PowerHA Tools for IBM i - IASP Manager

PowerHA Tools IASP Manager is a high availability product written by IBM Lab Services. It is designed for IBM i customers using IBM storage and/or using PowerHA with Independent Auxiliary Storage Pool (IASP) solutions.

The principle goal is to provide simplicity and automation to manage these environments.  PowerHA tools IASP Manager moves the management of storage, HMC and CSM functions to the IBM i through the use of CL commands and automated scripts.   It also provides the ability to monitor, test and customize the environment as required

All customers should check the PowerHA Tools Code levels and Support Details page of the website regularly for information pertaining to the latest code and fixes.

The solutions supported by PowerHA Tools IASP Manager are:

• FlashCopy with PowerHA Tools IASP Manager
  PowerHA Tools IASP Manager-FlashCopy provides functions to assist with automation and management of FlashCopy via a set of commands you can use to create a “point in time” copy of an Independent Auxiliary Storage Pool (IASP).  IASP Manager-FlashCopy works with DS8000 or SVC-based storage (e.g. V7000, V5000, V3700, FlashSystem V9000, or any storage behind an SVC).

   

  Features

  Fully automates the entire FlashCopy process including the following items:

  • Vary off or quiesce the production IASP
  • Creation of the FlashCopy (warm or cold flash) on external storage subsystem
  • Connect or disconnect the host connections for the FlashCopy target LUNs
  • Vary on the IASP on production or FlashCopy node
  • Integrate with and run a customized backup program on the FlashCopy target through exit program capabilities
  • Vary off the IASP and remove the FlashCopy (if desired) on the FlashCopy node once backups are complete
  • Integrates with remote copy to ensure flash copy is of valid data

  Benefits

  • Automatically check for FlashCopy readiness
  • Issue a FlashCopy, vary on the IASP to the FlashCopy node, and perform a backup all through a single CL command
  • Can be run from any node in the cluster that is part of the Copy Services environment
  • Ease of management utilities across multiple nodes in the PowerHA cluster
  • Complements and provides enhanced functionality to IBM i PowerHA FlashCopy environments
  • Integration and automation of BRMS backup functions with the IASP on the FlashCopy node
  • Allows a single FlashCopy node to utilize multiple copies of the IASP (DS8000 only)
  • Provides scripts to allow customized enhancements to FlashCopy environments (reverse flash, flash from PPRC source, etc) -- DS8000 only

  Environment required

  • Current version of PowerHA tools IASP Manager
  • IBM external Storage Units including any storage attached via SVC
  • PowerHA for IBM i any version  ( 57xxHAS )

• LUN-Level Switching with PowerHA Tools IASP Manager
  LUN-Level Switching provides the ability to automate the switch of a set of LUNs between two IBM i hosts.

  Features

  Fully automates the entire LUN-Level Switch process including the following items:

  •     Vary off the IASP on the production IBM i
  •     Unmap the storage LUNs from the current production IBM i partition
  •     Map the storage LUNs to the current HA/new production IBM i partition
  •     Vary on the IASP on the new production IBM i

  Benefits

  •     Manage the single-site switch of a production IASP environment from a single IBM i command
  •     Provides a single-site high-availability solution
  •     Assists with upgrades and maintenance windows by providing a rolling upgrade where the IASP is switched the second partition to allow the activities on the first partition
  •     Ease of management of multiple environments in a cluster
  •     Additional logging maintained in a centralized location
  •     Complements IBM i PowerHA with additional automation techniques

  Environment Required

  • Current version of PowerHA tools IASP Manager
  • IBM external Storage Units DS8000 only (PowerHA performs the same function for Spectrum Virtualize)
  • PowerHA for IBM i any version  ( 57xxHAS )

• Remote Copy with PowerHA Tools IASP Manager
  Remote Copy complements PowerHA for IBM i by providing additional functions, customization and simplification of the customer’s run time environment for Metro Mirror and/or Global Mirror environments for Independent Auxiliary Storage Pool (IASP).  IASP Manager-Remote Copy is currently supported for DS8000 external subsystems and select Spectrum Virtualize with CSM solutions.

