IBM Spectrum Virtualize Software V7.7

IBM Spectrum Virtualize Software V7.7 delivers new software features for the Spectrum storage family

Spectrum Virtualize software delivers a powerful solution for storage virtualization, offering storage capabilities such as HA, real-time compression, EasyTier data tiering, encryption, distributed RAID, clustering for performance and capacity scalability, and enterprise local and remote copy services.

Spectrum Virtualize V7.7 adds the following new benefits:

Improved reliability, availability and serviceability:
- NPIV (N_Port ID Virtualization) technology enables virtualization of the host port fabric of Spectrum Virtualize hardware which delivers continuous connectivity to hosts
- Distributed RAID (DRAID) supports to encryption protection of data in DRAID volumes
- GUI support to IP Quorum for easier setup and management of IP Quorum in HA solutions using Stretched Cluster or HyperSwap
Increased external virtualization flexibility through iSCSI, expanding the capability to support a broader spectrum of storage infrastructures
Higher performance with extended cache for read operations, potentially increasing cache hits and reducing disk reads
IP Link compression to improve usage of IP networks for remote-copy data transmission. This will reduce the volume of data that must be transmitted during remote copy operations, with compression capabilities similar to those experienced with existing real time Compression implementations.

Compression support is formally being added to the External Virtualization software package as a separate feature when used with Storwize V5030 and Spectrum Virtualize V7.6, and later. Support for compression is also included in the Full Feature Bundle under the External Virtualization PID with the Storwize V5030. Compression is not supported on first-generation Storwize V5000 machines.

The IBM SVC software licensing metric is being changed to Differential Licensing to help align the cost of SVC licenses with customer use cases. In Differential Licensing, licenses changes from per terabyte to per storage capacity unit (SCU).

SCU is defined in terms of the category of the storage capacity use case:

Category 1: Flash and SSDs
Category 2: SAS drives, FC drives, and systems using Category 3 drives with advanced architectures to deliver high-end storage performance
Category 3: Near Line SAS (NL-SAS) and SATA drives

Any storage capacity use case that is not listed above is classified as Category 1.

There are no changes to the licensing of SVC FlashCopy, SVC Remote Mirror, or SVC Encryption.

SCU licensing leverages current SW PIDs with new Part Numbers in Passport Advantage and Feature Codes in AAS.

Spectrum Virtualize encryption restrictions were reviewed. Optional Encryption software (PID 5641-B01 or 5725-Y35 for Passport Advantage) is not available in the following countries: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrzykhstan, Russia

Software requirements

SAN Volume Controller V7.7 (5641-VC7, 5641-CP7, 5725-M19, and 5725-H04) has the same software prerequisites as SAN Volume Controller V7.6.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for SAN Volume Controller 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.
Spectrum Virtualize Software V7.7 is not available for Flex System V7000. Flex System V7000 V7.2 (5639-NZ7, 5639-EX7, 5639-RE7, and 5639-CM7) has the same software prerequisites as Flex System V7000 V7.1. Storwize V5000 V7.7 (5639-CT7, 5639-XT7, and 5639-ET7) has the same software prerequisites as IBM Storwize V5000 V7.6.
IBM 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 IBM 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 SAN Volume Controller requires at least one pair of M System Storage SAN Volume Controller (2145-DH8, 2145-CF8, or 2145-CG8) storage engines for installation.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for SAN Volume Controller 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 Control Enclosure (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, 2078-112, 2078-124, 2078-212, 2078-224, 2078-312, 2078-324) 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 (2077-312 or 324, 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 or 24F, 2078-12F or 24F) 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: June 10, 2016. Optional Encryption software (PID 5641-B01 or 5725-Y35 for Passport Advantage) is not available in the following countries: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrzykhstan, Russia