
to breach the DMZ and access the internal network.

Device Drivers

Page 2

Device drivers are software that enables the OS to recognize and control
the specific hardware devices inside and outside the computer. Things
like DVD drives, hard drives, printers, monitors, network cards, and
scanners.

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Disk Array Enclosure DAE

An enclosure that holds multiple storage drives in a disk array.

Disk-Processor
Enclosure - DPE

An enclosure that houses both storage processors and storage drives.

Vblock Systems that use a DPE will have only one, but not ALL Vblock
Systems have a DPE.

Distributed Resources
Scheduler (DRS)

Balances computing capacity by cluster to deliver optimized performance

for hosts and virtual machines. vSphere Distributed Resources Scheduler
(DRS) is a feature included in the vSphere Enterprise and Enterprise Plus
editions. Using DRS, you can:

DMZ

Improve service levels by guaranteeing appropriate resources to

virtual machines
Deploy new capacity to a cluster without service disruption
Automatically migrate virtual machines during maintenance
without service disruption
Monitor and manage more infrastructure per system
administrator.
See Demilitarized Zone

DPE

See Disk-Processor Enclosure.

DRS

See Distributed Resources Scheduler (DRS).

EMC PowerPath

Software that manages the network paths in which data travels between
a server and a storage array. In the event that a device on a path fails,
this product can automatically reroute data through alternative network
paths.

EMC Secure Remote

Support - ESRS

ESRS is a software-based, secure access point for remote support

activities between EMC and your EMC information infrastructure. ESRS
monitors your EMC system around the clock and automatically notifies
EMC support Center in the event of a system problem. If an error is
detected, a secure connection is established for a remote support
session.

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EMC Unified
Infrastructure Manager
(UIM)

EMC Unified Infrastructure Manager is used to automatically configure,

provision, and monitor events in the Vblock System. In deployment, it
transforms raw Vblock Systems into information as a service (IaaS).
Some of the steps in this process that are managed by UIM include:
Discovering infrastructure and create address pools
Grading resource pools and profiles
Packaging pools and profiles into Service Offerings
Publishing Service Offerings in Service Catalog
Creating an Infrastructure Service from a Service Offering
It provides centralized management of Vblock System physical
resources, and supports a system-wide policy based configuration
management and compliance.

EMC Unisphere for VNXe

storage

A web-based management environment that is a tool for creating storage

resources, configuring and scheduling protection for stored data, and
managing and monitoring other storage operations on a VNXe storage
component. Management of VNXe storage systems is simplified,
enabling completion of advanced tasks such as thin provisioning, file
deduplication, and compression, without requiring in-depth understanding
of these technologies.

EMC VNX Application

Protection Suite

VNX Application Protection Suite software automates copies of your

application data and improves recovery.

EMC VNX Fast Suite

VNX FAST Suite software contains EMC Fully Automated Storage Tiering
(FAST) and EMC Fully Automated Storage Tiering Cache (FAST Cache).
FAST automatically moves active data to high-performance storage tiers
and inactive data to low-cost, high-capacity storage tiers. The result is
higher performance and lower costs. FAST Cache is a storage
performance optimization feature that provides immediate access to
frequently accessed data. FAST Cache incorporates enterprise Flash
drives to extend storage processor cache capacity
Also see Fully Automated Storage Tiering (FAST) and Fully Automated
Storage Tiering Cache (FAST Cache).

EMC VNX Local

Protection Suite

VNX Local Protection Suite software promotes data protection and

repurposing on VNX storage systems. The software enables customers
to save production data and get applications up and running within
minutes after a shut down.

EMC VNX Remote

Protection Suite

VNX Remote Protection Suite software protects data against localized

failures, outages, and disasters on VNX storage systems. This software
provides continuous replication so that when an outage effects one
location, applications can be instantly restored remotely to a specific point
in time.

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Enterprise Resource
Planning - ERP

Cross-functional enterprise system software used to produce data about

business processes for the purpose of managing the business. Among
other things, ERP systems track finances, sales, customer orders,
accounts payable, raw materials, and production process providing an
integrated real-time view of all core business functions.

