IT24099: UNEXPECTED PORT STATUS CHANGES FOR SVC WITH FLASHSYSTEM BACK-ENDSTORAGE

IBM Spectrum Control 5.3.3 (May 2019)

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• In an observed case, the SVC ports configured to backend
  FlashSystem storage, triggered storage system port status change
  ("not normal") alerts whenever the backend FlashSystem storage
  was probed.  The SVC alerts were observed to be occurring at the
  same time each day, corresponding with the backend storage probe
  schedule.
  
  The detectability and status values for the ports of a
  virtualizer (like SVC) are changing while the probing the
  back-end storage system (like FlashSystem).  If storage system
  port status change alerts are defined for the virtualizer
  storage, they will be triggered during the backend storage
  probe.  It also means that the affected virtualizer ports will
  disappear from the Spectrum Control GUI until the probe on the
  virtualizer has been subsequently run and detectability has been
  updated.
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * IBM Spectrum Control users monitoring SVC with FlashSystem   *
  * backend storage                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * IBM Spectrum Control had unexpected SVC alerts triggered.    *
  *                                                              *
  * The potential scenario for this is if an SVC port is         *
  * configured                                                   *
  * to a backend FlashSystem storage                             *
  *                                                              *
  * This had triggered storage system port status change         *
  * ("not normal") alerts whenever the backend FlashSystem       *
  * storage was probed.  The SVC alerts were observed to be      *
  * occurring at the same time each day, corresponding with the  *
  * backend storage probe schedule.                              *
  *                                                              *
  * The detectability and status values for the ports of a       *
  * virtualizer (like SVC) are changing while the probing the    *
  * back-end storage system (like FlashSystem).  If storage      *
  * system                                                       *
  * port status change alerts are defined for the virtualizer    *
  * storage, they will be triggered during the backend storage   *
  * probe.  It also means that the affected virtualizer ports    *
  * will                                                         *
  * disappear from the Spectrum Control GUI until the probe on   *
  * the                                                          *
  * virtualizer has been subsequently run and detectability has  *
  * been                                                         *
  * updated.                                                     *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  * Apply fix maintenance when available                         *
  ****************************************************************
  

Problem conclusion

• The fix for this APAR is targeted for the following release:
  
  IBM Spectrum Control 5.3.3  |  5.3.3-IBM-SC
  
  ( release target May 2019 )
  
  http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?&uid=swg21320822
  
  The target dates for future releases do not represent a formal
  commitment by IBM. The dates are subject to change without
  notice.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  TPC ADVANCED

• Fixed component ID

  5608TPCA0

Applicable component levels