IBM Disk storage Redbooks

IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller, IBM Storwize V7000, and IBM FlashSystem 7200 Best Practices and Performance Guidelines
Software Defined Storage

Redbooks, published 11 Feb 2020, last updated 28 May 2020

  (based on 1 review)

This IBM® Redbooks® publication captures several of the preferred practices and describes the performance gains that can be achieved by implementing the IBM System Storage® SAN Volume Controller and IBM Storwize® V7000 powered by IBM Spectrum Virtualize™ V8.2.1. These practices are based on field experience. This book highlights configuration guidelines and preferred practices for the storage area network (SAN) topology, clustered system, back-end storage, storage pools and managed disks, volumes, remote copy services, and hosts. Then it provides performance guidelines for SAN Volume ... [more]

IBM DS8900F Architecture and Implementation
Disk storage

Redbooks, published 18 Feb 2020, last updated 19 May 2020

This IBM® Redbooks® publication describes the concepts, architecture, and implementation of the IBM DS8900F family. This book provides reference information to assist readers who need to plan for, install, and configure the DS8900F systems. This edition applies to DS8900F systems running microcode Release 9.0 (Bundle 89.0 / Licensed Machine Code (LMC) 7.9.0.xxx). The DS8900F family offers two new classes:
- IBM DS8910F: Flexibility Class all-flash: The Flexibility Class is designed to reduce complexity while addressing various workloads at the lowest DS8900F family entry cost. ... [more]

IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager
Flash storage

Redbooks, published 23 Apr 2020

  (based on 2 reviews)

This IBM® Redbooks® publication describes the installation, integration, and configuration of IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager (SKLM).

IBM DS8000 Encryption for data at rest, Transparent Cloud Tiering, and Endpoint Security (DS8000 Release 9.0)
Flash storage

Redpaper, published 27 Jan 2020, last updated 20 Apr 2020

IBM® experts recognize the need for data protection, both from hardware or software failures, and from physical relocation of hardware, theft, and retasking of existing hardware. The IBM DS8000® supports encryption-capable hard disk drives (HDDs) and flash drives. These Full Disk Encryption (FDE) drive sets are used with key management services that are provided by IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager software or Gemalto SafeNet KeySecure to allow encryption for data at rest. Use of encryption technology involves several considerations that are critical for you to understand to maintain the ... [more]

Block Storage Migration in Open Environments
Storage Solutions

Redbooks, published 16 Apr 2020

Companies need to migrate data not only when technology needs to be replaced, but also for consolidation, load balancing, and disaster recovery (DR). Data migration is a critical operation, and this book explains the phases and steps to ensure a smooth migration. Topics range from planning and preparation to execution and validation. The book explains, from a generic standpoint, the appliance-based, storage-based, and host-based techniques that can be used to accomplish the migration. Each method is explained through practical migration scenarios and for various operating systems. This ... [more]

IBM DS8000 High-Performance Flash Enclosure Gen2 (DS8000 R9.0)
Disk storage

Redpaper, published 20 Dec 2019, last updated 31 Mar 2020

This IBM® Redpaper™ publication describes the IBM DS8880 High-Performance Enclosure (HPFE) Gen2 architecture and configuration, as of DS8900 Release 9.0. The IBM® DS8000® High-Performance Flash Enclosure Gen2 (HPFE Gen2) is a 2U storage enclosure that is installed in pairs in DS8900F and DS8880 models. The flash enclosure and Flash RAID adapters are installed in pairs. Each storage enclosure pair can support 16, 32, or 48 encryption-capable flash drives (2.5-inch, 63.5 mm form ... [more]

IBM DS8000 and Transparent Cloud Tiering
Cloud

Redbooks, published 5 Mar 2020, last updated 17 Mar 2020

This IBM® Redbooks® publication gives a broad understanding of storage clouds and the initial functionality that was introduced for mainframes to have Transparent Cloud Tiering. IBM DFSMS and the IBM DS8000 added functionality to provide elements of serverless data movement, and for IBM z/OS® to communicate with a storage cloud. The function is known as Transparent Cloud Tiering and is composed of the following key elements:
- A gateway in the DS8000, which allows the movement of data to and from Object Storage by using a network connection, with the option to encrypt data in the ... [more]