  Features

  Provides full automation for either a Metro Mirror or Global Mirror environment (or both), including the following:

  •     Check environment for switch readiness
  •     Sends confirmation inquiry during planned (scheduled) switchovers prior to initiating the switch process
  •     Vary off the IASP on production prior to switchover
  •     Automates planned or unplanned switchovers of Metro Mirror or Global Mirror environment
  •     Provides option for automating replication in reverse after switchover
  •     Provides option for "detaching" the target LUNs and bringing a copy of the IASP online to a backup system for data checks or performing backups
  •     Vary on the IASP on "backup" (now, production) after switchover
  •     Facilitates the integration of DS8000 storage through DSCLI or CSM interfaces
  •     Can be used with CSM to manage the replication of Spectrum Virtualize Metro Mirror or Global Mirror with change volumes

  Benefits

  •     Simplifies switchover (planned switch) or failover (unplanned switch) process AND reversal of replication through single CL command (SWPPRC)
  •     Simplifies "detach" operation through menu option
  •     Extends PowerHA for IBM i capabilities through the use of automated scripts and tools
  •     Additional logging maintained in a centralized location
  •     Provides an interface for managing/fixing replication errors, if required

  Environment required

  •     IBM DS8000 or can be Spectrum Virtualize with CSM
  •     Copy Services (Metro Mirror or Global Mirror)
  •     PowerHA for IBM i Enterprise Edition on all nodes

• Multi-Target Copy with PowerHA Tools IASP Manager
  Multi-Target Copy supports multi-target solutions using up to four sites.  This includes:

  •     Metro Mirror - Metro Mirror (MM/MM) Two Metro Mirror targets from the same production (source) node
  •     Metro Mirror - Global Mirror (MM/GM) One Metro Mirror target and one Global Mirror target from the same production (source) node
  •     Metro Mirror - Global Mirror + GCP (MM/GM) One Metro Mirror target, one Global Mirror target from the same source + 1 Global Copy target cascaded from the Global Mirror node

  Multi-Target Copy requires DS8000 and IBM Copy Services Manager (CSM).

  Features

  Provides full automation for multi target environments including the following:

  •     Check environment(s) for switch-readiness
  •     Vary off the IASP on production during switch
  •     Automation of the planned or unplanned switch of the Metro Mirror or Global Mirror environment
  •     Vary on the IASP after switchover to the new node owning the production copy

  Benefits

  •     Metro Mirror - Metro Mirror (MM/MM) - 2 synchronous pairs of copies of the IASP providing an RPO of zero data loss at two different sites (different from production site)
  •     Metro Mirror - Global Mirror (MM/GM) - 1 synchronous pair of copies of the IASP (RPO=0), and 1 asynchronous pair of copies of the IASP at a remote site with an RPO dependent on bandwidth and writes
  •     Metro Mirror - Global Mirror + GCP (MM/GM+GCP) - 1 synchronous pair of copies of the IASP (RPO=0), and 1 asynchronous pair of copies of the IASP at a remote site with an RPO dependent on bandwidth and writes, ability to have Metro Mirror at DR when switching Global Mirror
  •     Management of planned or unplanned switchovers of both the Metro Mirror environment(s) and Global Mirror environment from a centralized IBM i partition
  •     Provides IBM i CL commands and menu options to manage the entire solution
  •     Extends beyond the capabilities of current IBM i PowerHA capabilities for more complex environments
  •     Additional logging maintained in a centralized location
  •     No restrictions on using incremental FlashCopy at any or all sites in the environment
  •     Full resync's not required after switchover to D/R site
  •     Easier management (less manual intervention required) after failure on H2 node
  •     A switch of one environment is possible, even when the other environment is suspended/failed

  Supported CSM environments

  •     Metro Mirror - Metro Mirror
  •     Metro Mirror - Global Mirror w/ Site 3 Global Mirror
  •     Metro Mirror - Global Mirror w/ Site 4 Replication

  Environment Required

  • IBM DS8000
  • PowerHA Enterprise Edition
  • Current version of PowerHA tools IASP Manager
  • IBM Copy Services Manager (CSM) compatible with the PowerHA Tools version
  • Use of two CSM servers is highly recommended for higher availability
  • PowerHA Tools IASP Manager requires both servers have the same user ID and password

• HyperSwap with PowerHA Tools IASP Manager
  HyperSwap provides for continuous availability against storage failures. HyperSwap is based on Metro Mirror replication and enables the host to transparently switch the active DS8000 storage upon a failure. Management requires a compatible version of CSM.

   

  Features

  • Production system is connected to 2 DS8000s in a Metro Mirror relationship simultaneously
  • SYSBAS and IASPs HyperSwap is controlled individually
  • PowerHA Tools IASP Manager with CSM provides control for HyperSwap for either 2-site or 3-site solutions
  • Integrated with normal SWPPRC and CHKPPRC operations

  Benefits

  • Provides an active-active DS8000 storage solution
  • No downtime for a failure of the primary storage i.e. power outage

  Environment required

  • Current version of PowerHA tools IASP Manager
  • IBM external Storage Units (DS8000 only) including any storage attached via SVC
  • PowerHA for IBM i Enterprise edition
  • Compatible version of CSM