Quick Start

Symmetrix V-Max Series Fully Automated Storage Tiering (FAST)

Information on the Symmetrix V-Max Series Fully Automated Storage Tiering (FAST) software can be found in a number
of publications. This document provides a roadmap to that information, and also includes a high-level overview of the
FAST technology.

Introduction
PDF

EMC Powerlink
- EMC Symmetrix V-Max Series Product Guide
- FAST for Symmetrix V-Max Feature Sheet
- New Features in EMC Enginuity 5874: Enhancements for
Symmetrix V-Max in Open Systems Environments

Implementation
PDF

EMC Powerlink
- Implementing Fully Automated Storage Tiering for
Standard Provisioning Environments
- EMC Solutions Enabler Symmetrix Array Controls CLI
Product Guide
- Symmetrix Management Console (SMC) online help and
FAST Wizards
- Theory and Best Practices for FAST: Performance and
Planning
- Symmetrix Performance Analyzer (SPA) online help

Solutions
PDF

EMC Powerlink
- Storage Tiering using Microsoft SQLServer and Symmetrix
V-Max with Enginuity 5874
- Storage Tiering using Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and
Symmetrix V-Max with Enginuity 5874
- Symmetrix Storage Tiering for Oracle Databases using
Virtual LUN and FAST Technologies with Enginuity 5874
- Symmetrix Storage Tiering for VMware using Symmetrix
V-Max and FAST Technologies
- Symmetrix Storage Tiering with DB2 for z/OS Systems using
Virtual LUN and FAST Technologies
- Symmetrix Storage Tiering for DB2 for Linux, UNIX, and
Windows Databases using Virtual LUN and FAST Technologies
- Symmetrix Storage Tiering for SAP using Virtual LUN
and FAST Technologies with Enginuity 5874
over
P/N 300-010-240 Rev A01

Copyright 2009 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.

Quick Start
FAST In-a-nutshell

EMC's Symmetrix V-Max Fully Automated Storage Tiering (FAST) software optimizes array performance and reduces cost for applications
with different service level objectives. For FAST, a storage administrator (1) defines storage groups which encompass applications/workloads,
(2) defines Symmetrix Tiers based on drive technology and protection, and (3) defines FAST policies and associates them with the storage
groups to let FAST know how much data from each storage group can live in the various tiers. In the background, FAST monitors performance
and makes recommendations for moving volumes to make sure frequently-used data is moved to high-performance Enterprise Flash Drives
and less frequently-used data is moved to less expensive, high-capacity SATA drives. FAST can function in either automatic or user-approval
mode. In user-approval mode, FAST recommends a move plan and waits for the storage administrator to approve the plan prior to carrying
out the moves.
Here's how a simple FAST setup might look:

Symmetrix Tiers
Storage Groups
200 GB Enterprise
Flash drives
RAID 5 (3+1)
protection

FAST Policies

Oracle Finance

Platinum
25%
50%
146 GB 15K Fibre
Channel drives
RAID 1 protection

25%

Oracle HR

Silver
50%
25%
75%
1 TB SATA drives
RAID 6 (14+2)
protection

P/N 300-010-240 Rev A01

Exchange