IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Storage Software is designed to help address the complexities and costs of managing SAN-based storage. It is designed so that is can be added to existing SANs, to deliver its benefits with minimal disruption.
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Highlights

The IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Storage Software, a member of the IBM TotalStorage Open Software Family, can get you started toward an on demand storage environment which can help reduce the complexity caused by storage growth by using your existing storage assets more efficiently. SAN Volume Controller can also help reduce the cost and complexity of managing this growth by allowing you to combine multiple disk arrays into a single pool of storage, managed from a central point. IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller V2.1.0 enhancements include: Expanded host server and operating systems capabilities with clustering support across more operating systems, and enabling SAN boot with more operating systems to manage more diverse environments Increasing support for non-IBM storage controllers Improving data management capabilities with SAN Volume Controller Migration IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller V2.1 is now available with pricing based upon a new per-terabyte (TB) charge unit with cumulative tiers. These are presented in a new product ID (5639-VCT) with new associated Software Maintenance product IDs, new AAS orderable features, and new Passport Advantage part numbers to replace the originally announced SAN Volume Controller V2.1 ordering numbers and prices. New orders for SAN Volume Controller should be made using these new product features or Passport Advantage part numbers. No changes have been made to V2.1 (5639-VC2) functions in the 5639-VCT product. Back to top   Description IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller V2.1.0 -- Expanded Data Center Management Capabilities IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Storage Software V2.1.0 significantly increases the host interoperability and function offered in the first version of SAN Volume Controller, which was announced in Software Announcement 203-150, dated June 3, 2003, and augmented by Software Announcement 203-274, dated October 14, 2003, Software Announcement 204-073, dated April 28, 2004, and by release modification V1.2.1 made available October 29, 2004. With SAN Volume Controller V2.1.0, storage users will find additional operating system support and data management capabilities that increase range of application to more diverse SAN environments, and additional non-IBM storage interoperability function. Expansion of the host environments beyond those supported by V1.2.1: Support for HP ServiceGuard 11.16, including Fast Failover extension, for clustering support on the HP UNIX environments. The 8 LUN limitation for HP UNIX configurations with SAN Volume Controller is lifted with this software version. SAN boot for HP-UX environments is supported with PVLinks for multipathing. Veritas Cluster Server 3.5 for clustering support on Sun Solaris environments. SAN boot for Solaris 9 is supported with Veritas DMP for multipathing. Supports SUSE SLES 8 on pSeries and BladeCenter JS20, HS20, HS40. Supports AIX 5.2 on BladeCenter JS20. Microsoft Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition enhancements for Multipathing I/O (MPIO), Virtual Shadow Copy Services (VSS), and Global Distribution Systems (GDS). SAN boot for Windows 2003 is supported along with this addition of MPIO. VMware ESX 2.5 which includes multipathing support for Windows 2000 Advanced Server and Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition guest environments. Additional storage controller support: Sun StorEdge 9910, 9960, 9970, and 9980 Systems. This support continues to expand the choices available to customers to help match their storage requirements with a variety of storage options, with reduced complexity in the storage management environment provided by SAN Volume Controller. SAN Volume Controller Migration: SAN Volume Controller offers powerful data migration capabilities. Since its initial release, SAN Volume Controller has enabled existing arrays to be imported and their data presented as image mode virtual disks. These image mode virtual disks can be migrated to managed mode to exploit SAN Volume Controller's virtualization functions. This new release offers a new migration function -- SAN Volume Controller Migration. This enables SAN Volume Controller to migrate data from one array to another in native format, or to migrate a managed mode virtual disk back onto an array in native format. SAN Volume Controller Migration makes it simpler and faster to migrate data volumes between servers and/or storage devices. SAN Volume Controller could be introduced into the SAN for migration, and then removed if desired. It also supports the ability to run a trial of SAN Volume Controller in a SAN, and afterwards return the data volumes to their hosts in their original format. New software-only Master Console: To offer customers further flexibility in console configuration, SAN Volume Controller Master Console will be available for order as stand- alone software, with delivery of the code on CDs with a new order or as an MES hardware order. Customers can then load and configure the Master Console software on an existing or separately-acquired server running Microsoft Windows 2003. Refer to the Software Requirements section for further information regarding required software for this server. Customers may order this feature with their 2145-4F2 hardware order as feature code 4002. Optionally, the Software-only Master Console Kit, including installable code and supporting documentation, can be ordered as feature 5819, as part of a software order. Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Storage Software is capable, as of July 11, 2003, 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. Back to top   Technical Description Operating Environment Hardware Requirements Software Requirements Operating Environment Hardware Requirements This Program Product requires at least one pair of SAN Volume Controller Storage Engines with dual Uninterruptible Power Supplies and master console, for installation. Current support summaries, including specific software, hardware, and firmware levels supported, are maintained at: http://www.ibm.com/storage/support/2145 Customers expanding their existing clusters beyond four SAN Volume Controller nodes, will require additional corresponding UPS pairs. Customers expanding to more than four nodes per cluster will require 2 GB of memory on the Master Console server. Refer to hardware feature number 4201 for 2145-4F2. Software Requirements SAN Volume Controller Storage Software V2.1 supports connectivity with the servers running the following operating systems. Intel based servers running: Windows NT Windows 2000 Advanced Server Windows 2003 Standard or Enterprise Server (including VSS, GDS, MPIO where supported on the above platforms) Red Hat Enterprise Linux Advanced Server 2.1 and 3.0 SLES 8 United Linux 4.0 (on IBM xSeries and HS20, HS40 blades) VMware ESX 2.5 with guest operating systems of Windows 2000 Advanced Server or Windows 2003 Advanced Server Netware 6.5, including clustering RISC-based servers running: AIX, including AIX 5.2 on BladeCenter JS20 HP-UX Sun Solaris operating systems, including Solaris 9 with Veritas cluster server 3.5 IBM pSeries and Power BladeCenter servers are also supported. These servers require the IBM TotalStorage Subsystem Device Driver (SDD) multipathing driver or an alternative supported multipathing driver. Current software support summaries, including specific release and firmware levels, are maintained at: http://www.ibm.com/storage/support/2145 Software requirements for the software-only Master Console host server include: Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer with the latest Service Pack. One of the following operating systems: Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Edition with Service Pack 4, or later Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition Antivirus software is not required but is strongly recommended. Back to top   Planning Information Customer Responsibilities Planning for and provision of the power and environmental support of the required SAN Volume Controller Storage Engines is a customer responsibility. Planning considerations for SAN Volume Controller Storage Software are listed in the "IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller: Planning Guide", GA22-1052. Compatibility SAN Volume Controller V2.1 Storage Software replaces and is upward compatible with SAN Volume Controller V1 Storage Software. Limitations This Program Product, 5639-VC2, operates on specified storage engine hardware only. Additional limitations and configuration guidelines may apply, as documented in the README file accompanying the SAN Volume Controller Storage Software, furnished publications for this product, and/or as listed under configuration requirements and guidelines at: http://www.ibm.com/storage/support/2145 Back to top   Publications For new SAN Volume Controller orders, the following publications ship with the product, in hard copy format. IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Installation Guide (SC26-7541) IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Service Guide (SC26-7542) IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Configuration Guide (SC26-7543) IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Translated Safety Notices (SC25-7577) For new SAN Volume Controller orders, the following publications ship with the product in softcopy format on "IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Customer Service Documentation" CD-ROM, SK2T-8811. The publications can be viewed online, printed, and downloaded. IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Installation Guide (SC26-7541) IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Service Guide (SC26-7542) IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Configuration Guide (SC26-7543) IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Command-Line Interface User's Guide (SC26-7544) IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Planning Guide (GA22-1052) IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller CIM Agent Developer's Reference (SC26-7545) IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Host Attachment Guide (SC26-7563) IBM TotalStorage Multipath Subsystem Device Driver User's Guide (SC30-4096) The manuals can also be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader in any of the supported environments, with the exception of the "IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Translated Safety Notices"., which is available in hard copy format only. Back to top   Security, Auditability, and Control The IBM TotalStorage SAN Volume Controller Storage Software user interface uses the security features of Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Edition, or Microsoft Windows 2003, in conjunction with Web Secure Shell (SSH) and Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocols and WebSphere. The customer is responsible for evaluation, selection, and implementation of security features, administrative procedures, and appropriate controls in application systems and communication facilities. Trademarks (R), (TM), * Trademark or registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. ** Company, product, or service name may be a trademark or service mark of others. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Limited.  © IBM Corporation 2005. Back to top