ERP

See Enterprise Resource Planning ERP.

ESRS

See EMC Secure Remote Support ESRS.

Fabric Extenders

A fabric extender is a component of a Cisco Blade Chassis which

provides network connectivity to the blade servers inserted into the
chassis.

Fabric Interconnects

A fabric interconnect is a network switch that provides network

connectivity to blade or rack mounted servers.

FAST

See Fully Automated Storage Tiering

FAST Cache

See Fully Automated Storage Tiering Cache

File Deduplication

File deduplication is a data compression technique that eliminates

duplicate copies of data or files. When multiple files have the same data,
file deduplication stores just one copy of the data, and shares it between
the multiple users or applications. File deduplication improves storage
utilization. By recognizing when the same data is being written to storage
in two different places, it stores the data once, and provides a point to the
location where the data can be found.

File Transfer Protocol FTP

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard network protocol used to

transfer data and files over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. It
is sometimes used to transfer files between devices running different
operating systems.

FTP

See File Transfer Protocol.

Fully Automated Storage

Tiering - FAST

Recall that storage drive in an array can be tiered, meaning that there is a
combination of fast expensive drives, and high capacity slower drives.
Tiering is a strategy that puts frequently used data on fast drives, and
seldom accessed data on slower drives. EMC Fully Automated Storage
Tiering (FAST) automatically moves active data to high-performance
storage tiers and inactive data to low-cost, high-capacity storage tiers.
The result is higher performance and lower costs.

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Fully Automated Storage

Tiering Cache - FAST
Cache

EMC Fully Automated Storage Tiering Cache (FAST Cache) is a storage

performance optimization feature that provides immediate access to
frequently accessed data. FAST Cache incorporates enterprise Flash
drives to extend storage processor cache capacity. Remember that
cache is like computer memory, while enterprise flash drives are very fast
storage drives. These flash drives are deployed to expand the capacity
of the storage processor cache and increase performance. FAST cache
monitors incoming traffic for frequently accessed data and automatically
keeps it in cache for quick access. FAST cache accelerates performance
that is especially important during unexpected workload spikes.

HTTP

See Hypertext Transfer Protocol.

Hypertext Transfer
Protocol - HTTP

The foundation for data communications over the internet, Hypertext

Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is an application protocol for distributed,
collaborative, hypermedia information systems. It is not a NAS protocol
but it is a network option for viewing and transferring data.

Hypervisor

A computer hypervisor is software installed onto a computer. It is used to

create and manage virtual machines.

I/O

See Input/Output

In-Memory Database

An in-memory database relies primarily on the compute's main memory

as the place where data is stored. This is different from traditional
databases that unitize flash or disk storage drives. Seek time can be
dramatically reduced or eliminated when accessing data that resides in
compute memory instead of on flash or disk drives.

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Input/Output

For the purposes of this training, I/O (or input/output) refers to

communication into and out of a computer. An input can be information
entered from a keyboard, from a mouse click, and from data sent from
another computer or device. An output is a communication that comes
out of a computer, such as information sent to the computer monitor
screen, a printer, or data updated and saved to a database like a
customer record.
Before a computer can complete a task or activity, it needs some
information or data to use in the processing of that activity. This is the
INPUT.
Once a computer is done completing a task, it has to do something with
the result of the process. Among other things, it can send the results to
the screen of computer monitor, to a printer, to a hard drive, or to a
database to update a record. This is the OUTPUT.
Some devices, especially those used for communicating between
computers, like modems and network devices, can both send an INPUT
to a computer and receive an OUTPUT from a computer.

Internet Protocol - IP

The internet protocol (IP) was designed to allow computing devices to

pass data over virtually any distance by routing between multiple devices
if necessary. For this training it is not important to know many details
about the Internet Protocol, but it is useful to understand that each
message has additional information added to it such as information for
the sending device address, the destination device and the size of the
message so that the devices between the source and destination can
reliably pass the message and when requested acknowledge receipt of
the message.
Because the IP protocol is so often associated with the Ethernet
standard, Ethernet switches are sometimes referred to as IP switches,
even though they are not truly synonymous.

