Hardware
Switched connectivity supported by the host operating system. Please verify with Compatibility Guide.
Power 8 hardware: Direct or FC Switch connect
- 5774/5774 – 4Gb PCIe “SmartIOA” IBM i v7.1.0, v7.2.0:(best practice is 4 drives on each port)
- 5735/577D – 8Gb PCIe “SmartIOA” IBM i v7.1.0, v7.2.0:(best practice is 8 drives on each port)
- EN0A/577F- 16Gb PCIe “SmartIOA” IBM i v7.1.0, v7.2.0:(best practice is 10 drives on each port) FC Switch required
- EN0B/577F- 16Gb PCIe2 “SmartIOA” IBM i v7.1.0, v7.2.0:(best practice is 10 drives on each port) FC Switch required
Power 7 hardware: Direct or FC Switch connect
- 5774/5774 – 4Gb PCIe “SmartIOA” IBM i v6.1.0, v6.1.1, v7.1.0, v7.2.0 :(best practice is 4 drives on each port)
- 5749/576B – 4Gb PCI-x “SmartIOA” IBM i v6.1.0, v6.1.1, v7.1.0:(best practice is 4 drives on each port)
- 5735/577D – 8Gb PCIe “SmartIOA” IBM i v6.1.0, v6.1.1, v7.1.0, v7.2.0:(best practice is 8 drives on each port)
- 5273/577D – 8Gb PCIe “SmartIOA” IBM i v6.1.0, v6.1.1, v7.1.0, v7.2.0::(best practice is 8 drives on each port)
- EN0A/577F- 16Gb PCIe “SmartIOA” IBM i v7.1.0, v7.2.0:(best practice is 10 drives on each port) FC Switch required
- EN0B/577F- 16Gb PCIe2 “SmartIOA” IBM i v7.1.0, v7.2.0:(best practice is 10 drives on each port)
Power 6 hardware: Direct or FC Switch connect with Smart IOA
- 5761/280D – 4Gb PCI-x HBA (best practice is 4 drives on each port)
- 5704/5704 – 2Gb PCI-x HBA IBM i v5.4.5, v6.1.1:(best practice is 2 drives on each port) IOP 2844 & FC Switch required
- 5774/5774 – 4Gb PCIe “SmartIOA” IBM i v6.1.1, v7.1.0:(best practice is 4 drives on each port)
- 5749/576B – 4Gb PCI-x “SmartIOA” IBM i v6.1.1, v7.1.0:(best practice is 4 drives on each port)
- 5735/577D – 8Gb PCIe “SmartIOA” IBM i v6.1.1, v7.1.0:(best practice is 8 drives on each port)
- 5273/577D – 8Gb PCIe “SmartIOA” IBM i v6.1.1, v7.1.0:(best practice is 8 drives on each port)
Power 5 hardware: NO Direct, FC switch required
- 5761/280D – 4Gb PCI-x HBA (best practice is 4 drives on each port) IOP 2844 & FC Switch required
- 5704/5704 – 2Gb PCI-x HBA IBM i v5.4.5, v6.1.0, v6.1.1:(best practice is 4 drives on each port) IOP 2844 & FC Switch required
The 5704 and 5761 IOAs support a maximum of 16 devices per card (IOP 2844 & FC Switch required to use on DD)
The 5774, 5749, 5735, 5273, EN0A & EN0B Smart-IOA’s (2 ports) support a maximum of 64 devices per port, and 128 per card, with a limit of 32 devices per tape library device
Software
The IBM i License for the VTL will need to be installed before starting any VTL connections.
It is recommended to set the Auto Configure System Value QAUTOCFG (Auto configure Devices) to 1 during the configuration of new tape devices. To change the system value from the command line enter the command CHGSYSVAL SYSVAL(QAUTOCFG) VALUE(‘1’). This value can be changed back after the configuration of the tape library and devices.
Tape Management Applications
Data Domain VTL for IBM i supports the following tape management applications along with the Native CL commands:
- IBM Backup and Recovery Media Services (BRMS) @ i5/OS, IBM i v5.4.5, v6.1, v6.1.1, v7.1, v7.2 and v7.3.0.
- Since BRMS is a licensed program product, the operating system release level will determine the BRMS release level, which is consistent with the OS level.
