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1. Summary 2. What's New?
1. Summary
This
product bulletin announces the 25 June 2007 availability of the Fibre
Channel (FCP) AIX Host Utilities 4.1 for First Customer Ship via NOW™ (NetApp
on the Web) and the current Quote Tool release. The FCP AIX Host Utilities
4.1 delivers new support for AIX Virtual I/O Server 1.4 with the AIX native
I/O stack, and continues support for the Veritas® Storage
Foundation™
4.0 I/O stack. FCP AIX Host Utilities 4.1, as with version 4.0, does not
support Dot Hill SANpath multipathing software, which continues to be
supported via FCP AIX Attach Kits 1.3 and 1.2. The FCP
AIX Host Utilities 4.1 is a host-software-based product that delivers tools
and documentation to support the integration of NetApp FCP storage systems
with IBM® AIX host operating environments using the native AIX
operating system stack or Veritas Storage Foundation HA 4.0 MP3 or later for
AIX, with IBM System p (pSeries) PCI-x based server platforms. The FCP AIX
Host Utilities is required to ensure proper
configuration and support of NetApp FCP storage systems, and it consists of: ·
AIX Object Data Manager
(ODM) stanzas that set host configuration parameters for use with NetApp FCP
storage systems. ·
The sanlun software tool to view paths to LUNs configured on NetApp
storage systems. ·
A dotpaths utility to
configure path priorities to NetApp storage systems. ·
Diagnostic scripts for collecting and reporting host (OS, HBA, Veritas,
toolkit), switch, and NetApp storage configuration information. ·
Qualification with AIX
native I/O stack and the Veritas Array Support Library (ASL) 4.0 and Veritas
Array Policy Module (APM) for supporting NetApp FCP storage systems with the
4.0 levels of Veritas Volume Manager, Dynamic Multipathing, File System, and
Cluster Server software as part of Veritas Storage Foundation HA 4.0 MP3 or later.
The ASL and APM, which are required to be used with NetApp storage, are
distributed and supported by Symantec (not included with the FCP AIX Host
Utilities) and may be downloaded at http://support.Veritas.com/docs/283763. ·
Documentation describing how
to configure an FCP connection based on an AIX host to a NetApp storage
system, including commands and procedures, and configuration instructions for
using AIX Virtual I/O Server with NetApp FCP storage. ·
Note: The FCP AIX Host Utilities 4.x does NOT include HBAs or HBA drivers,
which are obtained by end users from IBM or authorized IBM resellers, the AIX
operating system, drivers, Virtual I/O Server, or Veritas Storage Foundation
software. 2. What’s
New? A. Support for AIX Virtual I/O Server
1.4 with AIX Native I/O Stack 1)
AIX Virtual I/O Server enables sharing of a physical I/O adapter by
multiple logical partitions within the same server. Part of IBM’s
Virtualization Engine, Virtual I/O server consolidates I/O resources and
reduces the number of required physical host adapters. With Virtual I/O
server, users may configure both physical and virtual LUNs and create virtual
disks on the server and client. B. Continued Support for Native AIX Multipathing (MPIO) 1) FCP
AIX Host Utilities 4.x enables AIX hosts using the AIX default Path Control
Module (PCM) to access NetApp Fibre Channel (FCP) attached storage –
supporting the round-robin I/O load balancing MPIO policy only, and
delivering tools that configure and order FC paths from the host’s initiator
HBAs to NetApp LUNs. 2) FCP AIX Host Utilities 4.x uses a
weighted-paths implementation that supports: round-robin load balancing, in
which I/O is distributed across multiple active-active
paths, and automatic failback after a takeover event is resolved. Paths are ordered as primary or
secondary failover paths to minimize I/O over the storage system’s cluster
interconnect. C. Continued Support for Veritas Storage
Foundation HA 4.0 MP3 or Later with AIX 5.3 1)
Symantec®
Veritas Storage Foundation HA 4.0 MP3 with AIX 5.3
i.
Veritas Storage Foundation HA 4.0 MP3 or later (includes 4.0
components of Veritas Volume Manager, which includes Dynamic Multipathing;
Veritas Filesystem; and Veritas Cluster Server). Each of these features is
supported with AIX 5.3 with pSeries server platforms. Please see the
supported configurations for these components on the NetApp SAN Support
Matrix at http://now.netapp.com/NOW/knowledge/docs/san/fcp_iscsi_config/index.shtml
or the NetApp Interoperability Matrix at http://now.netapp.com/NOW/products/interoperability/.
ii.
Veritas Array Support Library (ASL) 4.0 distributed and supported by
Symantec, and available at http://support.Veritas.com/docs/283763.
The ASL is required for support of NetApp storage systems with Veritas
Storage Foundation HA 4.0 MP3, and provides information
about storage array attributes to the Device Discovery Layer (DDL) of Veritas
Volume Manager. The DDL calls ASL functions during the storage discovery
process on the host. The ASL then claims and associates NetApp systems based
on our vendor and product identifiers.
iii.
Veritas Array Policy Module (APM), distributed and supported by Symantec,
and available at http://support.Veritas.com/docs/283763.
The APM is required for support of NetApp storage systems with Veritas
Storage Foundation HA 4.0 MP3, and defines I/O error
handling and failover path selection for NetApp storage. When the ASL detects
a NetApp storage array, it sets the array type to an active-active configuration, A/A-NETAPP,
and instructs Veritas software to use the NetApp APM to handle I/O and path
failures for a NetApp storage array. D. FCP AIX Host Utilities 4.x Does
Not Include Support for Dot Hill® SANpath® multipathing
software
i.
