EMC VNX – How to use Unisphere

Unisphere is web-enabled software for remote management of storage environment. It has all the extras, like widgets and sortable tables, wizards etc. Unisphere Management Server runs on the Storage Processor (SP) and the Control Station.

(Update 08-01-2015: Check out Overview with few screenshots: EMC VNX – Unisphere – Quick overview)

How to launch?

To launch a Unisphere you can fire up an Internet browser and type the IP address of either one of the SPs or the Control Station.

How to login for fist time?

Default login/password for EMC VNX Unified system is:
* login: sysadmin
* password: sysadmin
Or for VNXe:
* login: admin
* password: Password123#

Administration of VNX is performed with the Unisphere graphical user interface (GUI). Administration of the VNX system can also be performed with a command line interface (CLI). File enabled VNX systems use a command line interface to the Control Station for file administrative tasks. Block enabled systems have a host-based Secure CLI software option available for block administrative tasks. The CLI can be used to automate management functions through shell scripts and batch files.

Administrative Authentication Scope

The VNX provides three different administrative user auth scopes.
* Global authentication scope is used when the VNX is configured to be a member of a Storage Domain. All the systems within the domain can be administrated using a single sign-on with a global account.
* Local authentication scope is used to manage a specific system only. Logging into a system using a local user account is recommended when there are a large number of systems in the domain.
* LDAP authentication scope is used when the VNX is configured to “bind” to an LDAP domain. The VNX performs an LDAP query to the domain to authenticate the administrative users.

Unisphere Storage Domains

By default each VNX is its own Storage Domain. Domain Members are:
* SPA
* SPB
* Control Station
* System managed by Unisphere session to any member

A VNX system can be manager using a Unisphere session to any member of the Storage Domain. The system also includes a default “sysadmin” Global user account in the Domain, which is configured with the Administrator role.

Adding VNX system to Domain

To add a VNX system into an existing VNX local domain, in Unisphere navigate to the System List, and perform Add operation. You have to provide an SP (Storage Processor) IP address of the VNX system to be added. When adding a system into the domain, the system being added will be removed from any of its existing domain configurations. Obviously you will also be asked for credentials to login to the VNX system being added. Once the VNX system is added, it will be displayed in the System List page.