- Help Systems Robot/SAVE v12.13; only on i5/OS v7.2.0, v7.1.0 & v6.1.1
Help Systems Robot/SAVE v11.32; only on i5/OS v5r4m5, IBM i 6.1.0 & v6.1.1.
- LXI Enterprise Storage (MMS) v5.4.3; only on i5/OS v7.1.0 & v6.1.1, v6.1.0.
PTFs
To display individual PTFs level with a MF prefix type the follow command DSPPTF and press Enter. Look for “Release of base option”, this is the level of the hardware.
To display individual PTFs with a SI prefix type the follow command DSPPTF and press Enter TWICE. Look for “Release of base option”, this is the level of the software.
IBM i PTF (Software Patches) Levels
Table 129 IBM i PTF (SW patches) Levels
|
|
V5R4M5 |
V6.1.0 |
V6.1.1 |
V7.1.0 |
V7.2.0 |
|
Cumulative |
12094 |
14197 |
14197 |
14283 |
14276 |
|
Hiper |
203 |
186 |
186 |
125 |
18 |
|
DB2 for IBM i |
33 |
32 |
32 |
32 |
3 |
|
Backup Recovery solution |
57 |
52 |
52 |
39 |
5 |
|
Tech Refresh Level |
|
|
|
9 |
1 |
Note
EMC supports legacy PTF levels up to what is listed in the table. Customers do not have to
be at the levels shown in the table to receive support.
V5R4M5
V5R4M5 requires PCI-x based HBAs with a separate IOP for Fiber Tape connectivity. The IOP based 5704 and 5761 are the only HBAs that are supported on V5R4M5 of i/OS.
The latest Cumulative, HIPER and Database PTF packages should be applied, in addition to the BRS group PTF package. Recommended lowest PTF levels are:
SF99540 Cumulative PTF Package: Level 10117 (C0117540)
SF99539 Group HIPER: Level 129
SF99504 DB2 for IBM i: Level 26
SF99186 Backup Recovery Solutions: Level 32
To Display the current PTF levels on the operating system from the command line enter the command WRKPTFGRP. Press F11 to display the text description of the PTF Groups and use option 5 to display the PTF level.
v6.1.0
V6R1M0 has been qualified to use the 5704 and 5761 IOAs on Power5 hardware, while Power6 hardware allows the use of either 5704/5761 or the “SmartIOA” cards, 5749 / 5774 / 5735. EMC highly recommends the use of the SmartIOA to get the best possible throughput when running Tape jobs. A SmartIOA also gives a larger number of VTL tape emulations for more processing resources. The latest Cumulative package should have all PTFs required for Old IOAs but if the SmartIOA is used the following will apply.
The latest Cumulative, HIPER and Database PTF packages should be applied, in addition to the BRS group PTF package. Recommended Lowest PTF levels are:
Cumulative: SF99610
|
Release: |
V6R1M0 |
|
Abstract: |
Cumulative PTF package C1256610 |
|
Level: |
11256 |
Oct 13, 2011
Group: SF99609
|
Release: |
V6R1M0 |
|
Abstract: |
Group Hiper |
|
Level: |
00110 |
Dec 6, 2011
Group: SF99601
|
Release: |
V6R1M0 |
|
Abstract: |
DB2 for IBM i |
|
Level: |
00021 |
Oct 8, 2011
Group: SF99187
|
Release: |
V6R1M0 |
|
Abstract: |
Backup Recovery Solutions |
|
Level: |
00024 |
Nov 30, 2011
However if the client cannot apply these levels above, then they can apply the minimal subset supplied below:
|
MF54179 MF53670 MF53550 MF52469 MF52324 MF52219 MF51777 |
MF51773 MF51356 MF50808 MF50176 MF46933 MF46409 |
v6.1.1
V6R1 has been qualified to use the 5704 and 5761 IOAs on Power5 hardware, while Power6 hardware allows the use of either 5704/5761 or the “SmartIOA” cards, 5749 / 5774 / 5735. Power7 hardware requires the use of the “SmartIOA” cards and V6.1.1 of the operating system.
The latest Cumulative, HIPER and Database PTF packages should be applied, in addition to the BRS group PTF package. Recommended Lowest PTF levels are:
SF99610 Cumulative PTF Package: Level 10215 (C0215610)
SF99609 Group HIPER: Level 70
SF99601 DB2 for IBM i: Level 15
SF99187 Backup Recovery Solutions: Level 16
To Display the current PTF levels on the operating system from the command line enter the command WRKPTFGRP. Press F11 to display the text description of the PTF Groups and use option 5 to display the PTF level.
