This README file contains the latest information about installing IBM FAStT Storage Manager version 8.21 for AIX. Refer to the IBM Support Web Site or CD for the installation and support guide. Last Update: 11/7/2002 ======================================================================= CONTENTS -------- 1.0 Overview 2.0 Change History 3.0 Usage Notes - AIX Platforms 4.0 WEB Sites and Support Phone Number 5.0 Trademarks and Notices 6.0 Disclaimer ======================================================================= 1.0 Overview ------------ 1.1 Overview ------------ This IBM Storage Manager release includes the IBM FAStT Storage Manager version 8.21 for AIX. In addition, it includes the controller firmware version 05.21.05.00 and the latest NVSRAM files for IBM machine types 1742 and 3552. For machine type 3542, the firmware version will be 05.20.12.00 The AIX CD-ROM directory contains the documentation and files necessary for installing the IBM FAStT Storage Manager Version 8.21. The "IBM FAStT Storage Manager Version 8.21 for AIX and UNIX environments Installation and Support Guide" is also available on IBM's Support Web Site as a downloadable Portable Document Format (PDF) file. Please see IBM Marketing representatives if you want to upgrade machine type 3552 and 3542 at firmware version 04.xx.xx.xx to firmware version 05.2x.xx.xx, because it is a purchased option. Refer to the IBM Support Web Site for latest Firmware and NVSRAM files for IBM machine types 1742, 3542 and 3552 if you are at firmware version 05.00.xx.xx or 05.20.xx.xx. 1.2 Limitations (not AIX limitations, but FAStT/Storage Manager limitations) --------------- 1. If you are upgrading controller firmware in IBM FAStT500 storage controller with 512MB Cache, you will have to stop I/O and reboot both controllers before upgrading firmware followed by NVSRAM. You can reboot the controllers either by power cycling the storage subsystem or by pressing the Reset button on both controllers. The Reset button is located on the right of the indicator lights in the opening on the front of each controller unit. To determine Storage Controller cache level, perform the following: a. On a storage management station start the client software and select a storage subsystem. b. Select Tools -> Manage Device to open the Subsystem Management Window. c. Highlight the Storage Subsystem that you are upgrading and then select Storage Subsystem -> Profile. It may take a little time for it to create the Storage Subsystem profile. d. Under the Controllers heading is an entry that displays information similar to the following example: Cache/processor size (MB): 256/32 If this setting is listed as 512/32 you will need to arrange to perform this upgrade procedure at a time that you can stop I/O to the Storage Subsystem in order to ensure a successful firmware download and installation. 2. Storage Manager prompts you for a password if all hard disk drives are removed from the storage subsystem. After removing all drives from a storage subsystem (or not powering on drives and only the controller), the IBM FAStT Storage Manager software will prompt you for a password when trying to start the software or trying to perform protected operations. Any password entered will fail. Password information is stored on a reserved area of each hard disk drive on the storage subsystem. Each drive stores a mirrored copy of the password data. When there are no drives in the storage subsystem, the storage management software does not find the password data when you attempt password protected operations. Add one drive to the storage subsystem and retry the operation. 3. Auto LUN/Array Transfer is not supported. If a controller fails over arrays to the alternate controller and the failed controller is replaced and brought back online, the arrays do not automatically transfer to the preferred controller. This must be done manually by redistributing arrays. 3. Redundancy checks on machine type 3542 can take up to 10 times longer than on other controller platforms. A redundancy check (parity scan) uses the VERIFY operation which is not implemented in hardware on this platform. Parity checking will take longer on 3542 based arrays. 4. If the controller in the IBM FAStT Storage Server with firmware 05.2x.xx.xx is connected to a SAN with more than 64 host connections per controller port, that can log into the controllers, one must either use the switch zoning function or rearrange the SAN connections so that only the maximum number of host connections can be seen and log into the controller. The FAStT Storage Subsystem FAStT700 and FAStT500 (IBM machine type 1742 and 3552) have two ports per controller - one per minihub slot. The FAStT Storage Subsystem FAStT200 (IBM machine type 3542) has only one port per controller. 5. If you define a large number of arrays, you may not be able to right-click a logical drive and get a pop-up menu in the Physical View of the Subsystem management window. The workaround is to use the Logical Drive pull-down menu to select the logical drive options. 6. The IBM TotalStorage EXP700 drive enclosure blue locator LED is not supported when the EXP700 was connected to the FAStT200 storage subsystem. 