IBM Spectrum Virtualize Software V7.7.1 With Increased Software Functionality

IBM Spectrum Virtualize Software V7.7.1 delivers increased software functionality and support for new hardware models

Spectrum Virtualize V7.7.1 delivers support for the latest platforms in the Storwize product family and adds new software benefits:

Manageability with CLI support for host groups, enabling multiple hosts to be grouped together for easier mapping and management, and allowing the same virtual disk to be mapped to all hosts in the host cluster in one step.
Scalability with support for up to 10,000 virtual disks, depending on the model, and up to 20 expansion enclosures on SVC DH8 and SV1 models and FlashSystem V9000 systems.
- Increased maximum quantity of virtual disks from 8,192 to 10,000 on select models.
- Support for up to 480 2.5-inch flash or SAS drives, or up to 240 3.5-inch NL-SAS drives, or a combination of 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives limited to 20 expansion enclosures on SVC DH8 models and FlashSystems V9000 systems.
Reliability, availability, and service ability improvements with DRAID CID and support of read-intensive flash drives.
- DRAID CID: When a limited number of drives are delivering poor performance in events such as enclosure canister reset or drive code download, CID temporarily writes data in rebuild areas of regular performance drives, not compromising redundancy during this period, and rebuilds the data when the issue causing the slow performance is resolved.
- Support for read-intensive flash drives: They offer performance comparable to enterprise-grade flash drives at a lower cost, but with lower endurance. Flash drive endurance is measured on drive writes per day (DWPD), and GUI and CLI will provide information on the actual%age of DWPD consumption.
Increased flexibility with iSCSI virtualization support of XIV Gen 3, Spectrum Accelerate, FlashSystems A9000, and FlashSystems A9000R arrays.
Licensing flexibility with monthly licensing for SVC software through IBM Passport Advantage is a licensing model that enables customers to pay on a monthly basis for only the licenses that are actually used. This provides a better match between varying usage and required licensing and, therefore, better cash flow management for customers with workloads that can vary overtime such as MSPs, customers that are growing fast, and smaller customers.
IBM enterprise class support for SVC software indicator (5773-ECS) is coupled to the enterprise service hardware model 2147-SV1. IBM enterprise support for SVC delivers:
- Technical advisors to proactively improve problem management and communication
- Software installation
- Configuration support
- Enhanced response times for high severity problems

During the warranty period and with a current active software maintenance agreement, the client will be entitled to enhanced response times for Severity 1 problems. The company will also provide a System Service Representative (SSR) to perform on-site product setup and installation. In addition, the SSR or IBM Remote Support Center will perform up to six software updates during the warranty period. IBM Technical Advisor support will be provided during the warranty period. This support enhances end-to-end support for the client’s complex IT solutions. The Technical Advisor uses an integrated approach for coordinated, cross-team support to enable clients to maximize IT availability. It will work with clients, sales teams, and business partners to ensure the Technical Delivery Assessment checklist and site planning steps are complete. Additionally, with the three-year warranty, the Technical Advisor will pro-actively plan the software updates and ensure workstation, network access, user ID, and software download steps are completed prior to deploying the SSR or IBM Remote Support Center to perform the software update.

Software requirements

SVC V7.7 (5641-VC7, 5641-CP7, 5725-M19, and 5725-H04) has the same software prerequisites as IBM V7.6.
Enterprise class support for SVC (5773-ECS) is required on SVC with a three-year warranty (2147-SV1). 5773-ECS requires feature #1792.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for SVC Encryption Software V7.7 (5641-B01 and 5725-Y35) requires PID 5641-VC7.
Storwize V7000 V7.7 (5639-CB7, 5639-XB7, 5639-EB7, 5639-VM7, 5639-EV7, 5639-RM7, and 5639-CP7) has the same software prerequisites as Storwize V7000 V7.6.
Storwize V5000 V7.7 (5639-CT7, 5639-XT7, and 5639-ET7) has the same software prerequisites as Storwize V5000 V7.6.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5010 V7.7 (5639-SV1) requires the base software feature. All other features are optional.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5020 V7.7 (5639-SV2) requires the base software feature. All other features are optional.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5030 V7.7 (5639-SV3) requires the base software feature. All other features are optional.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V50x0 Expansion V7.7 (5639-SV4) requires the base software feature. There are no optional software features on the expansions.
For all current storage systems and host environments supported with the FlashSystem V840, go to the FlashSystem V840 website.
For all current storage systems and host environments supported with the IBM FlashSystem V9000, go to the IBM FlashSystem V9000 website.

Hardware requirements

Spectrum Virtualize Software for SVC requires at least one pair of System Storage SVC (2145-SV1, 2145-DH8, 2145-CF8, 2145-CG8, or 2147-SV1) storage engines for installation.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for SVC Encryption Software V7.7 (5641-B01 and 5725-Y35) requires the Encryption Enablement Feature ACE2.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V7000 requires at least one Storwize V7000 enclosure (2076-AF6, 2076-AFF, 2076-624, 2076-524, 2076-112, 2076-124, 2076-312, or 2076-324) for installation.
Spectrum Virtualize Software V7.7 is not available for the Flex System V7000. Storwize Family Software for Flex System V7000 V7.2 requires at least one Flex System V7000 (4939-A49, 4939-H49, or 4939-X49) Control Enclosure for installation.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5000 requires at least one Storwize V5000 control enclosure (2077-112, 2077-124, 2077-212, 2077-224, 2077-312, 2077-324, 2077-AF3, 2078-112, 2078-124, 2078-212, 2078-224, 2078-312, 2078-324, or 2078-AF3) for installation.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5010 V7.7 (5639-SV1) requires at least one Storwize V5010 control enclosure (2077-112 or 124, 2078-112 or 124) for installation.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5020 V7.7 (5639-SV2) requires at least one Storwize V5020 control enclosure (2077-212 or 224, 2078-212 or 224) for installation.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5030 V7.7 (5639-SV3) requires at least one Storwize V5030 control enclosure (2077-AF3, 2077-312 or 324, 2078-AF3, 2078-312 or 324) for installation. The compression feature for V5030 requires the 64GB cache feature (#ACHD) on models 312 and 324 for machine types 2077 and 2078.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V50x0 Expansion V7.7 (5639-SV4) requires at least one Storwize V50x0 expansion enclosure (2077-12F, 2077-24F, 2077-AFF, 2078-12F, 2078-24F, or 2078-AFF) for installation.
FlashSystem V840 Software V7.7 (5639-FS7) requires an FlashSystem V840 Storage System (9846-AC1 and 9846-AE1, or 9848-AC1 and 9848-AE1) for installation.
FlashSystem V9000 Software V7.7 (5639-RB7) requires at least two FlashSystem V9000 Control Enclosures (9846-AC2 or 9848-AC2) and at least one FlashSystem V9000 Storage Enclosure (9846-AE2 or 9848-AE2).

Current support summaries, including specific software, hardware, and firmware levels supported, are maintained at their respective support websites.

Planned availability date: September 9, 2016