The Storage Group details page

Use the Storage Group details page to view or modify information about a specific storage group on a DPM-enabled system. The Storage Group details page consists of a summary, a set of action icons, and tabbed sections that you can select to change the lower portion of the page display.

The actions that are displayed depend on the fulfillment state of the storage group, the type of storage group, and the authorization of the user who is accessing the Storage Group details page. DPM runs a background check of storage resources for FCP storage groups and, if necessary, changes the fulfillment state. These checks are more frequent (every 10 minutes) for fulfillment states other than Complete (every 24 hours). Users can manually start a background check by selecting the Connection Report icon, and selecting the Update report icon (This icon is a circular arrow, pointing clockwise). Users can download the report contents for FICON storage group in Comma Separated Values (CSV) format (view in a spreadsheet application), and the report contents for an FCP storage group in JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format (view in a browser or text editor).

For specific fulfillment states, various summary fields, tabbed sections, and table entries have a pending, incomplete, or warning icon to alert you to details that might need your attention or action. The following list describes the fulfillment state values.
Checking migration
An existing DPM configuration was either upgraded on the same system, or migrated to another system that has DPM R3.1 or a later DPM version applied. This fulfillment state indicates that DPM is checking the logical and physical elements that support a storage group it created during a system migration or firmware upgrade process.

In some cases, this check detects a storage group that cannot be fulfilled because logical unit numbers (LUNs) are not visible. For such cases, the fulfillment state does not change from Checking migration. For DPM to recheck the storage group and change the fulfillment state, the storage administrator must fix the configuration in the storage subsystem, and an administrator must open the Connection Report and select the Update report icon.

For more details about the migration process, see the appropriate topic in Migrating DPM configuration data to a new system.

Complete
The storage group is ready for use.
Incomplete
One or more volumes or adapters that are used for a storage group are marked as incomplete. DPM periodically checks the availability of storage volumes or adapters for storage groups, so resources that were functioning properly can become incomplete.

The VOLUMES or ADAPTERS tab, and specific table entries for the tab display, are marked with the incomplete icon (This icon consists of a solid red circle with a white exclamation point inside).

Pending
A system administrator has sent a request to create or modify a FICON or FCP storage group, but the storage administrator has not finished fulfilling that request through tools for managing storage subsystems. When a creation, modification, or deletion request is in progress, the affected summary fields, section tabs, and table entries are marked with the pending icon (This icon is a blank white clock with a orange outline and solid orange wedge from positions 9 to 12).
Pending with mismatches
For an FCP storage group, a system administrator sent a request to create or modify that storage group, and the storage administrator fulfilled that request, but with an amount of storage that does not exactly match the original request. For an NVMe storage group, as part of a repair, one or more NVMe SSDs were replaced with SSDs of a different size. The VOLUMES tab has a pending icon (This icon is a blank white clock with a orange outline and wedge from positions 9 to 12, and a black exclamation point over its face) next to it, and the table rows for mismatched volumes are marked with a warning icon (This icon consist of a solid orange triangle containing a black exclamation point).

The tabbed sections provide more details related to the storage group. The tabbed sections vary, depending on the type of storage group. Note that the pending icons (This icon is a blank white clock with a orange outline and solid orange wedge from positions 9 to 12 or This icon is a blank white clock with a orange outline and wedge from positions 9 to 12, and a black exclamation point over its face), incomplete icon (This icon consists of a solid red circle with a white exclamation point inside), and warning icon (This icon consist of a solid yellow triangle containing a black exclamation point) indicate details that might require your attention or action.

The following list describes the tabbed sections on the Storage Group details page.

VOLUMES
The VOLUMES tab display varies, depending on the type of storage group. For an FCP or NVMe storage group, the tab displays a single table that lists all volumes associated with the storage group. For a FICON storage group, the tab displays two tables: Base Volumes and Alias Volumes. Depending on the volume type, the table display includes the following information: storage subsystem, volume ID or UUID, capacity, type, device ID, and a user-supplied description, if any. The table also includes a link through which you can view information that you need to enable a partition's operating system or installer to access a specific volume.