IP

See Internet Protocol.

LAN

See Local Area Network.

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Latency

Latency is the time delay from the moment a storage controller starts
accessing data on a storage drive until the point in time when it is
available to be used. It also refers to the time it takes to save data on a
storage drive.

Local Area Network LAN

A Local Area Network, or LAN, is a self-contained network of computers

and other devices. It provides networking capabilities to devices that are
located in close proximity like in an office building, a school, or a home. A
LAN can be used for sharing resources like files, printers, or other
applications using devices on the network.

Local Area Network

(LAN) Switch

A network switch that provides connectivity between devices on a LAN or

Ethernet network. It ensures that a message sent from a device on the
network is transmitted to the intended device or devices on the network.

Logical Unit Number LUN

A LUN is a logical abstraction of a disk drive and is conceptually a set

consecutive blocks of storage. A LUN is not a physical storage drive. It
is a virtual storage drive that is abstracted from one or more physical
storage drives. While it doesnt exist physically, it has all of the same
characteristics of a physical storage drive. Host computers dont
recognize the difference. A LUN presented to a host is viewed by the
host as a physical disk.

LUN

See Logical Unit Number.

MAC Address

See Media Access Control Address.

Media Access Control

Address MAC Address

A Media Access Control address (MAC address) is a unique identifier

assigned to network interface device that exists on a LAN or Ethernet
network. The network interface device on the Vblock System servers is
the VIC. The MAC address serves as a unique network address for the
interface device that no other device can use. For example, a VIC on a
server will have a MAC address that is unique from any other address
that exists for a network interface device in the world. On the LAN or
Ethernet network, the VIC is known and identified by its MAC address
and when another device on the network is trying to communicate with
the VIC, the communications is sent to the devices MAC address.

Memory

See Random Access Memory - RAM

Microsoft Exchange

Microsoft Exchange is a mail server that provides email, calendaring, and

contact management functionality sold by Microsoft Corporation. It is an
application run on servers which allows users to access and share
emails, calendar events, and contacts.

NAS Protocols

NAS Protocols define the language (syntax and semantics) of

standardized communication tasks or operations performed over a NAS
network.

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Network File System NFS

Network File System (NFS) is a service that enables machines of

different architectures running individual operating systems to share
resources across a network. NFS makes it possible for a computer to
share its local files and directories, and permits users on other computers
to access those files and directories as though they were located on their
own computers.

NFS

See Network File System.

Operating System

An operating system (OS) is software that manages computer hardware

resources and provides common functionality that can be shared by
applications running on a computer. Traditionally, operating systems
function as a go between the computer hardware and applications
running on the computer. The OS is responsible for controlling the
environment and coordinates activities between the hardware and
application software. Some sample operating systems include Linux and
Microsoft Windows.

Oracle

Oracle Corporation is a multinational computer technology corporation

specializing in developing and marketing computer hardware systems
and enterprise software products including its own brands of database
management systems.

Orchestration

Orchestration, in IT, is used in the context of service oriented

architecture, virtualization, provisioning, converged Infrastructure and
dynamic datacenter topics. It focuses on aligning the business needs with
the applications, data, and infrastructure by defining the policies and
service levels through automated workflows, provisioning, and change
management. Orchestration can reduce the time and effort needed to
deploy instances of an application. It can also automate the provisioning
of additional resources as application requirements change.

OS

See operating system.

PowerPath

See EMC PowerPath.

Processor or CPU

See Central Processing Unit

Rack Mounted Server

A rack mounted server is a computer server. It comes in a standard size

that fits into a standard computer system rack. After it is installed in a
rack, power cables, network wires, and other connections can be
attached.

RAM

See Random Access Memory - RAM

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Random Access Memory

- RAM

The part of the computer where the active application and data is stored
for use by the CPU to perform necessary tasks and operations.

