Hitachi DASD subsystem Replication - anyone?
Background: in a predominently zOS sysplex environment (2 z9's) and a fairly large Open Systems environment (Linux, Solaris, AIX, Windoz), a recent storage subsystem consolidation/upgrade decision was made to purchase an Hitachi USP1100 on a large tiered storage platform. Problem : with zVM and zLinux, while growing rapidly, it doesn't yet get the *attention* it needs considering resources and tools. Example, we have been running around 4 years on 2 IFL's on an old DASD subsystem nobody else wanted, STK V960, and now integrating into the Hitachi world the "methods" of storage replication was an after thought. The STK V960, while older an *unwanted* at least offered a "snapshot" feature with a VM interface for controlling replication, and Hitachi is telling us (short of experiment yourself with ICKDSF on a full volume level) none of their replication products have a native VM interface - specifically, we desire access at the minidisk level vs. full volume. We basically use full volume 3390 emulation, but reserve CYL 0 for unique volser, such that the "replication" involves zOS shared DASD full volume dumps of snapshot target volser's, and zVM uses internally for cloning guests (vs. DDR's). Question for LIST: Is anybody out there using a Hitachi USP subsystem for the zVM storage, and if so, how are you handling volume replication? Hitachi indicated that they had *heard* that some customers were running zOS as a guest machine under zVM, but this seems impossible to justify for us in that the reduced VM license cost for IFL would no longer be an option, plus the zOS licensing to boot. Any ideas or experiences out there would be appreciated for consideration. Thanks -- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390
Re: Hitachi DASD subsystem Replication - anyone?
Bennie, We use ShadowImage to replicate VM volumes on a USP 600. I don't know what differences there may be between a 600 and an 1100. ShadowImage makes full volume copies, using ICKDSF PPRC commands. We have no problem issuing the commands from VM. Hitachi also offers something called "compatible FlashCopy". It's extra cost, so we don't have it. If it's truly compatible, it should allow CP FLASHCOPY commands for both minidisks and full volumes. Dennis O'Brien Chelsea Clinton asked a returning US Soldier about fear. He said there were only three things he was afraid of: Osama, Obama and Yo Mama. -- Truckee Tahoe Times -Original Message- From: Linux on 390 Port [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 07:19 To: LINUX-390@VM.MARIST.EDU Subject: Hitachi DASD subsystem Replication - anyone? Background: in a predominently zOS sysplex environment (2 z9's) and a fairly large Open Systems environment (Linux, Solaris, AIX, Windoz), a recent storage subsystem consolidation/upgrade decision was made to purchase an Hitachi USP1100 on a large tiered storage platform. Problem : with zVM and zLinux, while growing rapidly, it doesn't yet get the *attention* it needs considering resources and tools. Example, we have been running around 4 years on 2 IFL's on an old DASD subsystem nobody else wanted, STK V960, and now integrating into the Hitachi world the "methods" of storage replication was an after thought. The STK V960, while older an *unwanted* at least offered a "snapshot" feature with a VM interface for controlling replication, and Hitachi is telling us (short of experiment yourself with ICKDSF on a full volume level) none of their replication products have a native VM interface - specifically, we desire access at the minidisk level vs. full volume. We basically use full volume 3390 emulation, but reserve CYL 0 for unique volser, such that the "replication" involves zOS shared DASD full volume dumps of snapshot target volser's, and zVM uses internally for cloning guests (vs. DDR's). Question for LIST: Is anybody out there using a Hitachi USP subsystem for the zVM storage, and if so, how are you handling volume replication? Hitachi indicated that they had *heard* that some customers were running zOS as a guest machine under zVM, but this seems impossible to justify for us in that the reduced VM license cost for IFL would no longer be an option, plus the zOS licensing to boot. Any ideas or experiences out there would be appreciated for consideration. Thanks -- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 -- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390
Re: Hitachi DASD subsystem Replication - anyone?
Bennie, I believe you have the have the storage subsystem feature before the VM flashcopy command will work. I know that when you have DirMaint and you set it up to use flashcopy it will revert back to DDR unless you are on DASD subsystems that support Flashcopy. Thanks, Gary L. Detro Senior IT Specialist 1177 S. Belt Line Rd; Coppell, TX 75019 Internal Mail Stop: 77-01-3001O; Coppell, TX Phone: 469-549-8174 (t/l 603-8174); Fax: 469-549-8235 (t/l 603-8235) Send me an email [EMAIL PROTECTED] IBM Global Solution Center "O'Brien, Dennis L" Sent by: Linux on 390 Port 09/05/2007 12:15 PM Please respond to Linux on 390 Port To LINUX-390@VM.MARIST.EDU cc Subject Re: Hitachi DASD subsystem Replication - anyone? Bennie, We use ShadowImage to replicate VM volumes on a USP 600. I don't know what differences there may be between a 600 and an 1100. ShadowImage makes full volume copies, using ICKDSF PPRC commands. We have no problem issuing the commands from VM. Hitachi also offers something called "compatible FlashCopy". It's extra cost, so we don't have it. If it's truly compatible, it should allow CP FLASHCOPY commands for both minidisks and full volumes. Dennis O'Brien Chelsea Clinton asked a returning US Soldier about fear. He said there were only three things he was afraid of: Osama, Obama and Yo Mama. -- Truckee Tahoe Times -Original Message- From: Linux on 390 Port [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 07:19 To: LINUX-390@VM.MARIST.EDU Subject: Hitachi DASD subsystem Replication - anyone? Background: in a predominently zOS sysplex environment (2 z9's) and a fairly large Open Systems environment (Linux, Solaris, AIX, Windoz), a recent storage subsystem consolidation/upgrade decision was made to purchase an Hitachi USP1100 on a large tiered storage platform. Problem : with zVM and zLinux, while growing rapidly, it doesn't yet get the *attention* it needs considering resources and tools. Example, we have been running around 4 years on 2 IFL's on an old DASD subsystem nobody else wanted, STK V960, and now integrating into the Hitachi world the "methods" of storage replication was an after thought. The STK V960, while older an *unwanted* at least offered a "snapshot" feature with a VM interface for controlling replication, and Hitachi is telling us (short of experiment yourself with ICKDSF on a full volume level) none of their replication products have a native VM interface - specifically, we desire access at the minidisk level vs. full volume. We basically use full volume 3390 emulation, but reserve CYL 0 for unique volser, such that the "replication" involves zOS shared DASD full volume dumps of snapshot target volser's, and zVM uses internally for cloning guests (vs. DDR's). Question for LIST: Is anybody out there using a Hitachi USP subsystem for the zVM storage, and if so, how are you handling volume replication? Hitachi indicated that they had *heard* that some customers were running zOS as a guest machine under zVM, but this seems impossible to justify for us in that the reduced VM license cost for IFL would no longer be an option, plus the zOS licensing to boot. Any ideas or experiences out there would be appreciated for consideration. Thanks -- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 -- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 <><>
Re: Hitachi DASD subsystem Replication - anyone?