The VOLUMES tab display also varies depending on the current fulfillment state of the storage group. The Storage Group details page lists the fulfillment states, describes the table display, and provides possible actions you might take to resolve any issues. Note that, in some cases, more than one type of pending request might be in effect.

Table 1. Effect of fulfillment status on the Volume tab display
Fulfillment state Volume tab display Possible action
Checking migration

This fulfillment state indicates that DPM is checking the logical and physical elements that support a storage group it created during a system migration or firmware upgrade process.

The display contains an empty Volumes table. When DPM completes the check, it changes the fulfillment state to Complete or Pending with mismatches.

In some cases, this check detects a storage group that cannot be fulfilled because logical unit numbers (LUNs) are not visible. For such cases, the fulfillment state does not change from Checking migration. For DPM to recheck the storage group and change the fulfillment state, the storage administrator must fix the configuration in the storage subsystem, and an administrator must open the Connection Report and select the Update report icon (This icon is a circular arrow, pointing clockwise).

Complete

This fulfillment state indicates that DPM has successfully detected all of the logical and physical elements that support the volumes in this storage group.

Note that DPM can mark a FICON storage group as Complete even if some requested alias devices were not included because of device number conflicts with base volumes.

The display contains a table entry with complete information for all volumes in this storage group. None.

If alias volumes are excluded from a FICON storage group, scroll to view the Alias Volumes table; if some alias volumes were not included, an inline message prior to the table indicates the number of alias volumes that were excluded, and provides a link through which you can open a new window to view and resolve specific device number conflicts.

Incomplete

This fulfillment state indicates that one or more volumes are incomplete. Volumes can be marked as incomplete under the following conditions.

  • When DPM can no longer detect them in the FICON configuration.
  • When DPM found a problem when checking the results of a system migration or firmware upgrade process to the DPM R3.1 storage management feature or a later release.
  • When DPM detects that an NVMe adapter has become degraded or the NVMe SSD was incorrectly removed from its carrier card.
An incomplete icon (This icon consists of a solid red circle with a white exclamation point inside) is displayed in the table entry of each incomplete volume. To diagnose the problem for an FCP or FICON storage group, select the Connection Report action icon (This icon consists of dots connected by lines).
When an NVMe storage group is marked as Incomplete, go to the HISTORY tab and check entries in the Actions table to find more details about the specific error.
  • You can remove the volume that is marked with the incomplete icon, but you do not need to take any action as long as the NVMe storage group contains other volumes that are usable. The Incomplete fulfillment status and incomplete icons continue to be displayed for the SSD until a repair is completed under the direction of a service representative.
  • If you do not remove the volume and the NVMe SSD in error is later reinstalled or replaced, DPM detects the repair, and either changes the fulfillment state to Complete or to Pending with mismatches. Note that, if the SSD in error is replaced by a different SSD, DPM automatically changes the serial number of the volume.
Pending (creation request)

When a creation request is in progress, this fulfillment state indicates that some information in the volume table is not available yet.

A pending icon (This icon is a blank white clock with a orange outline and solid orange wedge from positions 9 to 12) marks incomplete table rows until DPM provides the information. In the case of a FICON storage group, a storage administrator must select the Map Volumes action icon (This icon consists of two partially overlapping circles) and complete that task before DPM can complete the table.
Pending (modification request)

This fulfillment state indicates that a modification request is in progress for one or more volumes.

A pending icon (This icon is a blank white clock with a orange outline and solid orange wedge from positions 9 to 12) marks the table entries for volumes to be modified. The CAPACITY column indicates not only the current volume size, but also the pending change. None. When the modification request is satisfied, the pending icons are removed, and the CAPACITY column values are updated to show only the modified size.
Pending (deletion request)

This fulfillment state indicates that a deletion request is in progress for one or more volumes.

A pending icon (This icon is a blank white clock with a orange outline and solid orange wedge from positions 9 to 12) marks the table entries for volumes to be deleted, and the values in those table entries are crossed out. None. When the deletion request is satisfied, the table entries are removed from the display.
Pending with mismatches

This fulfillment state indicates that DPM has detected changes to the number, size, or accessibility of volumes in the storage group. The following items describe the various conditions under which DPM assigns this fulfillment state to an FCP or NVMe storage group.

