We use VIO/NPIV based tape drives for a bunch of storage agents. Once setup and working it works well. We ran into several bumps along the road:
1) We had to double the vio server memory (1g to 2gb I think). 2) We had to patch VIO to a newer level. 3) There are limits to the number of tape drives you can define in a lpar this way. I'm thiniking 62 or so - don't remember exactly. It's a limit on scsi targets. Every tape drives is a separate scsi target. 4) I also think there is a total limit on scsi targets across all lpars defined to a vio based hba. 5) Learning about how vio handles targets and how to clear them. To clear/reset the vio targets you have to drop the fcs adapter in the lpar. Delete/recreating a rmt devcie in the lpar doesn't do it. We've still had problems with loosing npiv WWN's. Somehow the vio mappings have got lost such that we had to get all new wwn's in the lpar. To say the least this caused pain! Rick From: Steven Langdale <steven.langd...@gmail.com> To: ADSM-L@VM.MARIST.EDU Date: 01/25/2012 05:14 AM Subject: Re: TSM in AIX WPARS Sent by: "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L@VM.MARIST.EDU> Remco Am I missreading this technote: http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21461901 That is saying virtual NPIV adapters are OK. ----Original Message----- > From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ADSM-L@VM.MARIST.EDU] On Behalf Of > Remco Post > Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 3:20 PM > To: ADSM-L@VM.MARIST.EDU > Subject: Re: [ADSM-L] TSM in AIX WPARS > > I don't think there are any major issues, but if you need access to tape > drives you must have physical HBA's in each WPAR if you want to run an > officially supported configuration. Virtual HBA's work, but are not > officially supported, so if you run into any issues you might be on your > own. > > ----------------------------------------- The information contained in this message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately, and delete the original message.