HyperSwap volumes

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HyperSwap® volumes create copies on separate sites for systems that are configured with HyperSwap topology. Data that is written to a HyperSwap volume is automatically sent to both copies so that either site can provide access to the volume if the other site becomes unavailable. HyperSwap volumes are supported on systems that contain more than one I/O group.

The HyperSwap configuration is a system topology that enables high availability between I/O groups at two different locations, either at the same site or at two separate sites. Before you configure HyperSwap volumes, the system topology needs to be configured for HyperSwap and sites must be defined. The HyperSwap configuration can be extended to a third site for disaster recovery withIBM Spectrum Virtualize 3-Site Orchestrator. The IBM Spectrum Virtualize 3-Site Orchestrator manages and coordinates replication between the HyperSwap system and a third disaster recovery site. The 3-Site Orchestrator responds automatically during outages and connection issues with limited intervention by administrators.

In the management GUI, HyperSwap volumes are configured by specifying volume details such as quantity, capacity, name, and the method for saving capacity. As with basic volumes, you can choose either compression or thin-provisioning to save capacity on volumes. For thin-provisioning or compression, you can also select to use deduplication for the volume that you create. For example, you can create a compressed volume that also uses deduplication to remove duplicated data. The method for capacity savings applies to all HyperSwap volumes and copies that are created. The volume location displays the site where copies are located, based on the configured sites for the HyperSwap system topology. For each site, specify a pool and I/O group that are used by the volume copies that are created on each site. If you select to deduplicate volume data, the volume copies must be in data reduction pools on both sites.

The Hyperswap volumes can be configured as a Safeguarded source volumes. However, a Safeguarded backup volume cannot be configured with HyperSwap. The Safeguarded Copy function is configured separately on each sites with independent Safeguarded policies, Safeguarded volume groups, and Safeguarded backup location. For more information on Safeguarded source volumes, see Safeguarded source volume.

In addition, the management GUI creates an HyperSwap relationship and change volumes automatically. HyperSwap relationships manage the synchronous replication of data between HyperSwap volume copies at the two sites. If your HyperSwap system supports self-encrypting drives and the base volume is a standard-provisioned volume in a data reduction pool, then the corresponding change volume is created with compression enabled. If base volume is in a standard pool, then the change volume is created as a thin-provisioned volume. You can specify a consistency group that contains multiple HyperSwap relationships to simplify management of replication and provide consistency across multiple volumes. A consistency group is commonly used when an application spans multiple volumes. Change volumes maintain a consistent copy of data during resynchronization. Change volumes allow an older copy to be used for data recovery when a failure occurred on the up-to-date copy before resynchronization completes.

Note: During resynchronization, the capacity that is used by the change volume increases to the same amount of storage as the difference between the old copy and the new copy. This data is the amount of data that got changed on the active copy because the older copy lost synchronization.

Ensure that there is a sufficient available capacity in the storage pool on each site to accommodate this data. You must consider that in the event of a complete site failure, all HyperSwap volumes resynchronize at the same time. After the resynchronization process is completed, the capacity used by the change volume automatically shrinks back to its original size.

You can also use the mkvolume command to create a HyperSwap volume. The command also defines pools and sites for HyperSwap volume copies and creates the HyperSwap (copy type -activeactive) relationship and change volumes automatically. If your HyperSwap system supports self-encrypting drives and the base volume is a standard-provisioned volume in a data reduction pool, then the corresponding change volume is created with compression enabled. If base volume is in a standard pool, then the change volume is created as a thin-provisioned volume.

Creating a HyperSwap volume without a disaster recovery site

After you set up the HyperSwap system on two sites, configure HyperSwap volumes. After you create the HyperSwap volumes, a HyperSwap relationship is also created with the associated change volumes. To create HyperSwap volumes, complete these steps:

In the management GUI, select Volumes > Volumes > Create Volumes.
On the Create Volume page, select HyperSwap volume.
Under HyperSwap Details, select the pool and preferred I/O group for each site for the volumes you are creating.
Under Volume Details specify the properties, such as capacity and naming conventions. The system automatically creates change volumes that synchronize changes between the sites that were created when the HyperSwap system topology was configured. If your HyperSwap system supports self-encrypting drives and the base volume is a standard-provisioned volume in a data reduction pool, then the corresponding change volume is created with compression enabled. If base volume is in a standard pool, then the change volume is created as a thin-provisioned volume.
Click Create.