1.3 Enhancements ---------------- * Added support for PSSP 3.4 RVSD/GPFS Clusters with FAStT500 and FAStT700. (11/7/02) 1.4 Fixes ---------------- * Fix for Data Errors on pSeries platforms: Problem Description: -------------------- Under rare circumstances during extensive stress testing and very heavy I/O workloads, an error condition involving the fibre channel adapter was observed in a laboratory environment. This error may lead to unpredictable results including system crash, system hang, data error, unwarranted error log entries, etc. This problem has never been reported in a customer environment. Although unlikely, the possibility of this problem occurring in a customer environment does exist. User's affected: ---------------- pSeries servers that contain the 6227 or 6228 fibre channel adapter with the devices.pci.df1000f7.com fileset at levels below the following: AIX 4.3: 4.3.3.83 AIX 5.1: 5.1.0.28 Recommendation: --------------- Apply the appropriate APAR/PTF below in the prerequisites section (1.5). 1.5 Prerequisites ----------------- The following pSeries & RS/6000 Hardware Platforms are supported for attachment to the FAStT200 and FAStT500: Machine Type Model# pSeries Name 7013 S70 7013 S7A 7015 S70 7015 S7A 7017 S70 7017 S7A 7017 S80 7017 S85 pSeries 680 7025 6F0 pSeries 620 7025 6F1 pSeries 620 7025 F50 7025 F80 7026 6H0 pSeries 660 7026 6H1 pSeries 660 7026 6M1 pSeries 660 7026 H50 7026 H70 7026 H80 7026 B80 pSeries 640 7026 M80 7028 6C4 pSeries 630 7028 6E4 pSeries 630 7043 270 7040 671 pSeries 670 7040 681 pSeries 690 7044 170 7044 270 7028 6C1 pSeries 610 7028 6E1 pSeries 610 9076 PCI Nodes: FC 2050 332 Mhz SMP Thin Node FC 2051 332 Mhz SMP Wide Node FC 2052 POWER3 SMP Thin Node FC 2053 POWER3 SMP Wide Node FC 2054 POWER3 SMP HIGH Node FC 2055 SP Expansion I/O Unit FC 2056 375 Mhz POWER3 SMP Thin Node FC 2057 375 Mhz POWER3 SMP Wide Node FC 2058 375 Mhz POWER3 SMP High Node IMPORTANT: The Disk Drives contained within the EXP500 Enclosure must have the latest supported drive firmware. The latest drive firmware can be found at: http://www.pc.ibm.com/qtechinfo/MIGR-40711.html Platform: AIX OS Levels: AIX 4.3.3.75 or 5.1.0.25 Multipath Driver: FAStT RDAC, IBM AIX RDAC Driver: and FC Protocol DD PTFs. For AIX 4.3.3 devices.fcp.disk.array 4.3.3.82 (PTF U482665, APAR IY33821) devices.pci.df1000f7 4.3.3.83 (PTF U482664, APAR IY33608) For AIX 5.1 devices.fcp.disk.array 5.1.0.29 (PTF U484056, APAR IY33775) devices.pci.df1000f7 5.1.0.28 (PTF U476971, APAR IY33105) Host Bus Adapter(s): IBM Feature Code 6227 & 6228 HBA Firmware Level: FC 6227 - 3.22A0 or above, FC 6228 - 3.82A0 or above 1.6 Dependencies ---------------- IBM FAStT Storage Manager version 8.21 requires IBM machine type 3542 or 3552 storage controllers that have at least firmware version 04.01.02.30 and the NVSRAM version listed below in section 2.2. ======================================================================= 2.0 Change History ------------------ This is the latest release of IBM FAStT Storage Manager version 8.21 for AIX. 2.1 Key Features of IBM FAStT Storage Manager version 8.21 ---------------------------------------------------------- N/A 2.2 Code levels at time of release are as follows ------------------------------------------------- 1. Firmware versions: a. For machine type 1742: Appware 05.21.05.00 b. For machine types 3552: Appware 05.21.05.00 c. For machine type 3542: Snapware 05.20.12.00 *Note: These machine types can also be running Firmware version 04.01.02.30 and run under Storage Manager version 8.21. However, there are certain restrictions for use with AIX hosts. Please see the Usage Notes in the AIX readme for Storage Manager version 7.10 for specific restrictions and usage. 2. NVSRAM versions: a. For machine type 3542, model 2RX or 2RU: CNV3542R821NT018 Note: Model 1RX or 1RU is supported with FC 2101 (2nd controller) b. For machine type 3552: CNV3552R821NT008 c. For machine type 1742: CNV1742R821NT008 5. Client versions: AIX 4.3.3 and 5.1: 08.21.G5.02 Refer to the http://www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/disk/fastt/index.html IBM web page for the latest released code levels. ======================================================================= 3.0 Usage Notes and restrictions - AIX Platforms --------------------------------------------------- * Heterogeneous environments are not currently supported at this time. All Unix hosts servers attaching to a specfic FAStT200, FAStT500, or FAStT700 with SM v8.21 must be running the same operating system - either all AIX, or all Solaris, or all HPUX servers. * It is important to set the queue depth to a correct size for AIX hosts. Having too large of a queue depth can result in lost filesystems and host panics. Please reference the IBM FAStT Storage Manager Version 8.21 for UNIX and AIX Environments Installation and Support Guide (CG26-7490-00) for details. * To manage and configure the FAStT, the SM client, which uses the Java interface resident on the AIX host, must be used with a LAN attachment between the FAStT and the AIX platform (Out of Band management). Any host attached to the LAN with the SM client could also accomplish the management tasks. If In Band management (via the FC interface) is needed, then there must be used on a separate host platform that supports the In-band agent software, such as Windows 2K. * Each AIX Platform (server) will support 1 or 2 FAStT Partitions (or Host Groups), with each AIX host configured with 2 Host Bus Adapters (6227 or 6228) to each partition. A maximum of 16 (FAStT200) or 64 (FAStT500/700) non-clustered hosts (AIX and non-AIX) can be configured to a FAStT. Multiple FAStT systems may be attached to a single AIX server without requiring additional HBAs. * Volumes that will be used by AIX systems must be configured in an AIX Host Group (partition). Connecting to volumes in the "default" Host Group is not permitted. * Online NVSRAM upgrades are not supported. * When connected to a single switch, each HBA and