Sun StorageTek VSM System
 

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In this Document

Purpose

Details

Applies to:

Purpose

 This document describes a summary of the feature (bundle) updates for VSM5

Details

Bundle 1

VTSS microcode D02.02.00.00

First common VSM4/5 maintenance release.  Replaced with D02.02.02.00.

VTCS 6.2 available

1) 2-14 VTSS configured Nearlink ports (VSM 4/5 Escon/Ficon)

Prior to D02.02.00.00, only 8 Nearlink (4 per cluster) channel interfaces can be configured. 

IUP changes within D02.02.00.00 provide better support for more than 4 Nearlink channels within a cluster.  Keep in mind that VTCS still only allows 8 Nearlink operations to be actively transferring data.

2) Large Page (62K) VTV (VSM 3/4/5 Escon/Ficon)

Large page capabilities requires a VTCS change (VTCS level 6.2) and can be applied to all possible VTV sizes - 400Mb/800Mb/2Gb/4Gb.  Standard page size is 32K and can only be applied to 400Mb and 800Mb VTVs.  Large page size required for 2Gb/4Gb VTVs.  To enable large page VTV’s, all hardware within the customer configuration must be at enabling microcode.  Once large page VTV’s are written it will require a migrate to zero and clean to downgrade a VTSS microcode to non-supporting microcode.

3) Provides performance enhancement (step towards 500 MB/s—VSM5)

4) Includes T10K 2G Encryption (minimum drive code R1.33.107) and also Fujitsu Drive Support.

Bundle 2

VTSS microcode D02.03.00.00

1) Synchronous Replication (VSM 4/5 Ficon only).  Requires VTCS PTF for VTCS 6.1 or 6.2.

Requires VTCS Cluster configuration to replicate data from one VTSS to another.  Traditional Clustering is asynchronous, replicating to one VTSS after the VTV had first been written, completed, and dismounted by the other VTSS. 

Synchronous replication will replicate to the other VTSS after the originating VTV has completed but before the Rewind/Unload command completes.

2) 500 Mb/sec sustained Write Performance (VSM 5)

IUP and FIP microcode changes process write command chains faster.  The 62K page feature is a key factor of this enhancement.  Some channel enhancements have already been in place since Bundle 1 (D02.02).  Much of this is unique to VSM5 due to VCF3-IUP changes that are not supported by VCF2.

3) Includes Seagate 15K Support.

Bundle 3

VTSS microcode D02.05.00.00

1) 4 RTD’s per Nearlink FIP port (VSM5)

32 RTD’s maximum per VTSS

2) Stacking Migrates (VSM4/5 (Escon/Ficon)

This allows multiple volumes (VTV) that are waiting to be migrated to real tape, to migrate in quick succession to a single tape cartridge (MVC). 

3) Overlap NLK data transfer (VSM4/5 Ficon only)

While the FIP processes data for one RTD, the other RTDs on the same FIP are able to do other functions which do not involve data processing.

4) 4Gb Ficon Capable--VCF4 Channel card (VSM5)

VCF4 is for 4Gb Host channel speed connectivity only.  No performance advantage is expected.

Bundle 4

VTSS microcode D02.06.00.00

1) Two concurrent RTD data I/Os per Nearlink FIP (VSM4/VSM5 Ficon only)

The VTSS will allow 2 interleaved I/O (migrate/recall) operations at the same time on a FIP.

2) Up to 14 active Nearlink transactions (VSM4/5 Escon/Ficon)

The VTSS will allow 2 migrate/recall tasks per IUP, instead the current 1 task per IUP. 

The preference will start a request on an idle Nearlink port over a second request on an active NLK port that is currently done. 

Note: With 8 IUP’s, this feature would allow 16 Nearlink transactions except a VTSS must have at least two Host FIPs configured, leaving 14 maximum Nearlink FIPs. 

Bundle 5

There is no Bundle 5 release

Bundle 6

VTSS microcode D02.07.00.00, D02.08.00.00, and H02.08.00.00

1)  VSM5e — Entry level VSM5

Designed to provide new customers with a lower cost VSM with fewer internal features.  It is also designed to be able to be upgraded to a VSM5.  VSM5e has four channel interface cards and sixteen 146Gb drive modules.  It is available with either Ficon VCF3 or VCF4 cards, or Escon ICE3 cards. VSM5e does not allow a mix of Ficon and Escon.

This feature will replace the current VSM4e since VSM4 is at EOL (End of Life).

2)  VSM5E — Escon capable VSM5

This feature uses the current ICE3 Escon channel interface that is used in VSM4.  This feature comes with two configuration options.  One is all Escon, which is eight ICE3 cards in all slots.  The other is four ICE3 cards and four VCF3 or VCF4 Ficon channel interface cards. 

3)  Tapeless VTSS– No RTD or MVC support. (all configurations of VSM4 and VSM5)

This is primarily a VTCS change that turns off any expectations of a real tape drive (RTD) and tape cartridge (MVC) functionality to recall or migrate data.  It is just as it sounds.  VSM capacity will be controlled by customer operations.

4) 3+ Replication – Replication between more than two VTSS subsystems. (Ficon VSM4 and VSM5)

The ability to replicate data between more than two VTSS’.  This feature functions with Ficon, IP, or a mix of Ficon and IP. 

Items 1-4 require VTSS microcode  D02.07.00.00 or higher.

5) VSM5 high capacity (VSM5C is an internal working title). 

This VSM5 operates with 450Gb disk drive modules which raises the effective capacity to 90Tb.  The only difference between this VTSS and a normal VSM5 VTSS is the drive module.

This VTSS is released as a new product with family code 580 and microcode H02.08.00.00.  A VSM5 family code 567 can NOT be upgraded to the higher capacity VTSS.

6) VSM5 IP Replication (VSM5 only)

This feature uses IP (Internet Protocol) as a communication path to replicate data.  IP replication requires new IFF3 cards.  IP connectivity is made through an additional port on the IFF3 card.  Without enabling IP replication, IFF3 cards function the same as IFF2 cards and can functionally replace an IFF2 in a Non-IP configuration. 

This feature requires VTSS microcode  D02.08.00.00 or higher.

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