This IBM® Redpaper™ publication is a brief overview of synergistic aspects between various VMware offerings and the IBM Spectrum™ Accelerate family, including IBM XIV® and IBM FlashSystem® A9000 and IBM FlashSystem A9000R servers. After reviewing different integration concepts and explaining general implementation aspects for attaching the IBM Spectrum Accelerate™ family to VMware ESXi deployments, the paper focuses on components that are enabled by IBM Spectrum Connect v3.4. This paper is intended for planning to use or implementing the IBM Spectrum Accelerate family of storage systems in a VMware environment.

This IBM® Redpaper™ publication reviews the architecture and operations of the IBM DS8000® Global Mirror function. The document looks at different aspects of the solution in terms of performance, infrastructure requirements, data integrity, business continuity, and impact on production. Hints and tips are provided on how to best configure the overall Global Mirror environment, in terms of connectivity, storage configuration, and specific parameters tuning. The guidelines that are provided are in general related to performance, which ultimately ensures a better recovery point objective (RPO). Therefore, we encourage you to follow those guidelines.

This IBM Redbooks® Product Guide gives an overview of the features and functions that are available with the IBM DS8880 models running microcode Release 8.51 (DS8000 License Machine Code 8.8.51.xx.xx). The IBM DS8880 architecture relies on powerful IBM POWER8® processor-based servers that manage the cache to streamline disk input/output (I/O), maximizing performance and throughput. These capabilities are further enhanced with the availability of the second generation of high-performance flash enclosures (HPFE Gen-2). The IBM DS8888, DS8886, and DS8884 models excel at supporting the IBM Z Enterprise server and IBM Power server environments, offering many synergy features.

This IBM® Redpaper™ presents and positions the DS8882F. The DS8882F adds a modular rack-mountable enterprise storage system to the DS8880 family of all-flash enterprise storage systems. The modular system can be integrated into 16U contiguous space of an existing IBM z14™ Model ZR1 (z14 Model ZR1), IBM LinuxONE™ Rockhopper II (z14 Model LR1), or other standard 19-inch wide rack. The DS8882F allows you to take advantage of the performance boost of DS8880 all-flash enterprise systems and advanced features while limiting datacenter footprint and power infrastructure requirements.

Ever-increasing storage demands have a negative effect on an organization's IT budget and complicate the overall storage infrastructure and management. Companies are looking at ways to use their storage resources more efficiently. Thin provisioning can help by reducing the amount of unused storage that is typically allocated to applications or users. Now available for the IBM® DS8880 for Fixed Block (FB) and Count Key Data (CKD) volumes, thin provisioning defers the allocation of actual space on the storage system until the time that the data must effectively be written to disk. This IBM Redpaper™ publication provides an overall understanding of how thin provisioning works on the IBM DS8880. It also provides insights into the functional design and its implementation on the DS8880 and includes illustrations for the configuration of thin-provisioned volumes from the DS GUI or the DS CLI. This edition applies to DS8880 Release 8.5 or later.

This IBM® Redpaper™ publication discusses on performance monitoring for IBM FlashSystem® storage products. The products reviewed are the IBM FlashSystem FS900, the IBM FlashSystem V9000, and the IBM FlashSystem A9000 and A9000R. For each of the FlashSystem devices, the paper reviews performance monitoring options. The first option is to use features available with the storage management software specific to the respective devices. The other option, which is the focus of this paper, is to use the IBM Spectrum™ Control solution. Using IBM Spectrum Control™ offers the advantage of having a common tool and unique interface to monitor most devices in your storage infrastructure. This paper explains how to take advantage of the many monitoring features and reporting options offered by IBM Spectrum Control. The paper also gives some guidance on how to set appropriate monitoring thresholds and alerts according to your environment.

This IBM® Redpaper™ publication provides an overview of containers and their framework. Container technology enables prepackaged and pre-configured software with the elements that are needed to run in any environment. Because they are meant to be portable, containers normally restrict applications from storing data on external storage. To overcome this limitation, IBM has developed a solution to provide persistent storage for containers on IBM storage systems, known as the IBM Storage Enabler for Containers. The Enabler tightly integrates with IBM Spectrum™ Connect (formerly IBM Spectrum Control™ Base Edition). IBM Storage Enabler for Containers v1.0 extends IBM Spectrum Connect to Kubernetes orchestrated container environments. The paper focuses on containers implementation, management, and control by using IBM Spectrum Connect and IBM Storage Enabler for Containers plug-in, with IBM FlashSystem® A9000 or A9000R.

