IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert Version 1.1 Simplifies the Management of SSA Storage Networks

Software Announcement
August 18, 1998
Announcement Letter Number: 298-279

Table of Contents:



At a Glance

IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert is a software tool to help increase the productivity of storage administrators who manage the configuration and status of SSA disk networks. It contains a planning function and a live viewer function. The planning function is a no-charge capability which enables storage administrators to lay out SSA networks of drives, adapters, enclosures, and cables on a GUI "canvas," and make "what-if" modifications graphically.

The live viewer function is a fee-based IBM licensed program which:

  • Looks out over an SSA network
  • Discovers and inventories the devices and adapters it finds
  • Displays the information graphically
  • Records the topology (cable configuration) of the SSA network
  • Helps the storage administrator relate the logical device names known by the attached hosts to the physical device names
  • Monitors events, including adapter errors, topology changes, and RAID events
  • Provides a capability to print out reports and export information into flat files
  • Provides a capability to print labels for cables
A 60-day evaluation copy (try-and-buy) is available from an IBM Web page. 
-----------------------------------------
For ordering, contact:
  Your IBM representative, an IBM
  Business Partner, or IBM North America
  Sales Centers at
    800-IBM-CALL  Reference: YE010



Overview

The IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert Version 1.1 is a new software tool designed to help storage administrators manage IBM 7133, 7131, and 3527 Serial Storage Architecture (SSA) disks. It simplifies the management of SSA storage networks by providing capabilities to help administrators plan SSA disk networks, manage the configuration of existing SSA networks, and monitor SSA network devices for errors and events. This can help increase the productivity of storage administrators of SSA networks in AIX (R) and Windows NT (R) environments.

The StorWatch Serial Storage Expert consists of two major parts: a planning function to help storage administrators lay out SSA networks, devices, adapters, and cable topology on a "canvas" using a graphical user interface; and a live viewer function which will look out over an existing SSA network, discover and inventory disk devices, adapters, and cables, and monitor these devices for events and errors.

This new product is enhanced substantially from the IBM StorX product which is currently available as a no-charge marketing support tool available from an IBM Web-site.

StorWatch Serial Storage Expert runs on a Windows '95 or Windows NT platform. The planning function provides the ability to graphically plan an SSA network by dragging and dropping icons of drives, adapters, and enclosures from a parts palette onto a GUI-based canvas, and connect them together to represent an SSA network. Storage administrators can then make "what-if" modifications graphically to evaluate alternate configurations. Configuration information can be exported in a flat file format suitable for importing into spreadsheets and databases which administrators can use to facilitate tracking of device inventory, capacity planning, and configuration management.

The StorWatch Serial Storage Expert live viewer function provides the ability to discover, inventory, and visually display the SSA network topology, devices, capacity and availability characteristics of an existing SSA network. It does this by communicating with StorWatch Serial Storage Expert agent software installed on AIX or Windows NT platforms and included in the SSA network via SSA adapter cards. The agent software communicates this information to the StorWatch Serial Storage Expert (which runs on an Windows NT or Windows (TM) '95 platform) using TCP/IP communications. The live viewer function also provides monitoring of events in the SSA network such as adapter errors, topology changes (for example, because of re-cabling), and RAID events. The information discovered and inventoried by the live viewer can exported for use in spreadsheets or databases.



Planned Availability Dates

  • IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert Version 1.1 -- August 21, 1998 (Download Available from Web)

  • IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert Version 1.1 -- October 30, 1998 (CD ROM Available)

------------------------------

This announcement is provided for your information only. For additional information, contact your IBM representative, call 800-IBM-4YOU, or visit the IBM home page at: http://www.ibm.com



DESCRIPTION

IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert consists of two parts -- a storage network Planner and a storage network Live Viewer. The Planner can be used to plan new SSA storage networks from scratch or to plan modifications to storage networks that have already been installed. The Planner has a palette of storage network components from which you can choose disk drives, enclosures, adapters and connections. Planning a storage network is as simple as selecting a component, dropping it on the canvas and connecting the components together. To work with existing networks, load a Management Set created by the Live Viewer into the Planner.

The Live Viewer discovers and monitors SSA storage networks that have already been installed through TCP/IP connections to the SSA host computers. Simply enter the names of the host computers of your SSA networks to discover all of the SSA devices attached to the hosts and draw a physical representation of the storage network. IBM's StorWatch Serial Storage Expert will monitor the SSA devices for faults and for topology changes and notify you of any changes.

IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert simplifies SSA network topologies with support for SSA enclosures (7133, 7131, and 3527). Users can select and place enclosure icons on the IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert canvas and install SSA disk drives into the enclosure. IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert remembers disk placement across Storage Expert sessions by saving location information in the Management Set. Enclosure icons have the same features and properties as real SSA enclosures. Connections between drives are automatically resolved into internal enclosure or physical cables between enclosures or enclosures and adapters.