SAN

Consists of electronic components that store data including

numbers, letters of the alphabet, graphics, sound, etc.
Provides temporary storage of active applications and data
Applications and data stored in random access memory (RAM) is
lost when the computer is turned off
Dont confuse computer memory or RAM with storage which
does not lose applications or data saved on it when the computer
is turned off
See Storage Area Network.

SAP

SAP is a multinational company that makes enterprise software used to

manage business operations such as manufacturing, finance, raw
materials ordering, payroll, customer relationships, customer support, etc.
Enterprise software is usually highly complex and requires significant
compute, storage, and networking systems to run optimally.

SCSI

See Small Computer System Interface.

Secure Remote Support

- ESRS

See EMC Secure Remote Support ESRS.

Small Computer System

Interface - SCSI

The Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), pronounced scuzzy, is a

peripheral connectivity standard that has been used to connect
computers to scanners, tape drives, CD drives and disk drives among
other things. A SCSI protocol is involved in data transfer on block storage
devices in a Vblock, which youll learn more about in the Storage lesson.
It is useful to be aware of the SCSI standards because although the
storage arrays in Vblock systems do not use the original SCSI standard
for physical connectivity, the SCSI communication protocols are used
when communicating with Fibre Channel, Internet Small Computer
System Interface (iSCSI) pronounced eye scuzzy, and Serial Attached
SCSI (SAS) devices.
As you progress through your training it will be helpful if you keep in mind
that a communication protocol such as SCSI can be used to transmit data
over a variety of physical media and that one communication protocol can
be embedded or encapsulated in another as in Fibre Channel over
Ethernet (FCoE) which we will discuss later on.

SPE

Page 10

See Storage Processor Enclosure.

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Storage

The basic component of storage technology is the hard drive. It is used

to store digital information such as operating systems files, application
files, and data. Unlike memory or RAM, storage devices retains data
even when the compute is powered off. Data is read in a random-access
manner, meaning that individual blocks of data can be stored or retrieved
in any order or sequence.

Storage Area network SAN

A Storage Area Network, or SAN, is a dedicated network used so that

hosts can access files on block level data storage.

Storage Area Network

(SAN) Switch

A Storage Area Network (SAN) switch is a network switched designed

specifically for a SAN environment and is compatible with the Fibre
Channel (FC) protocol used in SAN networks. SAN switches manage
communications between servers or other computers and storage
devices.

Storage Drives

Storage drives are used to store data and are found in computers or
storage arrays. Types of storage drives include hard drives and solid
state drives.

Storage Processor
Enclosures - SPE

Enclosure that house storage processors. In Vblock Systems they

contain two storage processors, but not all Vblock Systems contain an
SPE.

Storage Processors

Storage processor are computers found in storage arrays. They provide

the intelligence required to coordinate the storage and retrieval of data on
storage drives in storage arrays.

Tiered Storage

Tiered storage is a strategy of matching the rate at which data is

accessed to a storage drive type. Tiered storage allows you to match
drive speed and cost to data use. For example, if you need an array with
one hundred drives you can buy and mixture of solid state flash drives,
SAS drives, and NL-SAS drives. Flash drives are the fastest, NL-SAS
drives are the slowest, and SAS drives are in between. In a tiered
storage configuration you would put the data you access most frequently
on the fastest drives, the data you use the least on the slowest drives,
and data used in between can be stored on the SAS or Fibre Channel
drives.

UCS Manager

See Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) Manager.

Unified Computing
System (UCS) Manager

See Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) Manager.

Unified Network Switch

In Vblock Systems, a unified network switch can be used in place a

separate IP switch and a SAN switch. This single switch can provide the
ability to connect to both an IP network and a SAN.

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Page 11

VCE Vision Intelligent

Operations

The VCE Vision Intelligent Operations software suite provides an

integrated set of software products for managing a converged
infrastructure. It enables customers and third-party consumers to know
that the Vblock System exists, where it is located, and what components
it contains. It reports on the health or operating status of the Vblock
System and reports on how compliant the Vblock System is with a VCE
Release Certification Matrix. The VCE Vision suite effectively acts as a
mediation layer between your system and the management tools you use
now.

vCenter Server

VMware vCenter Server is a central management point for the

hypervisors and virtual machines running on Vblock Systems.

