IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.1 delivers enhanced copy services and extends storage addressing capability to 8 petabytes
IBM United States Software Announcement 207-264October 23, 2007
 ENUS207264.PDF (27KB)
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At a glance
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| At a glance |
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IBM System Storage™ SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.1 enables increased storage virtualization and new advanced copy functions:
- Incremental FlashCopy
- Cascaded FlashCopy
- Increased, dynamically configurable replication services space
- Increased virtual storage addressing up to 8 petabytes
Additionally, SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.1 provides:
- Improved management capability to assign or change the preferred node when moving vdisks among I/O groups
- New interoperability extensions
- SMI-S 1.2 compliance
For ordering, contact:
Your IBM representative, an IBM Business Partner, or IBM Americas Call Centers at
800-IBM-CALL
(Reference: YE001).
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| Overview |
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SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.1 further enhances the advanced copy functions of SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.0 by adding:
- Incremental FlashCopy®
- Cascaded FlashCopy
- Dynamically configurable replication services space
- Capability to address storage up to 8 petabytes
Incremental FlashCopy provides the ability to copy only the portions of the source virtual disk (vdisk) that have been updated at either the source or target, instead of copying the whole vdisk. This capability enables the FlashCopy function to complete more quickly, thus reducing the impact of using FlashCopy.
Cascaded FlashCopy is the ability to use a target vdisk of a FlashCopy mapping as the source vdisk of another FlashCopy mapping. The total number of targets from the original source or based on intermediate target sources, must be 16 or less.
Dynamically configurable replication services space provides the ability to configure up to 256 TB of address space per I/O group as needed, allocatable across FlashCopy, Metro Mirror, and Global Mirror in variable, user-customizable proportions.
Increased storage addressing provides support for larger virtual storage configurations by extending the storage addressing capability of SAN Volume Controller from 2 petabytes to 8 petabytes per cluster.
Volume management options are improved in SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.1 by the new capability to assign or change the preferred node, when moving vdisks among I/O groups while performing I/O group rebalancing.
Managed disk (mdisk) test before add to mdisk group is a built-in test allows an mdisk to be added that is both readable and writable; this reduces the likelihood of problems when the mdisk is configured.
Interoperability enhancements include:
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Host:
- IBM AIX® V6.1
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Storage controllers:
- HP StorageWorks 4100/6100/8100 Enterprise Virtual Arrays
SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.1 is compliant with the SMI-S 1.2 standard.
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| Key prerequisites |
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Key prerequisites are unchanged from the SAN Volume Controller V4.2 announcement. Refer to the Hardware and software requirements section.
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| Planned availability date |
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November 16, 2007
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| Description |
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Incremental FlashCopy
Incremental FlashCopy provides the ability to optimize a background copy process to copy only the parts of the source vdisk which have been updated (at either the source or target) since the last time a FlashCopy was taken.
Note: Incremental FlashCopy requires the same amount of storage capacity as a regular FlashCopy.
Incremental FlashCopy:
- Is a create-time option (not switchable).
- Can be used in conjunction with Multiple Target FlashCopy mappings.
- May share same source vdisk with non-incremental FlashCopy.
Up to 256 TB of replication space per I/O Group can be allocated to Incremental FlashCopy, only if no other replication service from the same I/O group requires concurrent allocation. Refer to the text in the User configurable replication services space up to 256 TB per I/O Group section below.
For further operational conditions and vdisk mapping options, refer to the currently updated user publications:
- IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Software Installation and Configuration Guide, SC23-6628.
- IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Command-Line Interface Guide, SC26-7903
Cascaded FlashCopy
SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.1 implements the ability to cascade FlashCopy mappings; that is, the ability to use a target vdisk of a FlashCopy mapping as the source vdisk of another FlashCopy mapping. SAN Volume Controller software prior to V4.2.1 does not allow a disk which is a source in one FlashCopy mapping to be a target disk in another one. If users wish to copy a target disk, they must wait for the mapping to be copy-complete. At this point, they must destroy the mapping, before creating and triggering the new one.
With SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.1, users can define and trigger "Map 2," even while "Map 1" is still not copy-complete. The mappings could be incremental or non-incremental mappings. An important restriction is that "number of targets defined from a given source" plus "number of targets defined from any of these targets" must always be less than or equal to 16.