You can further simplify your canvas by using the Storage Network Navigator. The navigator is a separate window that contains an icon for each storage network in the open Management Set. From the navigator window, you can choose to hide or show the network on the canvas by first selecting the corresponding network icon and then clicking on the appropriate button. The Storage Network Navigator displays the state of the devices in the network by changing the look of the network icon, even if the network is hidden. Administrators can choose to monitor the Storage Network Navigator instead of the canvas to monitor network status and show only those networks that are experiencing problems.

IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert improves the time required to discover SSA storage networks and events by up to two times as compared to StorX. This increase in speed makes it even more useful as a day-to-day storage network monitor.

Storage Expert supports SSA adapters and disk drives attached to Intel platform servers running Microsoft (TM) Windows NT 4.0. Install the Windows NT agent on any server you wish to discover and add the server IP address to the Management Set. You can have both AIX and Windows NT storage networks in the same Management Set at the same time.

A report function provides a method of extracting detailed information about the SSA devices within the Management Set.

You can export most of the collected attributes into a flat file format suitable for importing into popular spreadsheet or database programs, allowing you to create your own custom reports with your favorite tools.

Events are saved with the Management Set, providing a history of the devices in the Management Set. Storage Expert will automatically navigate to a resource identified by an event when the user clicks on the resource name in the event text. Users can copy selected event text to the clipboard and export the entire log to a file name specified by the user via a file dialog.



Intended Customers

IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert is intended for customers who have medium to large installations of SSA storage devices.



Key Prerequisites

IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert can be used with all SSA adapters, disk drives, and enclosures attached to RS/6000 (TM) and SP2 (R) systems running AIX 4.1.x, 4.2.x, and 4.3.x. Intel platforms running Windows NT 4.0. The IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert Manager runs on Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 systems. All systems discovered by IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert require the installation of an IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert Network Agent.



Year 2000

This product is Year 2000 ready. When used in accordance with its associated documentation, it is capable of correctly processing, providing, and/or receiving date data within and between the 20th and 21st centuries, provided all other products (for example, software, hardware, and firmware) used with the product properly exchange accurate date data with it.

The maintenance end date for this Year 2000 ready product is January 31, 2001.

Trademarks 

      RS/6000 is a trademark of International Business Machines
      Corporation in the United States or other countries or both.
      AIX and SP2 are registered trademarks of International Business
      Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or
      both.
      Windows and Microsoft are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
      Windows NT is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
      Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or
      service marks of others.



SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION



PUBLICATIONS

One copy of the following is shipped with each order: 

Title                                             Number


IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert               SC26-7267
 User's Guide

The above is also available for order via PUBORDERING.



TECHNICAL INFORMATION



Specified Operating Environment

Hardware Requirements: Minimum requirements:

  • Personal computer with a Pentium (TM) 166 MHz, or equivalent

  • 24 MB of RAM

  • 25 MB of free disk space

  • VGA or better display
Recommended requirements:
  • 64 MB of RAM
  • SVGA display
Software Requirements: Serial Storage Expert Planner
  • Windows (TM) 95/NT 4.0 for Manager
Serial Storage Expert Live Viewer
  • Windows 95/NT 4.0

  • TCP/IP must be active on the system that is running the Serial Storage Expert and the system that contains the adapters.

  • The current version of the SSA network agent associated with any of the following operating system versions:
    • AIX (R) 4.1.x
    • AIX 4.2.x
    • AIX 4.3.x
    • Microsoft (TM) Windows NT (R) 4.0
  • SSA Adapter and Disk Microcode
    • Ensure that you have the latest level of SSA adapter and disk microcode. Contact your service representative if you need to update your microcode.
  • SSA Device Driver PTFs
    • Access the AIX Fix Distribution Web page and download the appropriate device drivers: The device drivers that you will be installing or replacing are:
      • devices.mca.8f97 (MCA systems only)

      • devices.ssa.disk.rte

      • devices.pci.14104500 (PCI systems only)

      • devices.ssa.IBM_raid

      • devices.ssa.tm



Planning Information

Packaging: With each order of StorWatch Serial Storage Expert the following materials are shipped to customers:

  • Storage Expert and a soft copy of the IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert User's Guide

  • Serial Storage Expert Licensing diskette

  • CD-ROM (available October 30, 1998) containing the machine-readable code for StorWatch Serial Storage Expert

  • The following hardcopy publications: 
IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert               SC26-7267
 User's Guide
IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert               GC26-7279
 License Information



Security, Auditability, and Control

The announced program uses the security and auditability features of the AIX operating system. The customer is responsible for evaluation, selection, and implementation of security features, administrative procedures, and appropriate controls in application systems and communication facilities.