VDI

See Virtual Desktop Infrastructure.

Virtual desktop
infrastructure (VDI)

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is a method of separating a users

personal desktop, application software, and associated data from the
physical device that is used to access it. The same desktop environment
can be accessed on multiple devices, in any location with network or
internet access. These desktop environments typically reside on servers
in a datacenter, not on the users devices.

Virtual Desktop
Infrastructure (VDI):

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is a service where users' desktops do

not reside on their device (PC, laptop, tablet or smart phone) but instead
reside on remote servers accessed over a network. VDI provides desktop
and applications like those traditionally found on PCs and laptops. The
difference is that desktop and applications operate remotely from a host
server in a data center and can be accessed and used over a network
using multiple devices. For users, they can access their familiar desktop,
applications, and data from a preferred device. For organizations, costs
are cut and security is increased because all desktops, applications, and
data are centrally managed.

Virtual Machine

A virtual machine or VM operates like a physical computer but it only

exists as software. Through virtualization technology, the components of
a physical computer are used to make one or more virtual machines that
can each run its own operating system and applications.

VM

Virtual Machine File

System - VMFS

A file system is used to control how information is stored and retrieved.

VMware VMFS (Virtual Machine File System) was developed and is used
to store and retrieve the files needed to run each virtual machine. The
files needed to run a specific virtual machine are sometimes called disk
images. Conventional file systems allow only one server to have readwrite access to a file system. With VMFS, multiple servers can read/write
the same file system simultaneously.

Virtual Network Switch

A virtual network switch serves as a network switch on a virtual network.

It is software, not hardware like other network switches found in a Vblock
System. It provides connectivity from virtual machines on a virtual
network, to a physical network.

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VM

See virtual machine.

VMFS

See Virtual Machine File System.

VMware Storage vMotion

VMware Storage vMotion is a management tool that enables live

migration of the storage disks attached to a virtual machine. Without any
service disruption, these disk files can be moved to a new location within
a storage array, or to a different arrays. Non-disruptive virtual machine
disk file migration to different classes of storage enables cost-effective
management of virtual machine disks as part of a tiered storage strategy.
Learn more at: http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/featuresstorage-vmotion#sthash.4rhV49HL.dpuf

VMware Update Manager

vSphere Update Manager automates patch management and eliminates

manual tracking and patching of vSphere hosts and virtual machines. It
compares the state of vSphere hosts with baselines, then updates and
patches to enforce compliance.

VMware vMotion

VMware vMotion is management tool used to move virtual machines from

one ESXi host to another. Live migration allows administrators to move
an entire running virtual machine from one physical server to another,
without downtime. The virtual machine retains its network identity and
connections, ensuring a seamless migration process.
Learn more at: http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/featuresvmotion#sthash.7CiNQCCr.dpuf

VNX Application
Protection Suite

See EMC VNX Application Protection Suite

VNX Local Protection

Suite

See EMC VNX Local Protection Suite.

VNX Remote Protection

Suite

See EMC VNX Remote Protection Suite.

VNX Security and

Compliance Suite

VNX Security and Compliance Suite software provides complementary

tools that help secure the modern data center. This suite of software
helps you keep data safe from changes, deletions, and malicious activity.

vSphere Enterprise Plus

VMware vSphere Enterprise Plus includes the full range of vSphere

features for transforming datacenters into dramatically simplified cloud
computing environments providing the next generation of flexible, reliable
IT services.

vSphere ESXi

VMwares hypervisor software that is used to create and manage the

virtual machines.

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Page 13

World Wide Name WWN

A World Wide Name (WWN) is a unique identifier assigned to devices on

a Storage Area Network (SAN). A WWN is a unique identifier that is used
to identify a device (like network switch or a specific port on a switch) on
the network that is essential to know when communicating with the
device.

WWN

See World Wide Name.

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