This IBM® Redbooks® publication captures 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 Version 8.4.2. 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. 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. This book is intended for experienced storage, SAN, IBM FlashSystem®, IBM SAN Volume Controller, and IBM Storwize® administrators and technicians. Understanding this book requires advanced knowledge of these environments.

This IBM® Redpaper Product Guide describes the IBM FlashSystem® 7300 solution, which is a next-generation IBM FlashSystem control enclosure. It combines the performance of flash and a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe)-optimized architecture with the reliability and innovation of IBM FlashCore® technology and the rich feature set and high availability (HA) of IBM Spectrum® Virtualize. To take advantage of artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced applications, real-time big data analytics, and cloud architectures that require higher levels of system performance and storage capacity, enterprises around the globe are rapidly moving to modernize established IT infrastructures. However, for many organizations, staff resources, and expertise are limited, and cost-efficiency is a top priority. These organizations have important investments in existing infrastructure that they want to maximize. They need enterprise-grade solutions that optimize cost-efficiency while simplifying the pathway to modernization. IBM FlashSystem 7300 is designed specifically for these requirements and use cases. It also delivers a cyber resilience without compromising application performance. IBM FlashSystem 7300 provides a rich set of software-defined storage (SDS) features that are delivered by IBM Spectrum Virtualize, including the following examples: Data reduction and deduplication Dynamic tiering Thin-provisioning Snapshots Cloning Replication and data copy services Cyber resilience Transparent Cloud Tiering (TCT) IBM HyperSwap® including 3-site replication for high availability Scale-out and scale-up configurations further enhance capacity and throughput for better availability With the release of IBM Spectrum Virtualize V8.5, extra functions and features are available, including support for new third-generation IBM FlashCore Modules Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) type drives within the control enclosure, and 100 Gbps Ethernet adapters that provide NVMe Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) options. New software features include GUI enhancements, security enhancements including multifactor authentication and single sign-on, and Fibre Channel (FC) portsets.

This IBM® Redpaper® Product Guide describes the IBM FlashSystem® 9500 solution, which is a next-generation IBM FlashSystem control enclosure. It combines the performance of flash and a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe)-optimized architecture with the reliability and innovation of IBM FlashCore® technology and the rich feature set and high availability (HA) of IBM Spectrum® Virtualize. Often, applications exist that are foundational to the operations and success of an enterprise. These applications might function as prime revenue generators, guide or control important tasks, or provide crucial business intelligence, among many other jobs. Whatever their purpose, they are mission critical to the organization. They demand the highest levels of performance, functionality, security, and availability. They also must be protected against the modern scourge, cyberattacks. To support such mission-critical applications, enterprises of all types and sizes turn to the IBM FlashSystem 9500. IBM FlashSystem 9500 provides a rich set of software-defined storage (SDS) features that are delivered by IBM Spectrum Virtualize, including the following examples: Data reduction and deduplication Dynamic tiering Thin-provisioning Snapshots Cloning Replication and data copy services Cyber resilience Transparent Cloud Tiering IBM HyperSwap® including 3-site replication for HA Scale-out and scale-up configurations that further enhance capacity and throughput for better availability With the release of IBM Spectrum Virtualize V8.5, extra functions and features are available, including support for new third-generation IBM FlashCore Modules NVMe-type drives within the control enclosure, and 100 Gbps Ethernet adapters that provide NVMe Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) options. New software features include GUI enhancements and security enhancements, including multifactor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO), and Fibre Channel (FC) portsets.

This IBM® Redpaper Product Guide describes the IBM SAN Volume Controller model SV3 solution, which is a next-generation IBM SAN Volume Controller. Built with IBM Spectrum® Virtualize software and part of the IBM Spectrum Storage family, IBM SAN Volume Controller is an enterprise-class storage system. It helps organizations achieve better data economics by supporting the large-scale workloads that are critical to success. Data centers often contain a mix of storage systems. This situation can arise as a result of company mergers or as a deliberate acquisition strategy. Regardless of how they arise, mixed configurations add complexity to the data center. Different systems have different data services, which make it difficult to move data from one to another without updating automation. Different user interfaces increase the need for training and can make errors more likely. Different approaches to hybrid cloud complicate modernization strategies. Also, many different systems mean more silos of capacity, which can lead to inefficiency. To simplify the data center and to improve flexibility and efficiency in deploying storage, enterprises of all types and sizes turn to IBM SAN Volume Controller, which is built with IBM Spectrum Virtualize software. This software simplifies infrastructure and eliminates differences in management, function, and even hybrid cloud support. IBM SAN Volume Controller introduces a common approach to storage management, function, replication, and hybrid cloud that is independent of storage type. It is the key to modernizing and revitalizing your storage, but is as easy to understand. IBM SAN Volume Controller provides a rich set of software-defined storage (SDS) features that are delivered by IBM Spectrum Virtualize, including the following examples: Data reduction and deduplication Dynamic tiering Thin-provisioning Snapshots Cloning Replication and data copy services Data-at-rest encryption Cyber resilience Transparent Cloud Tiering IBM HyperSwap® including three-site replication for high availability (HA)

This IBM® Redbooks® publication captures several of the preferred practices and describes the performance gains that can be achieved by implementing the IBM FlashSystem® products that are powered by IBM Spectrum® Virtualize Version 8.4.2. 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. 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. This book is intended for experienced storage, SAN, IBM FlashSystem, SAN Volume Controller, and IBM Storwize® administrators and technicians. Understanding this book requires advanced knowledge of these environments.

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.