ORDERING INFORMATION

IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert has one charge unit per usage. One license manages up to 16 hard disk drives. Additional usage is available in 1 pack (16 additional drives), 5 pack (80 additional drives), and 10 pack (160 additional drives) packs.

Orders for new licenses will be accepted on availability date.

Shipments (CD-ROM) will begin on the planned availability date of October 30, 1998. The application (downloaded from the Web) will be available August 21, 1998.

To order this program specify the order type number, feature number, part number, and program name. 

                                      Order
Program Name/                         Type       Feature    Part
Description                           Number     Number     Number


IBM StorWatch Serial                  5801-AAR   3723       04L8834
 Storage Expert
 Version 1.1, Program
 Package (includes
 16 drives)
IBM StorWatch Serial                  5807-AAR   1138       31L1439
 Storage Expert
 Version 1.1, 1 User
 Authorization (16 drives)
IBM StorWatch Serial                  5807-AAR   1139       31L1440
 Storage Expert
 Version 1.1, 5 Use
 Authorization (80
 drives)
IBM StorWatch Serial                  5807-AAR   1140       31L1441
 Storage Expert
 Version 1.1, 10
 Use Authorization
 (160 drives)

On August 21, 1998, IBM StorWatch Serial Storage Expert will be available from the internet in an evaluation (try-and-buy) version which is downloadable from the IBM web page at:

This package includes the planner function, which is a no-charge offering, and the live viewer (which is an IBM licensed program) in a 60-day trial package. If you place an order with IBM or an authorized IBM business partner, you will receive a diskette which contains license keys to the viewer function that does not time-out after 60 days, only the live viewer function times-out. For the convenience of customers who prefer the product on CD-ROM rather than down-loading from the Internet, the product will be available on CD-ROM in October 1998.



TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Licensing: IBM International Program License Agreement. Proofs of Entitlement (PoE) are required for all authorized use.

Limited Warranty: Yes

Program Services: Program services will be available until January 31, 2001.

Money-Back Guarantee: Two months, money-back guarantee for program packages

Copy and Use on Home/Portable Computer: No

Usage Restriction: Yes

When you acquire a use authorization for this program you may install the Storage Expert Manager component only on a single Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 workstation. However, you may install the Storage Expert agent component on any number of Intel platform servers running Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 or RS/6000 (TM) and SP2 (R) platforms running AIX 4.1.x, 4.2.x, and 4.3.x.

Acquisition of one use authorization for this program allows you to manage a maximum of 16 disk drives at a time beyond which you must acquire additional use authorization.

Support Line: AIX

Volume Orders: No

Passport Advantage Applies: Yes

AIX/UNIX (R) Upgrade Protection Applies: No

Entitled Upgrade for Current AIX/UNIX Upgrade Protection Licensees: No

Variable Charges Apply: No



CHARGES

The charges provided in this announcement are suggested retail prices for the U.S. only and are provided for your information only. Dealer prices may vary, and prices may also vary by country. Prices are subject to change without notice. For additional information and current prices, contact your local IBM representative. 

                                                            One-
                                        Part                Time
Program Name/Description                Number              Charge


IBM StorWatch Serial Storage            04L8834             $ 1,500
 Expert Version 1.1 Program
 Package (includes 16 drives)
IBM StorWatch Serial Storage            31L1439               1,500
Expert Version 1.1 -- 1 Use
 Authorization  (Add'l 16 drives)
IBM StorWatch Serial Storage            31L1440               7,500
Expert Version 1.1 -- 5 Use
 Authorization (Add'l 80 drives)
IBM StorWatch Serial Storage            31L1441              15,000
Expert Version 1.1 --
 10 Use Authorization
 (Add'l 160 drives)

Note: For additional Passport Advantage information, ordering information, and charges, contact your IBM representative, or authorized reseller, or go the URL:



CALL NOW TO ORDER

To order, contact the IBM North America Sales Centers, your local IBM representative, or your IBM Business Partner.

IBM North America Sales Centers, our national direct marketing organization, can add your name to the mailing list for catalogs of IBM products. 

 Phone:     800-IBM-CALL
 Fax:       800-2IBM-FAX
 Internet:  ibm_direct@vnet.ibm.com
 Mail:      IBM North America Sales Centers
            Dept. YE010
            P.O. Box 2690
            Atlanta, GA  30301-2690
 Reference: YE010

To identify your local IBM Business Partner or IBM representative, call 800-IBM-4YOU.

Note: Shipments will begin after the planned availability date.

Trademarks 

      RS/6000 is a trademark of International Business Machines
      Corporation in the United States or other countries or both.
      AIX and SP2 are registered trademarks of International Business
      Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or
      both.
      Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation.
      Windows and Microsoft are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
      Windows NT is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
      UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other
      countries exclusively through X/Open Company Limited.
      Lotus is a registered trademark of Lotus Development
      Corporation.
      Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or
      service marks of others.

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