User configurable replication services space up to 256 TB per I/O Group
SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.0 provided the ability to statically divide up to 80 TB of copy services per I/O group between FlashCopy and Metro/Global Mirror relationships. SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.1 adds the ability for the user to dynamically configure up to 256 TB of copy services address space per I/O Group, allocated between FlashCopy (including incremental FlashCopy), Metro Mirror, and Global Mirror relationships in user-chosen proportions.
This new facility allows for the option to allocate cache memory address space when needed to achieve copy services requirements.
The exact amount of copy services space available to users will depend upon the copy services relationships used and the resulting copy services space allocated to each vdisk.
Increased storage addressing
In SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.1, the storage addressing capability has been increased from 2 petabytes to 8 petabytes per cluster.
This capability is based on an increased extent size (up to 2 GB), and applies regardless of the number of nodes in the cluster. Mdisk and vdisk relation and use are unaffected by this increase.
Volume management
SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.1 introduces the ability to assign or change preferred nodes upon vdisk move. Prior to V4.2.1, SAN Volume Controller software supported the specification of a preferred node only at vdisk creation time. It is often desirable to assign preferred nodes during rebalancing operations.
Specification of preferred nodes during vdisk move operations requires halting I/O to the affected vdisks, but can result in restoration of better I/O balance following a change in workload pattern or in conjunction with post-recovery rebalancing.
Mdisk test before add to mdisk group
This built-in test allows an mdisk to be added that is both readable and writable, and thus reduces the likelihood of problems when the mdisk is added.
Interoperability enhancements in V4.2.1 include:
Host:
- AIX 6.1
Controller:
- HP StorageWorks 4100/6100/8100 Enterprise Virtual Arrays (EVA)
Master Console options
Beginning with the IBM System Storage Productivity Center Basic Edition V3.3.1, IBM System Storage Productivity Center will provide an alternative, preloaded, delivery option for the SVC GUI and CIM Agent (CIMOM) components for IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller V4.2.1.
This alternative to the SVC Master Console may, in some cases, enable a reduction of the total number of servers required in an installation to manage the storage environment. To explore this option, refer to the current System Storage Productivity Center announcements listed in the Reference information section, and consult with your IBM System Storage representative.
SMI-S 1.2 compliance
SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.1 is compliant with the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) Storage Management Initiative Specification (SMI-S) 1.2, with interoperable support for volume protection, copy consistency management, and replication, among other elements of this specification.
Accessibility by people with disabilities
A U.S. Section 508 Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) containing details on accessibility compliance can be requested at
Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act
IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Software is capable, as of June 23, 2006, when
used in accordance with IBM's associated documentation, of satisfying the applicable requirements of
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act provided that any assistive technology used with the product
properly interoperates with it.
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| Product positioning |
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IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Software V4 is designed to help address the complexities
and costs of managing SAN-based storage. It is designed so that it can be added to existing SANs
and deliver its benefits to an increasingly broad customer environment. The copy services
enhancements included in V4.2.1 further increase customer value by providing more flexibility to
customers in managing their environments; these copy services also provide important new function
that helps enable FlashCopy to be used more widely and with less impact to applications. The
scalability enhancements in V4.2.1 enable SVC to manage even larger configurations, which helps
larger customers to simplify their environments even more with SVC.
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| Reference information |
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- For SAN Volume Controller V4 ordering information, refer to Software Announcement 206-121 , dated May 23, 2006.
- For SAN Volume Controller Software Advanced Copy function enhancements and interoperability added in V4.2.0, refer to Software Announcement 207-105 , dated May 22, 2007.
- For the IBM System Storage SVC Master Console Memory Upgrade availability announcement, refer to Hardware Announcement 107-608 , dated October 23, 2007.
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For implementation of the Master Console for SAN Volume Controller on the IBM System Storage
Productivity Center solution, refer to the following:
- For IBM System Storage Productivity Center, Consolidated Device Management solution overview, refer to Solution Announcement 707-043 , dated October 23, 2007.
- For IBM System Storage Productivity Center hardware (Machine type 2805), refer to Hardware Announcement 107-609 , dated October 23, 2007.
