Product Documentation
Abstract
Support of IBM SAN Volume Controller with IBM Storage Insights and IBM Spectrum Control 5.4 (all versions).
Content
IBM SAN Volume Controller supported software/firmware levels:
| Supported Software | Notes |
|---|---|
Tested firmware levels:
|
|
Tips:
- Newer software levels are also supported. For IBM Spectrum Control, an upgrade to a later version might be required, particularly for new functions. IBM Storage Insights is automatically upgraded. If any problems occur while using newer than listed software levels, open a support case. IBM Support will investigate the problem and attempt to resolve it. You can open cases for IBM Storage Insights or IBM Spectrum Control at https://www.ibm.com/mysupport/.
- If any problems occur while using older software levels, upgrade to an officially supported version.
- View the Support Statement for the Spectrum Virtualize Family of Products and Related Software for up-to-date software version life-cycle information.
- SAN Volume Controller running firmware 8.5.3 and later and have 128 GB or more of system memory can be integrated with IBM Storage Insights by using Call Home with cloud services. As mentioned in the table above, to avoid known issues the suggested firmware is 8.6.0.3 or later. For more information about Call Home with cloud services, see Enabling Call Home with cloud services.
Limitations and considerations
- Important notes when integrating Storage systems with IBM Storage Insights:
- Ransomware threat detection is available through Data Collector, but if you want to take advantage of the ransomware threat detection associated with FlashCore Module drives, you'll need to monitor the device through Call Home with cloud services.
- Storage systems that integrate with IBM Storage Insights by using Call Home with cloud services and run firmware level 8.5.4 - 8.6.0.2 may experience timeouts when probing, collecting performance data, or while uploading log packages. If this occurs the Data Collection and Performance Monitor Status will show as "No Call Home Contact". To prevent and resolve the problem upgrade firmware to 8.6.0.3 or later. For a workaround and more details, see details in SVC APAR 110059 and SVC APAR 117768.
- Storage Insights log collection upload may fail with message "a log upload is already running or has been run too recently". Sometimes this prevents future log upload requests from starting. This is resolved in firmware 8.7.0.7 and higher, and on 9.1.0.0 and higher. For more details, see SVC APAR 148606.
- Volume groups and policy based replication are newer functions and are only monitored through Call Home with cloud services.
- IBM SAN Volume Controller firmware level 8.5.0.5 is supported, but may cause problems when adding the system to IBM Storage Insights. Suggest upgrading to 8.5.0.7 or later.
- IBM SAN Volume Controller firmware levels 8.3.1.2 - 8.3.1.5 have known issues and are not supported. For more information see Spectrum Control APAR IT40647 and Storage Insights APAR IT42491. To prevent or resolve the problem upgrade firmware to 8.3.1.6 or later.
- IBM SAN Volume Controller firmware 8.1.3.5 has known issues and is not supported. For more information see APAR IT31680 and corresponding SVC APAR HU01916.
- Problems have been encountered with systems on SVC 6.x software levels, and therefore not supported, see APAR IT33466 for details.
- When you add an IBM SAN Volume Controller for monitoring, you must specify a user ID and password of an administrator on the cluster that has sufficient privileges to maintain the associated SSH key.
Learn more about IBM Spectrum Control
IBM Spectrum Control is an on-premises storage management, monitoring, and reporting solution for storage systems, hypervisors, servers, fabrics, and switches.
- For detailed information about the capabilities of IBM Spectrum Control, see IBM Docs.
- For a complete list of the storage systems that are supported by Spectrum Control, see Supported Storage Products.
Learn more about IBM Storage Insights
IBM Storage Insights is a complementary offering to IBM Spectrum Control. It's an off-premises, IBM Cloud service that provides cognitive support capabilities, monitoring, and reporting for storage systems.
- For detailed information about the capabilities of IBM Storage Insights, see IBM Docs.
- For a complete list of the storage systems that are supported by IBM Storage Insights, see Supported resources.
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Document Information
Modified date:
16 September 2025
UID
swg27050308