Creating a HyperSwap volume with disaster recovery site

To create HyperSwap volumes for disaster recovery, the HyperSwap system topology must be configured and all required configuration steps on IBM Spectrum Virtualize 3-Site Orchestrator must be completed.

Prerequisites

Ensure that the HyperSwap topology is configured.
Complete all the configuration steps for the systems and IBM Spectrum Virtualize 3-Site Orchestrator.

In the management GUI, select Volumes > Volumes > Create Volumes.
On the Create Volume page, select HyperSwap volume.
Under HyperSwap Details, select the pool and preferred I/O group for each site for the volumes you are creating.
Under Disaster Recovery, the management GUI detects if the HyperSwap system is also configured in a 3-site partnership and creates copies on system at the specified auxiliary-far site.
Under Volume Details, specify the properties, such as capacity and naming conventions. The system automatically creates change volumes that synchronize changes between the sites that were created when the HyperSwap system topology was configured. If your HyperSwap system supports self-encrypting drives and the base volume is a standard-provisioned volume in a data reduction pool, then the corresponding change volume is created with compression enabled. If base volume is in a standard pool, then the change volume is created as a thin-provisioned volume.
Click Create. After the create operation processes, the HyperSwap volume and copies on each site are created and a HyperSwap relationship is created.
Click Continue to specify consistency group options for the 3-site configuration.
On the Consistency Group Details page, select one of the following options for creating a 3-site consistency groups for the HyperSwap configuration.
Create
Select this option and enter a name to create a new consistency group for the 3-site configuration and complete these steps:
1. Enter the name of the new consistency group. Click Next.
2. For Group page, enter the following settings:
  
  Cycle period
  
  Enter the number of seconds between replication cycles between the asynchronous source and the auxiliary-far system.
3. Click Next.
4. Under Choose a pool, specify the numerical ID for the storage pool on the auxiliary-far site that provides capacity for the target volumes. To verify these details, select Launch the Aux-Far management GUI, and select Pools > Pools. If the selected pool is a data reduction pool, select This is a data reduction pool.
5. Under Aux-Far pool settings, select the method for saving capacity that this pool uses.
6. In the Volume base name field, enter a naming convention that identifies the volume as part of the 3-site consistency group. The names are automatically generated to include the specified base name, the name of the 3-site consistency group, and an incremental number.
7. Click Assign.
Convert 2-Site

Select this option if you have an existing HyperSwap configuration that uses consistency groups to manage HyperSwap relationships. The management GUI only displays HyperSwap consistency groups that are in the Consistent synchronized state. Select one of the available consistency groups and click Next. On the Convert a consistency group page, complete these steps:
1. For Group page, enter the following settings:
  
  Cycle period
  
  Enter the number of seconds between replication cycles between the asynchronous source and the auxiliary-far system.
2. Click Next.
3. Under Choose a pool, specify the numerical ID for the storage pool on the auxiliary-far site that provides capacity for the target volumes. To verify these details, select Launch the Aux-Far management GUI, and select Pools > Pools. If the selected pool is a data reduction pool, select This is a data reduction pool.
4. Under Aux-Far pool settings, select the method for saving capacity that this pool uses.
5. In the Volume base name field, enter a naming convention that identifies the volume as part of the 3-site consistency group. The names are automatically generated to include the specified base name, the name of the 3-site consistency group, and an incremental number.
6. Click Assign.
Select 3-site
Select this option to add the HyperSwap relationship to an existing 3-site consistency group. The management GUI displays the 3-site consistency groups in the Consistent synchronized state that are configured between these systems. Select one of the available consistency groups and click Create and complete the following steps:
1. Under Choose a pool, specify the numerical ID for the storage pool on the auxiliary-far site that provides capacity for the target volumes. To verify these details, select Launch the Aux-Far management GUI, and select Pools > Pools. If the selected pool is a data reduction pool, select This is a data reduction pool.
2. In the Volume base name field, enter a naming convention that identifies the volume as part of the 3-site consistency group. The names are automatically generated to include the specified base name, the name of the 3-site consistency group, and an incremental number.
3. Click Assign.