Dennis, thanks for the reply. Yes, it would be very nice if the native FLASHCOPY command set would work, but we were told point blank from some HDS development team members on a conference call inquiring on just that yesterday, that it is not compatible. We have started to review the ShadowImage doc, and will most likely pursue this option. I noticed you indicated "full volume". I keep getting conflicting responses from HDS, but one technical guy said that it will work with mini-disks, but the conference call HDS team yesterday contradicted that. I suppose we are on our own again to find out. Anybody out there ever experimented with minidisk scenario? O'Brien, Dennis L wrote: Bennie, We use ShadowImage to replicate VM volumes on a USP 600. I don't know what differences there may be between a 600 and an 1100. ShadowImage makes full volume copies, using ICKDSF PPRC commands. We have no problem issuing the commands from VM. Hitachi also offers something called "compatible FlashCopy". It's extra cost, so we don't have it. If it's truly compatible, it should allow CP FLASHCOPY commands for both minidisks and full volumes. Dennis O'Brien Chelsea Clinton asked a returning US Soldier about fear. He said there were only three things he was afraid of: Osama, Obama and Yo Mama. -- Truckee Tahoe Times -Original Message- From: Linux on 390 Port [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 07:19 To: LINUX-390@VM.MARIST.EDU Subject: Hitachi DASD subsystem Replication - anyone? Background: in a predominently zOS sysplex environment (2 z9's) and a fairly large Open Systems environment (Linux, Solaris, AIX, Windoz), a recent storage subsystem consolidation/upgrade decision was made to purchase an Hitachi USP1100 on a large tiered storage platform. Problem : with zVM and zLinux, while growing rapidly, it doesn't yet get the *attention* it needs considering resources and tools. Example, we have been running around 4 years on 2 IFL's on an old DASD subsystem nobody else wanted, STK V960, and now integrating into the Hitachi world the "methods" of storage replication was an after thought. The STK V960, while older an *unwanted* at least offered a "snapshot" feature with a VM interface for controlling replication, and Hitachi is telling us (short of experiment yourself with ICKDSF on a full volume level) none of their replication products have a native VM interface - specifically, we desire access at the minidisk level vs. full volume. We basically use full volume 3390 emulation, but reserve CYL 0 for unique volser, such that the "replication" involves zOS shared DASD full volume dumps of snapshot target volser's, and zVM uses internally for cloning guests (vs. DDR's). Question for LIST: Is anybody out there using a Hitachi USP subsystem for the zVM storage, and if so, how are you handling volume replication? Hitachi indicated that they had *heard* that some customers were running zOS as a guest machine under zVM, but this seems impossible to justify for us in that the reduced VM license cost for IFL would no longer be an option, plus the zOS licensing to boot. Any ideas or experiences out there would be appreciated for consideration. Thanks -- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 -- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 -- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390
Re: Hitachi DASD subsystem Replication - anyone?
> Dennis, thanks for the reply. Yes, it would be very nice if the native > FLASHCOPY command set would work, but we were told point blank from some > HDS development team members on a conference call inquiring on just that > yesterday, that it is not compatible. Not surprising. They really don't understand VM very well. > We have started to review the ShadowImage doc, and will most likely > pursue this option. I noticed you indicated "full volume". I keep > getting conflicting responses from HDS, but one technical guy said that > it will work with mini-disks, but the conference call HDS team yesterday > contradicted that. I suppose we are on our own again to find out. > Anybody out there ever experimented with minidisk scenario? The one USP box I have access to that has the current ucode installed did not permit minidisk replication, only full volumes. I think I'd complain loudly to HDS. This is one case where they *need* to buy a clue and support CMS tools to manage this stuff, or get their boxes to support the native command sets to trigger this stuff, even if it requires licensing IBM IP to do it. I'm told IBM, STK and EMC have nice tradein programs for HDS boxes. You could threaten them with that; they generally respond to that..8-) -- db -- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390
