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Solaris with XIV?
Just a quick note about using Oracle Solaris with IBM XIV (I so want to say "SUN Solaris", I need to retrain my brain). When using IBM XIV with Solaris, you need to install IBM's XIV Host Attachment Kit (delightfully called a HAK). This is to ensure multi-pathing is correctly configured (regardless of whether your using DMP or MPxIO). The relevant software, release notes and instruction... [More]
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Avoid vendor block - buy IBM
There has been a lot of chatter on the blog verse about so called vendor blockers (I think you can shorten that to vblock). This is the idea that a pre-blessed solution is the safest way to build infrastructure in the data centre. I can see the attraction, but I suggest the best way to get there is with the vendor who is most willing to work with the widest range of their competitors. And you... [More]
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Latest updates to the IBM Support Site
Its that time again! Rob Jackard from the ATS Group has shared with me his list of IBM Storage related updates. Storwize V7000 already has a huge amount of great material out there, links are below. Have a quick look... you may see links that are relevant to you! AIX /
Misc: (2010.10.13) Support Matrix for Subsystem Device Driver, Subsystem
Device Driver Path Control Module, and Subsystem... [More]
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New IBM Storage iPhone and BlackBerry app
I just got an email that I thought I would share with you. IBM Storage have a new iPhone and Blackberry app. I am test driving it as I type this (which is never wize... don't drive and type . You can download the IBM Storage iPhone and Blackberry apps from here: . iPhone/iPod/iPad: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibm-storage-mobile-quick-reference/id395513650?mt=8 Blackberry:... [More]
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Whats new in SVC 6.1 code?
The SAN Volume Controller ( SVC) has truly come of age in 2010. With release 6.1 we not only combine it with the very mature RAID adapters of
the DS8000 to produce the Storwize
V7000 , but we continue to develop the SVC as the world’s leading Storage
Virtualization platform. For existing SVC clients, you will be able to download SVC code 6.1 once it
reaches the Generally Available (GA) date,... [More]
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WWPN Determination for IBM Storage
For many years I have been working on a document that lets you translate a World Wide Port Name (WWPN) into a physical location on an IBM Storage System. I blogged recently about how SVC and Storwize V7000 WWPNs have a slightly different layout. The contents of that blog entry come straight from that document. I have now pushed that document out to IBM Techdocs. You can download it from here:... [More]
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Storwize V7000 WWPNs - Port numbers now match WWPN
For those of you who have worked with SVC, you will be aware of a quirk when determining the WWPN of an SVC fibre channel port. The WWPN
of each fibre channel port is based on: 50:05:07:68:01: Y z:zz:zz where z:zz:zz is unique for each machine and the Y value is taken from the port position (the red numbers in the boxes shown below). Port
numbers (used for servicing) are always sequentially... [More]
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Ten things your going to love about DS8800
The DS8800 is the next step in the evolution of the DS8000 family. Its an evolution that began in the 1990s with the Enterprise Storage Server (the Shark). In 2004 we announced the DS8000 and we have progressively brought out more and more powerful models since then. The DS8800 is the next stage in this progress and brings in 2.5" SAS drives. So I thought I would get excited by listing 10... [More]
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Taking the next step
Today
IBM is announcing a set of remarkable new storage products and enhancements. Quite simply, the focus is on delivering three things: ·
Storage
Efficiency ·
Ease of
use ·
Smart
technology The
announcements show not only IBMs significant investment in storage but also
IBMs tremendous depth of knowledge and experience. You will
rapidly see that the... [More]
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XIV and AIX - Part three - Change your attributes
In part three of my series, AIX and XIV.... I will explore
the recommended configuration changes you should make to AIX when attaching XIV
disk. AIX uses three device types when considering fibre channel disk: fcs This is the physical fibre channel
adapter (we get one for every fibre channel adapter port), e.g.
fcs0 and fcs1 fscsi This is the SCSI software interface for the... [More]
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XIV and AIX Part Two - Zoning
So the next challenge when connecting your XIV to your AIX LPAR is how to zone the SAN (or hopefully, each SAN fabric). The XIV consists of a number of modules (from 6 to 15), of which a subset are Interface Modules (meaning they have fibre channel and iSCSI interfaces) Zone the SAN so that each HBA in an LPAR has 3 paths to the XIV. If an LPAR has two HBAs, then zone the first HBA to modules 4, 6... [More]
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XIV and AIX Part One - Device drivers
So your planning to attach your XIV at an AIX host? Here are some best practices for you to follow. . 1) Native XIV detection The XIV uses a path control module (PCM) that plugs into AIX MPIO. Depending on your AIX level the XIV will be recognised natively by AIX without additional software. This is nice because it means you can simply run cfgmgr and detect the XIV hdisks without doing any... [More]
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XIV power announcements
IBM has announced some new XIV power features while withdrawing others. The changes are being made to simplify the ordering process while making the power choices more robust and better suited to client requirements. So what changed? Some of the Chicago line cords have been withdrawn (where no longer required by law). The 30 amp single phase line cords have all been withdrawn. The requirement... [More]
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IBM System Storage Technical Symposium
I am pleased to announce IBM will have a Symposium dedicated just to IBM System Storage. It will be held at: . Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour 150 Day Street Sydney, Australia DURATION: 2.5 days DATE: 6-8 December 2010 (thats a Monday to Wednesday). . I am personally organising the session list in conjunction with our USA based Symposium organisation team. I am also helping to line up the... [More]
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Easy Tier - its not cache - its smarter.
This year is the year IBM brought Easy Tier to the market place. Easy Tier is not a product.... or a piece of hardware: Easy Tier is a software technology... and it is smart technology. It comes out of IBM's Almaden Research Centre and is designed to fit into any storage product that has a modular software architecture (think internal Unix operating systems like AIX or Linux). The first... [More]
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