- For IBM TotalStorage® Productivity Center Basic Edition V3.3.1 pre-installed on IBM System Storage Productivity Center, refer to Software Announcement 207-263 , dated October 23, 2007.
Business Partner information
If you are a Direct Reseller - System Reseller acquiring products from IBM, you may link directly to Business Partner information for this announcement. A PartnerWorld ID and password are required (use IBM ID).
BP Attachment for Announcement Letter 207-264
Trademarks
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| Education support |
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The following courses will be updated to include the content in this announcement by January, 2008:
- SAN Volume Controller (SVC) Planning and Implementation (Worldwide course code SN82G)
- SAN Volume Controller (SVC) Planning and Implementation Workshop (Worldwide course code SN83G)
For additional course listings and schedules, visit
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| Publications |
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Current SAN Volume Controller publications will be updated to reflect the content of this announcement.
Publication order numbers as originally announced are unaffected.
Updated English publications will be available for download from the SAN Volume Controller Support Web site and from the Infocenter Web site, by November 9, 2007.
Updated Translated publications will be available from the SAN Volume Controller Support Web site and from the Infocenter publications Web site by January 21, 2008.
For publication order numbers and titles, refer to Software Announcement 207-105 , dated May 22, 2007.
You can use the following options to order or download additional copies:
- Visit the IBM Publications Center Web site
- Visit the IBM product support Web site
- Call the Publications Support Group at 800-879-2755, and select option 1.
- Contact your IBM representative.
Hardware and software requirements: Hardware and software requirements are unchanged from the SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2 announcement.
For information regarding implementation of the SAN Volume Controller Master Console on the IBM System Storage™ Productivity Center solution, refer to announcements listed in the Reference information section.
Note for current customers: The Microsoft® Windows® platform provision for SAN Volume Controller Master Console installation is a customer responsibility. Further, you must obtain Microsoft Windows license and code upgrades directly from Microsoft. IBM cannot supply Windows platform upgrades for the SAN Volume Controller Master Console platform. It is recommended that both the Windows platform upgrade to Windows 2003 R2 and the installation of current Master Console code be completed by customers, prior to scheduling upgrade to SAN Volume Controller Software V4.
For further information and current updates, refer to the SAN Volume Controller Support Web site
or contact your IBM representative.
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| Terms and conditions |
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Terms and conditions are unaffected by this announcement.
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| Ordering information |
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Ordering features information are unaffected by this announcement. The announced functions are included in the base SAN Volume Controller Software V4.2.1 code. Use existing authorization features to order.
For feature and part number ordering information, refer to Software Announcement
206-121
, dated May 23, 2006.
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| Prices |
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Prices are unaffected by this announcement.
For local charges, contact your IBM representative.
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| IBM Global Financing |
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IBM Global Financing offers competitive financing to credit-qualified customers to assist them in acquiring IT solutions. Offerings include financing for IT acquisition, including hardware, software, and services, from both IBM and other manufacturers or vendors. Offerings (for all customer segments: small, medium, and large enterprise), rates, terms, and availability can vary by country. Contact your local IBM Global Financing organization or visit
IBM Global Financing offerings are provided through IBM Credit LLC in the United States, and other IBM subsidiaries and divisions worldwide to qualified commercial and government customers. Rates are based on a customer's credit rating, financing terms, offering type, equipment type, and options, and may vary by country. Other restrictions may apply. Rates and offerings are subject to change, extension, or withdrawal without notice. For more financing information, visit
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| Order now |
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To order, contact the Americas Call Centers, your local IBM representative, or your IBM Business Partner.
To identify your local IBM representative or IBM Business Partner, call 800-IBM-4YOU (426-4968).
Phone: 800-IBM-CALL (426-2255)
Fax: 800-2IBM-FAX (242-6329)
Internet: callserv@ca.ibm.com
Mail: IBM Teleweb Customer Support
ibm.com Sales Execution Center, Americas North
3500 Steeles Ave. East, Tower 3/4
Markham, Ontario
Canada
L3R 2Z1
Reference: YE001
The Americas Call Centers, our national direct marketing organization, can add your name to the mailing list for catalogs of IBM products.
Note: Shipments will begin after the planned availability date.
Trademarks
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