  1. DPM detected more volumes for an FCP storage group than the number that was originally requested.
  2. DPM detected the correct number of volumes in an FCP storage group, but the volume sizes are either larger or smaller than originally requested.
  3. DPM detected a volume but that volume is not accessible through all of the worldwide port numbers (WWPNs) that are available for use with an FCP storage group.
  4. As part of a repair, an NVMe SSD was replaced by an SSD with a larger or smaller capacity.
All of the mismatched volumes are displayed at the top of the table, enclosed in a box. A warning icon (This icon consist of a solid yellow triangle containing a black exclamation point) is displayed in the CAPACITY column of each mismatched volume. Both the previous and current sizes are shown in the CAPACITY column, along with a message that explains the mismatch.
  • The first two conditions for an FCP storage group can be resolved by selecting either REQUEST DELETION to remove the volumes or KEEP IN GROUP. Use the check boxes to select the mismatched volumes that you want to keep or delete. Note that you can modify the type or description of these mismatched volumes, and these changes are saved when you select KEEP IN GROUP.
  • The third condition for an FCP storage group can be resolved only by a storage administrator, through the storage management subsystem; checking the connection report can help identify the errors that need to be corrected.
  • For a replacement NVMe SSD that is not the same size as the removed SSD, you can either keep the replacement SSD as a volume in the storage group, or modify the storage group to remove the replacement SSD or add different SSDs.
PARTITIONS
The PARTITIONS tab lists the partitions to which the storage group is attached. If necessary, you can select one or more partitions in the table and detach the storage group from them by selecting DETACH STORAGE GROUP. This action can be disruptive when the partitions are in Active state, are in Paused state, or are using a volume in the storage group as a boot volume. In such cases, a warning, error, or informational message is displayed and you are prompted to confirm the detachment. Note that only one partition can use an NVMe storage group at any given time; an NVMe storage group cannot be shared.
The Partitions table on this tab includes the following information: partition name, current status, and a user-supplied description, if any.
  • For an FCP storage group only, each row in the Partitions table can be expanded to show details about the host bus adapters (HBAs) that the partition is using to access storage. If necessary, you can select CHANGE ADAPTERS to review the adapters assigned to a storage group and remove or replace them with other adapters that are available for use by a partition. You can change an adapter only when an HBA with a backing adapter is available.
  • You also have the option of changing the device number for HBAs. If you change the device number, specify a four-character hexadecimal device number. For FICON storage groups, volume device numbers must be in the range 0000 - ffff, and must be unique within a storage group and across all attached partitions and partition resources.
ADAPTERS
The ADAPTERS tab lists the adapters that are assigned to the storage group. The adapter attributes include the name, ID, type, location, and current allocation.
  • If adapters are not yet assigned, the ADAPTERS tab has a pending icon (This icon is a blank white clock with a orange outline and solid orange wedge from positions 9 to 12) next to it, and the Adapters table is empty. The total at the foot of the Adapters table lists how many adapters are assigned to the storage group.
  • If an existing adapter becomes incomplete, the ADAPTERS tab has an incomplete icon (This icon consists of a solid red circle with a white exclamation point inside) next to it, and the table entry for that adapter is highlighted with the incomplete icon. If one or more adapters are incomplete, the fulfillment status of the storage group is Incomplete.
WWPN (displayed for FCP storage groups only)
The WWPN tab lists the worldwide port numbers (WWPNs) that are available for use. This tab is displayed only for an FCP storage group. The tab display contains two tables: one table that lists each WWPN that is in use by a partition, and one table that lists unused WWPNs. The tables include the following information: the WWPN, its current state and, if the WWPN is in use, the name of the associated partition and host bus adapter (HBA).
HISTORY
The HISTORY tab lists the actions that users have taken for this storage group. The most recent action is listed at the top of the History table. Information in the ACTION column not only briefly describes the activity, but also preserves details such as requests that were sent to storage administrators for fulfillment.
  • When the storage group is attached to one or more partitions, some changes that are made to the storage group can require corresponding changes on the operating system that the partition hosts. In this case, use the link in the ACTION column entry to display a list of required updates.
  • If the storage group is deleted, you can access the history details only for the next 30 days, by using the HMC Web Services API for DPM.