What is required to expose backend storage in the local installation steps?

To successfully expose backend storage during the local installation steps, zoning the backend (BE) ports is essential. Zoning creates secure communication paths between the storage devices and the VPLEX system, allowing for proper connectivity and ensuring that the system can access the backend storage. This process prevents unauthorized devices from interacting with the storage, thus securing the configuration and ensuring reliable data transfer.

Zoning is typically performed at the fabric level, where the physical ports of the storage arrays are connected to the VPLEX cluster. Properly configured zoning is crucial for the physical layer of connectivity, allowing the VPLEX to manage data flows and interactions with the backend storage effectively.

Other actions, such as activating front-end ports or creating virtual volumes, are related to managing data and processing within the system but do not directly address the necessity of establishing a foundational connectivity layer with the backend storage. Similarly, registering the cluster is part of integrating the VPLEX into the environment but does not specifically pertain to exposing backend storage. Therefore, zoning the backend ports is the critical first step needed to ensure connectivity and functionality with the backend storage system.