Also, ensure the following individual PTFs are applied on V6.1.1 while using Smart IOAs:
There is no support for i6.1.1 in combination with applied PTF MF50093. If not needed do not apply!
|
SI36084 SI35218 SI34026 SI32538 MF50751 MF50691 MF50671 |
MF50587 MF49463 MF49458 MF49246 MF49234 MF47237 |
Review the Informational APAR for PTF requirements on the IBM website for the latest PTF requirements for Smart-IOAs:
II14355 – PTF PREREQUISITES AND SPECIFIC SUPPORT DATES FOR THE SMART-IOA (IOPless) FIBRE CHANNEL, SAS, and SCSI LVD ADAPTERS SUPPORT:
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=nas27f65244c38e39c46862573cb0041f343
V7.1.0 , V7.2.0, V7.3.0
Fully supported with Data Domain OS 5.2 and Higher
V7.1.0, V7.2.0 & V7.3.0 has been qualified to use the “SmartIOA” cards.
Power 7 and Power 8 hardware has been qualified to use the “SmartIOA” cards listed above.
Required PTF due to IBM i OS FC failover:
PTF MF61618 for i 7.2
PTF MF61619 for i 7.3
To Display the current PTF levels on the operating system from the command line enter the command WRKPTFGRP. Press F11 to display the text description of the PTF Groups and use option 5 to display the PTF level.
VIOS (Virtual IO Server)
Fully supported with Data Domain OS 5.2.
Virtual Input Output Server, also known as PowerVM. PowerVM is a virtualization layer
supporting the IBM i on blades and the Power6 platform at V6.1 and above. VIOS can only connect with the Data Domain System through a NPIV Switch and a 5735/577D – 8Gb PCIe “SmartIOA” card.
- Data Domain OS v5.2 and higher supports
- IBM VIOS versions: v2.1.x & v2.2.x
- IBM i OS: v6.1.0, v7.1.0, v7.2.0, & V7.3.0
- Only IOA supported: 5735/577D – 8GB PCIe “SmartIOA”
The IBM i License for the VTL will need to be installed before starting any VTL connections.
The IBM i utilizes a hardware virtualization layer commonly referred to as the Licensed Internal Code, or LIC, to provide access from the operating system to physical hardware. All peripheral equipment must emulate IBM equipment, including IBM tape libraries and devices, when presented to the operating system.
Additionally, there are no hardware drivers used by i/OS. All drivers are embedded in the LIC, or in LIC PTFs, or Program Temporary Fixes. In most cases, hardware configuration settings cannot be manually configured, as only IBM or IBM emulated equipment will be attached, requiring only fixed configuration settings.
Fiber Channel devices can be connected directly to IBM i host through an arbitrated loop (FC-AL) topology or through a switched fabric (FC-SW) topology, the DD VTL supports both switched fabric for connectivity or direct connect. The IBM i Fiber Channel host bus adapters or IOAs (Input / Output Adapters) can negotiate at 2 GB, 4GB, and 8GB speeds in a FC-SW environment without any configuration on the operating system other than plugging in the cable at the host.
While the IBM i HBAs support switched or direct connection for tape, the Data Domain VTL can also use switched connectivity or direct connect. Switched connectivity also allows access to a greater number of HBAs and increase flexibility and scalability, as well as the ability to share a single library among multiple systems.
A zone is comprised of a set of devices that access one another, in an initiator to target model. It is required that only one target and one initiator be in each VTL zone. Additional HBAs may be assigned to a VTL HBA by adding another zone. Soft zoning is recommended, in which the zone will consist of the WWPN or alias of one of the HBA ports on the Data Domain VTL, and the WWPN or alias of one of the IBM i HBA ports. Zones are then added to a zone set and activated.
4 Gb or 8 Gb switches are recommended for connectivity to IBM i. The list of IBM i qualified switches are listed in the IBM interoperability matrix.
Once the cabling of the VTL and the IBM i HBA has been completed, create appropriate tape zones with one initiator and one target: the WWPN of the VTL HBA and the WWPN of the IBM i HBA. The IBM i does not allow multiple paths to tape devices, so the zoning for each library or tape device should consist of only one initiator and one target.