HIPAA Compliance for Healthcare Workloads on IBM Spectrum Scale
Storage Solutions

Redpaper, published 16 Mar 2020

When technology workloads process healthcare data, it is important to understand Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance and what it means for the technology infrastructure in general and storage in particular. HIPAA is US legislation that was signed into law in 1996. HIPAA was enacted to protect health insurance coverage, but was later extended to ensure protection and privacy of electronic health records and transactions. In simple terms, it was instituted to modernize the exchange of healthcare information and how the Personally Identifiable Information ... [more]

IBM DS8900F Product Guide
Disk storage

Product Guide, published 16 Jan 2020, last updated 10 Mar 2020

Built on over 50 years of Enterprise storage expertise, the IBM® DS8000® series is the flagship of disk storage systems within the IBM System Storage™ portfolio. As of September 2019, the DS8900F is the latest addition and offers two new classes:
- DS8910F: Flexibility Class all-flash
- DS8950F: Agility Class all-flash
The agility class is efficiently designed to consolidate all your mission-critical workloads for IBM Z®, IBM LinuxONE, IBM Power Systems, and distributed environments under a single all-flash storage solution. This IBM Redbooks® Product Guide gives an ... [more]

IBM DS8910F Model 993 Rack Mounted Storage System
Flash storage

Redpaper, published 12 Feb 2020, last updated 6 Mar 2020

  (based on 1 review)

This IBM® Redpaper publication presents and positions the DS8910F Model 993. The modular system can be integrated into 15U contiguous space of a standard 19-inch wide rack, or 16U contiguous space when placed in an IBM z14® Model ZR1 (z14 Model ZR1), or IBM LinuxONE Rockhopper II (z14 Model LR1). The DS8910F Model 993 allows you to take advantage of the performance boost of all-flash systems and advanced features while limiting datacenter footprint and power infrastructure ... [more]

IBM FlashSystem 5000 Family Products
Flash storage

Redbooks, published 9 Sep 2019, last updated 3 Mar 2020

  (based on 1 review)

This IBM® Redbooks® publication provides an introduction and overview of the latest products in the IBM FlashSystem® 5000 Family, including their hardware and software features.

DS8000 4-Site Replication with IBM Copy Services Manager
Storage Solutions

Redpaper, published 11 Feb 2020

This IBM® Redpaper publication helps you design and implement a 4-site replication solution for IBM DS8000® environments. IBM Copy Services Manager is used to orchestrate the data replication and failover and failback mechanisms between the different sites. The IBM DS8000 Copy Services functions are the foundation of this 4-site replication solution. The four sites consist of two pairs of sites. Within each pair, the two sites are at metro distance, while the pairs connect at long distance over asynchronous links. The solution is based on a Multi-Target PPRC topology that consists of a Metro ... [more]

Creating Data Reduction Pools with IBM FlashSystem 9200 and 9100
Flash storage

Redpaper, published 23 Oct 2019, last updated 11 Feb 2020

When you are using IBM® FlashCore Modules with IBM FlashSystem® 9200 and 9100, for most use cases the best practice is to use Data Reduction Pools with fully allocated volumes. This sheet guides you through the process to create these volumes.

IBM DS8000 Easy Tier (Updated for DS8000 R9.0)
Disk storage

Redpaper, published 4 Dec 2018, last updated 26 Nov 2019

This IBM® Redpaper™ publication describes the concepts and functions of IBM System Storage® Easy Tier®, and explains its practical use with the IBM DS8000® series and License Machine Code 7.9.0.xxx (also known as R9.0).. Easy Tier is designed to automate data placement throughout the storage system disks pool. It enables the system to (automatically and without disruption to applications) relocate data (at the extent level) across up to three drive tiers. The process is fully automated. Easy Tier also automatically rebalances extents among ranks within the same tier, removing workload skew ... [more]

Implementing the IBM Storwize V5000 Gen2 (including the Storwize V5010, V5020, and V5030) with IBM Spectrum Virtualize V8.2.1
Storage Solutions