Dot Hill SANpath multipathing software with AIX 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3
continues to be supported via FCP AIX Attach Kits 1.3 and 1.2. Supported Configurations 1) For configuration support
information, see the NetApp SAN Support Matrix at http://now.netapp.com/NOW/knowledge/docs/san/fcp_iscsi_config/index.shtml,
and the NetApp Interoperability Matrix at http://now.netapp.com/NOW/products/interoperability. 2)
AIX Virtual I/O Server version 1.4
i.
Supported with the IBM AIX native I/O stack as specified in the NetApp
SAN interoperability matrices. 3) Veritas Storage Foundation HA 4.0
MP3 and later with AIX 5.3.
i.
Veritas Cluster Volume Manager (CVM), Storage Foundation Cluster File
System (SFCFS), and Storage Foundation for Oracle® RAC (SFOR)
are not supported currently with AIX hosts.
ii.
SAN boot and I/O fencing are not supported currently with the Veritas
stack. 4) SnapDrive® for UNIX® support
i.
SnapDrive 3.0 for UNIX supports the base IBM AIX native I/O stack
(does not support Virtual I/O Server) and the Storage Foundation for AIX I/O
stack, as specified in the NetApp SAN interoperability matrices. The
FCP AIX Host Utilities is available for download from NOW for existing NetApp
FCP Storage System customers with current FCP protocol service entitlements,
and in the current Quote Tool release.
Software Subscription Plans Not applicable. The FCP AIX Host
Utilities does not have an individual Software Subscription Plan (SSP). The
Host Utilities product is covered by the SSP for the FCP protocol. Customers
may download new versions of the Host Utilities for the duration of the FCP
protocol SSP. Typically, this period is for 12, 24, or 36 months. Upgrades ·
Customers who wish to use AIX Virtual I/O Server with FCP AIX Host
Utilities 4.1 must uninstall prior Attach Kits or Host Utilities, and
configure the Virtual I/O Server environment before installing the FCP AIX
Host Utilities 4.1. ·
Customers who are continuing to use Veritas Storage Foundation
configurations and the Veritas ASL supported with FCP AIX Attach Kit 1.3 or
FCP AIX Host Utilities 4.0 do not need to upgrade to FCP AIX Host Utilities
4.1. ·
Customers who are upgrading from FCP AIX Attach Kit 1.2 or earlier and
wish to use Veritas Storage Foundation configurations supported by FCP AIX
Host Utilities 4.0 or 4.1 must run the uninstall script of the prior Attach
Kit version before installing the Host Utilities 4.0 or 4.1, or Veritas ASL
4.0. ·
Customers migrating to an AIX native stack configuration and who are
currently using FCP AIX Attach Kit 1.2 or earlier must run the uninstall
script of the prior Attach Kit version before installing the AIX Host
Utilities 4.0 or 4.1. Quoting ·
All AIX-attached hosts require
one (1) SW-FAK-AIX per physical host. ·
None of the part numbers above
provides an HBA or the associated HBA drivers. Customers must purchase HBAs and
procure HBA drivers from IBM or an authorized IBM reseller/distributor. ·
NetApp does not resell the AIX MPIO or
Virtual I/O Server software, which is distributed by IBM with the AIX
operating system. Part number SW-FAK-AIX provides the NetApp tools necessary
to integrate with AIX MPIO, Virtual I/O Server, and the native AIX operating
system stack. ·
NetApp does not resell the Symantec Veritas Storage Foundation
software. Customers must purchase Veritas software from Symantec or its
authorized resellers/distributors. Veritas Array Support Library (ASL) 4.0
and Array Policy Module (APM) for AIX are distributed and supported by
Symantec, and available at http://support.Veritas.com/docs/283763. ·
FCP AIX Host Utilities 4.1 is orderable
through the same part number, SW-FAK-AIX, used with earlier versions of the
FCP Host Utilities and Attach Kits, and the part number is available to quote
in the current version of the Quote Tool. Customers who previously purchased
FCP Host Utilities 4.0 or Attach Kits 1.3, 1.2, or 1.1 and want to remain on
earlier versions of software may utilize the archive section of the NOW site–now.netapp.com/NOW/cgi-bin/locatesoftware. ·
Cables to attach AIX hosts to the SAN
are not placed automatically in the customer quote, as the HBAs are
expected to be provided by the customer. If the customer wants to order
cables from NetApp, the following options apply: for the IBM
FC6228 and FC6239 HBAs, standard FC cables (LC-LC) provided by NetApp
(X6518A-R6 [5m] or X6519A-R6 [30m]) are compatible and may be ordered by
using the “Add Parts” tab in the Quote Tool. Product Availability FCP AIX Host Utilities are
available in the current release of the Quote Tool. Products need to be validated against the NetApp
Regulatory Compliance Country List prior to order submission. The list is
available at PartnerCenter
Compliance Information. This is required to ensure that products are
being sold only in the countries in which NetApp has received regulatory
compliance certification. For further information about this requirement,
please see the Regulatory
Compliance Verification Product Bulletin. The FCP AIX Host Utilities product has a 90-day warranty
from date of purchase. For configuration support
information, please refer to the NetApp SAN Support Matrix at http://now.netapp.com/NOW/knowledge/docs/san/fcp_iscsi_config/index.shtml and the NetApp Interoperability Matrix at http://now.netapp.com/NOW/products/interoperability. Contact Information: Please contact your Network
Appliance sales or channel partner representative with questions regarding
this bulletin.
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