Controller combination must be in a separate zone. * Direct-attach connections (FC-AL) of FAStT storage arrays on AIX are restricted to the following configurations: FAStT200 one server configurations only (2 HBAs) FAStT500/700 one or two server configurations only (2 HBAs)* *Only 1 connection on each host-side mini-hub can be used. * Interoperability with tape devices is supported on separate HBA and switch zones. * Interoperability with Shark and SDD Software is not permitted at this time. * FC Boot Support is not available on pSeries/AIX systems at this time. * Flashcopy and Remote Volume Mirroring are not supported on pSeries/AIX systems at this time. * The following Dynamic Features are not supported on AIX systems at this time: Dynamic Segment Sizing (DSS) Dynamic RAID Migration (DRM) Dynamic Capacity Expansion (DCE) Dynamic Volume Expansion (DVE) * For PSSP 3.4 RVSD/GPFS Clustering configuration information, see the "PSSP/GPFS configuration information for FAStT500/700 on pSeries/AIX Servers" on FAStT500 or FAStT700 support/download page. * HACMP and HACMP/GPFS is not supported with the FAStT storage systems running 05.xx.xx.xx microcode at this time. However, some configurations are supported with 04.01.02.30 on FAStT500. See the FAStT500 support/download page for more information on HACMP and PSSP/GPFS Clusters support. 3.1 Helpful Hints ------------------------------- 1. The IBM FAStT Storage Manager will prompt you for a password if an attempt is made to manage a storage subsystem where the FAStT RAID Controller Unit does not have access to any hard disk drives. This will occur even if no password has been setup. The automatic discovery will discover each storage subsystem as two separate storage subsystems. To prevent this from occurring, ensure that at least one FAStT Drive Enclosure (EXP500 or EXP700) with at least one drive is properly attached to each of the FAStT500 or FAStT700 RAID storage subsystems that are being managed. Since the RAID controller unit should not be powered on until the expansion units are attached and powered on, this should be done by powering off the RAID controller unit, properly attaching all expansion units (with drives installed), to the RAID controller unit and powering them on, and then powering the RAID controller unit back on. At this point the storage subsystems can be rediscovered and managed using the IBM FAStT Storage Manager 8.21 software. 2. If you are unable to see the maximum number of drives during Automatic Configuration, you should be able to use Manual Configuration to select individual drives and select the maximum number of drives allowed. 3.2 Configuration settings ------------------------------ 1. By default the IBM FAStT Storage Manager 8.21 firmware does not automatically map logical drives. This means that the logical drives are not automatically presented to host systems. For a new installation, after creating new arrays and logical drives; a. If your host type is not Windows NT, create a partition with your host type and map the logical drives to this partition. b. If your host type is Windows NT, you can map your logical drives to the "Default Host Group" or create a partition with a NT host type. When upgrading from previous versions of IBM FAStT Storage Manager to version 8.21. a. If you are upgrading with no defined storage partitions in operating system other than Windows NT, you will need to create a storage partition with the appropriate operating system host type and map the logical drives from the "Default Host Group" to this partition. b. If you are upgrading with defined storage partitions and an operating system other than Windows NT is accessing the default host group, you will need to change the default host type to this operating system host type after upgrading. The FAStT Storage Manager upgrading will reset the default host type to Windows NT host type. Refer to the IBM FAStT Storage Manager online help to learn more about creating storage partitions and changing host types. ======================================================================= 4.0 WEB Sites and Support Phone Number -------------------------------------- 4.1 IBM TotalStorage Support Web Site: http://ssddom02.storage.ibm.com/techsup/webnav.nsf/support/disk 4.2 IBM TotalStorage Web Site: http://www.storage.ibm.com/ssg.html 4.3 If you have any questions about this update, or problem applying the update go to the following Help Center World Telephone Numbers URL: http://www.ibm.com/planetwide ======================================================================= 5.0 Trademarks and Notices -------------------------- 5.1 The following terms are trademarks of the IBM Corporation in the United States or other countries or both: IBM the e-business logo xSeries HelpCenter AIX Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United states, other countries, or both. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the United States and other countries. Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. ======================================================================= 6.0 Disclaimer -------------- 6.1 THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. IBM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND MERCHANTABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. BY FURNISHING THIS DOCUMENT, IBM GRANTS NO LICENSES TO ANY PATENTS OR COPYRIGHTS. 6.2 Note to U.S. Government Users -- Documentation related to restricted rights -- Use, duplication or disclosure is subject to restrictions set forth in GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corporation.