Redbooks, published 26 Apr 2019, last updated 1 Aug 2019

  (based on 1 review)

Organizations of all sizes face the challenge of managing massive volumes of increasingly valuable data. But storing this data can be costly, and extracting value from the data is becoming more difficult. IT organizations have limited resources but must stay responsive to dynamic environments and act quickly to consolidate, simplify, and optimize their IT infrastructures. The IBM® Storwize® V5000 Gen2 system provides a smarter solution that is affordable, easy to use, and self-optimizing, which enables organizations to overcome these storage challenges. The Storwize V5000 Gen2 delivers ... [more]

IBM Spectrum Virtualize: Hot-Spare Node and NPIV Target Ports
Software Defined Storage

Redpaper, published 19 Jan 2018, last updated 18 Jul 2019

The use of N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) to provide host-only ports (NPIV target ports) and spare nodes improves the host failover characteristics by separating out host communications from communication tasks on the same port and providing standby hardware, which can be automatically introduced into the cluster to reintroduce redundancy. Because the host ports are not used for internode communications, they can freely move between nodes, and this includes spare nodes that are added to the cluster automatically. This IBM® Redpaper™ publication describes the use of the IBM Spectrum™ ... [more]

IBM FlashSystem A9000 Product Guide (Version 12.3.2)
Flash storage

Product Guide, published 28 Dec 2018, last updated 10 Jun 2019

This IBM® Redbooks® Product Guide is an overview of the main characteristics, features, and technology that are used in IBM FlashSystem® A9000Model 425, with IBM FlashSystem A9000 Software V12.3.2. Software version 12.3.2, with Hyper-Scale Manager version 5.6 or later, introduces support for VLAN tagging and port trunking. IBM FlashSystem A9000 storage system uses the IBM FlashCore® technology to help realize higher capacity and improved response times over disk-based systems and other competing flash and solid-state drive (SSD)-based storage. The extreme performance of IBM FlashCore ... [more]

IBM FlashSystem A9000R Product Guide (Version 12.3.2)
Flash storage

Product Guide, published 28 Dec 2018, last updated 10 Jun 2019

This IBM® Redbooks® Product Guide is an overview of the main characteristics, features, and technology that are used in IBM FlashSystem® A9000R Model 415 and Model 425, with IBM FlashSystem A9000R Software V12.3.2. Software version 12.3.2, with Hyper-Scale Manager version 5.6 or later, introduces support for VLAN tagging and port trunking.. IBM FlashSystem A9000R is a grid-scale, all-flash storage platform designed for industry leaders with rapidly growing cloud storage and mixed workload environments to help drive your business into the cognitive era. FlashSystem A9000R provides consistent, ... [more]

IBM FlashSystem A9000 and A9000R Architecture and Implementation (Version 12.3.2)
Flash storage

Redbooks, published 29 Jan 2019, last updated 10 Jun 2019

* Version 12.3.2 * This IBM® Redbooks publication presents the architecture, design, concepts, and technology that are used in IBM FlashSystem® A9000 and IBM FlashSystem A9000R. FlashSystem A9000 and FlashSystem A9000R deliver the microsecond latency and high availability of IBM FlashCore® technology with grid architecture, simple scalability, and industry-leading IBM software that is designed to drive your business into the cognitive era. The Hyper-Scale Manager highly intuitive user interface simplifies management. Comprehensive data reduction capabilities, including inline deduplication ... [more]

IBM Hyper-Scale Manager for IBM Spectrum Accelerate Family: IBM XIV, IBM FlashSystem A9000 and A9000R, and IBM Spectrum Accelerate
Storage Solutions

Redbooks, published 12 Apr 2019

This IBM® Redbooks® publication describes storage management functions and their configuration and use with the IBM Hyper-Scale Manager management graphical user interface (GUI) for IBM XIV® Gen3, IBM FlashSystem® A9000 and A9000R, and IBM Spectrum™ Accelerate software. The web-based GUI provides a revolutionary object-centered interface design that is aimed toward ease of use together with enhanced efficiency for storage administrators. The first chapter describes general features of the GUI and installation of the IBM Hyper-Scale Manager server. Subsequent chapters illustrate some typical ... [more]