Preventing Power Loss in a SAN
Question
A storage area network (SAN) was inadvertently powered off while power maintenance was being performed in a datacenter.
None of the systems should have lost all power during the maintenance.
Upon review, it is discovered that a SAN administrator moved a power plug when testing the SAN's fault notification features.
Which of the following should be done to prevent this issue from reoccurring?
Answers
Explanations
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A. B. C. D.A.
In this scenario, the SAN was inadvertently powered off due to a power plug being moved by a SAN administrator while testing the SAN's fault notification features. To prevent this issue from reoccurring, several steps can be taken:
A. Ensure both power supplies on the SAN are serviced by separate circuits, so that if one circuit goes down, the other remains powered.
This solution would help to prevent a single point of failure by providing redundancy in the power supply. If one circuit goes down, the other circuit will continue to provide power to the SAN, ensuring that it remains operational. This solution would require that both power supplies are plugged into separate power sources or circuits, which may require additional hardware or rewiring.
B. Install additional batteries in the SAN power supplies with enough capacity to keep the system powered on during maintenance operations.
This solution would provide a backup power source for the SAN in the event of a power outage. However, it may not be practical to install enough batteries to keep the system powered on during maintenance operations, which can sometimes take several hours or even days.
C. Ensure power configuration is covered in the datacenter change management policy and have the SAN administrator review this policy.
This solution addresses the root cause of the issue, which was the SAN administrator moving a power plug without following proper procedures. By ensuring that power configuration is covered in the datacenter change management policy and having the SAN administrator review this policy, the organization can ensure that proper procedures are followed in the future.
D. Install a third power supply in the SAN so loss of any power intuit does not result in the SAN completely powering off.
This solution is similar to solution A, but instead of relying on separate circuits for redundancy, it adds a third power supply. This solution would provide an additional layer of redundancy and help to prevent a single point of failure.
Overall, solution C is the most comprehensive and effective solution because it addresses the root cause of the issue and ensures that proper procedures are followed in the future. However, solutions A and D are also viable options for providing redundancy in the power supply and preventing a single point of failure.
