This IBM® Redbooks® publication describes the IBM Storage Area Network and IBM SAN Volume Controller Stretched Cluster solution when combined with PowerVM® and PowerHA®. We describe guidelines, settings, and the implementation steps that are necessary to achieve a successful implementation. This book is for administrators who are familiar with the SAN, IBM SAN Volume Controller, and IBM PowerVM and PowerHA Systems.

This IBM® Redbooks® publication describes the IBM storage area network (SAN) and IBM SpectrumTM Virtualize, and SAN Volume Controller Enhanced Stretched Cluster configuration when combined with VMware. It describe guidelines, settings, and implementation steps necessary to achieve a satisfactory implementation. Business continuity and continuous availability of applications are among the top requirements for many organizations today. Advances in virtualization, storage, and networking make enhanced business continuity possible. Information technology solutions can now be designed to manage both planned and unplanned outages, and to take advantage of the flexibility, efficient use of resources, and cost savings that cloud computing offers. The IBM Enhanced Stretched Cluster design offers significant functions for maintaining business continuity in a VMware environment. You can dynamically move applications across data centers without interruption to those applications. The live application mobility across data centers relies on these products and technologies: IBM Spectrum Virtualize and SAN Volume Controller Enhanced Stretched Cluster Solution VMware Metro vMotion for live migration of virtual machines A Layer 2 IP Network and storage networking infrastructure for high-performance traffic management Data center interconnection

In today's 24 x 7 world, there is likely not a business on this planet, IBM® Smarter Planet® or not, that finds that their storage requirements are growing too fast and demand is starting to outpace supply. Not only this, but in this cost-conscious environment of today, the costs of managing this growth are likely to be eating into the IT budget. One way to make better use of existing storage without adding more complexity to the infrastructure is the IBM System Storage® SAN Volume Controller (SVC). For many years now this has helped business become more flexible, agile, and introduced an extremely efficient storage environment. SAN Volume Controller is designed to deliver the benefits of storage virtualization in environments from large enterprises to small businesses and midmarket companies. Virtualizing storage with SAN Volume Controller helps make new and existing storage more effective. SAN Volume Controller includes many functions that are traditionally deployed separately in disk systems. By including these in a virtualization system, SAN Volume Controller standardizes functions across virtualized storage for greater flexibility and potentially lower costs. Now, with IBM FlashSystemTM storage, SAN Volume Controller is enabled to extend its reach and benefit all virtualized storage. For example, IBM Easy Tier® optimizes use of flash storage. And IBM Real-time CompressionTM enhances efficiency even further by enabling the storage of up to five times as much active primary data in the same physical disk space. In this IBM Redbooks® publication, we show how to integrate the IBM FlashSystem 820 to provide storage to the SAN Volume Controller, and show how they are designed to operate seamlessly together, reducing management effort. In this book, which is aimed at pre- and post-sales support, storage administrators, and people that want to get an overview of this new and exciting technology, we show the steps required to implement the IBM FlashSystem 820 in an existing SAN Volume Controller environment. We also highlight some of the new features in SAN Volume Controller that increase performance. If you are not already familiar with the SAN Volume Controller, it is beneficial to read the following IBM Redbooks publications: - Implementing the IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller V6.3, SG24-7933 - Implementing the IBM Storwize V7000 V6.3, SG24-7938 - Real-time Compression in SAN Volume Controller and Storwize V7000, REDP-4859 - IBM SAN Volume Controller and IBM FlashSystem 820: Best Practices and Performance Capabilities, REDP-5027 - IBM FlashSystem 710 and IBM FlashSystem 810, TIPS1002 - IBM FlashSystem 720 and IBM FlashSystem 820, TIPS1003 - Flash or SSD: Why and When to Use IBM FlashSystem, REDP-5020

This IBM® Redbooks® publication describes several of the preferred practices and describes the performance gains that can be achieved by implementing the IBM SAN Volume Controller powered by IBM Spectrum® Virtualize V8.4. 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 IBM SAN Volume Controller, back-end storage, and applications. It explains how you can optimize disk performance with the IBM System Storage Easy Tier® function. It also provides preferred practices for monitoring, maintaining, and troubleshooting IBM SAN Volume Controller. This book is intended for experienced storage, SAN, and IBM SAN Volume Controller administrators and technicians. Understanding this book requires advanced knowledge of the IBM SAN Volume Controller, IBM FlashSystem, and SAN environments.

In this IBM® Redbooks® publication, we describe recommendations based on an IBM b-type storage area network (SAN) environment that is utilizing VMware vSphere ESXi. We describe the hardware and software and the unique features that they bring to the marketplace. We then highlight those features and how they apply to the SAN environment, and the best practices for ensuring that you get the best out of your SAN. For background reading, we recommend the following Redbooks publications: - Introduction to Storage Area Networks and System Networking, SG24-5470 - IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Best Practices and Performance Guidelines, SG24-7521 - IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller and Storwize V7000 Replication Family Services, SG24-7574 - Implementing the IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller V6.3, SG24-7933 - IBM SAN Volume Controller Stretched Cluster with PowerVM and PowerHA, SG24-8142 - Implementing the IBM SAN Volume Controller and FlashSystem 820, SG24-8172 - IBM System Storage DS8000 Copy Services for Open Systems, SG24-6788 - IBM System Storage DS8000: Host Attachment and Interoperability, SG24-8887 This book is aimed at pre- and post-sales support, system administrators, and storage administrators.

Continuing its commitment to developing and delivering industry-leading storage technologies, IBM® introduces the IBM FlashSystem® solution that is powered by IBM Spectrum® Virtualize V8.4. This innovative storage offering delivers essential storage efficiency technologies and exceptional ease of use and performance, all integrated into a compact, modular design that is offered at a competitive, midrange price. The solution incorporates some of the top IBM technologies that are typically found only in enterprise-class storage systems, which raises the standard for storage efficiency in midrange disk systems. This cutting-edge storage system extends the comprehensive storage portfolio from IBM and can help change the way organizations address the ongoing information explosion. This IBM Redbooks® publication introduces the features and functions of an IBM Spectrum Virtualize V8.4 system through several examples. This book is aimed at pre-sales and post-sales technical support and marketing and storage administrators. It helps you understand the architecture, how to implement it, and how to take advantage of its industry-leading functions and features.