Abstract This IBM® Redbooks publication presents the architecture, design, concepts, and technology that are used in IBM FlashSystem® A9000 and IBM FlashSystem A9000R. FlashSystem A9000 and FlashSystem A9000R deliver the microsecond latency and high availability of IBM FlashCore® technology with grid architecture, simple scalability, and industry-leading IBM software that is designed to drive your business into the cognitive era. Comprehensive data reduction capabilities, including inline deduplication and a new compression engine, help lower total cost of ownership, and a highly intuitive user interface simplifies management. FlashSystem A9000 and FlashSystem A9000R transform technology infrastructure into business innovation. From a functional standpoint, FlashSystem A9000 and FlashSystem A9000R take advantage of most of the software-defined storage features that are offered by the IBM Spectrum Accelerate™ software, including multi-tenancy and business continuity functions. Starting with software version 12.1, the IBM HyperSwap® feature delivers always-on, high availability (HA) storage service for storage volumes in a production environment. Software version 12.2 introduces cross-generation asynchronous mirroring with IBM XIV® Gen3. This publication is intended for those individuals who need to plan, install, tailor, and configure FlashSystem A9000 and FlashSystem A9000R. For detailed information about configuration, management, and replication functions and their usage, see the following publications: , SG24-8376 IBM Spectrum Accelerate Family Storage Configuration and Usage for IBM FlashSystem A9000, IBM FlashSystem A9000R, and IBM XIV Gen3 , REDP-5401 IBM FlashSystem A9000 and A9000R Business Continuity Solutions , REDP-5434 IBM HyperSwap for IBM FlashSystem A9000 and A9000R , SG24-8368. IBM Spectrum Accelerate Family: Host Attachment and Interoperability

Abstract This IBM® Redbooks® publication describes the concepts, architecture, and implementation of the IBM DS8880 family. The book provides reference information to assist readers who need to plan for, install, and configure the DS8880 systems. The IBM DS8000® family is a high-performance, high-capacity, highly secure, and resilient series of disk storage systems. The DS8880 family is the latest and most advanced of the DS8000 offerings to date. The high availability, multiplatform support, including IBM Z, and simplified management tools help provide a cost-effective path to an on-demand and cloud-based infrastructures. The IBM DS8880 family now offers business-critical, all-flash, and hybrid data systems that span a wide range of price points: DS8884 -- Business Class DS8886 -- Enterprise Class DS8888 -- Analytics Class The DS8884 and DS8886 are available as either hybrid models, or can be configured as all-flash. Each model represents the most recent in this series of high-performance, high-capacity, flexible, and resilient storage systems. These systems are intended to address the needs of the most demanding clients. Two powerful IBM POWER8® processor-based servers manage the cache to streamline disk I/O, maximizing performance and throughput. These capabilities are further enhanced with the availability of the second generation of high-performance flash enclosures (HPFEs Gen-2) and newer flash drives. Like its predecessors, the DS8880 supports advanced disaster recovery (DR) solutions, business continuity solutions, and thin provisioning. All disk drives in the DS8880 storage system include the Full Disk Encryption (FDE) feature. The DS8880 can automatically optimize the use of each storage tier, particularly flash drives, by using the IBM Easy Tier® feature.

Data is the currency of the new economy, and organizations are increasingly tasked with finding better ways to protect, recover, access, share, and use it. IBM Spectrum™ Copy Data Management is aimed at using existing data in a manner that is efficient, automated, scalable. It helps you manage all of those snapshot and IBM FlashCopy® images made to support DevOps, data protection, disaster recovery, and Hybrid Cloud computing environments. This IBM® Redpaper™ publication specifically addresses IBM Spectrum Copy Data Management in combination with IBM FlashSystem® A9000 or A9000R when used for Automated Disaster Recovery of SAP HANA.

Abstract This IBM® Redbooks® publication helps you plan, install, tailor, configure, and manage Copy Services on the IBM DS8000® operating in an IBM z Systems® or Open Systems environment. This book helps you design and implement a new Copy Services installation or migrate from an existing installation. It includes hints and tips to maximize the effectiveness of your installation, and information about tools and products to automate Copy Services functions. It is intended for anyone who needs a detailed and practical understanding of the DS8000 Copy Services.

IBM® Copy Services Manager (CSM) is a replication management solution that is based on the IBM Tivoli® Productivity Center for Replication technology. CSM inherits all the Tivoli Productivity Center for Replication capabilities and continues to provide Copy Services solutions for most IBM storage offerings. The IBM DS8880, starting with firmware Release 8.1, Licensed Machine Code (LMC) 8.8.10.xx.xx, includes CSM for the IBM System Storage® DS8000®, which is pre-installed on the Hardware Management Console (HMC). If you ordered the CSM feature code as part of your IBM DS8000 system configuration, you only need to activate CSM. CSM as installed on the HMC, or acquired separately, includes a lightweight build of the IBM WebSphere® Liberty server code, to use to authenticate CSM users through a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). The same integrated LDAP support can be used for remote authentication of DS8000 users. Furthermore, if you simply want to take advantage of the CSM LDAP client for DS8000 LDAP authentication, the CSM license and CSM activation are not required. This IBM Redpaper™ publication describes the requirements for setup and usage of CSM on the DS8000 HMC, for both Copy Services management and LDAP authentication.

This IBM® Redbooks® publication presents the architecture, design, concepts, and technology that are used in IBM FlashSystem® A9000 and IBM FlashSystem A9000R. FlashSystem A9000 and FlashSystem A9000R deliver the microsecond latency and high availability of IBM FlashCore® technology with grid architecture, simple scalability, and industry-leading IBM software that is designed to drive your business into the cognitive era. Comprehensive data reduction capabilities, including inline deduplication and a new compression engine, help lower total cost of ownership, and a highly intuitive user interface simplifies management. FlashSystem A9000 and FlashSystem A9000R transform technology infrastructure into business innovation. From a functional standpoint, FlashSystem A9000 and FlashSystem A9000R take advantage of most of the software-defined storage features that are offered by the IBM Spectrum™ Accelerate software, including multi-tenancy and business continuity functions. This publication is intended for those individuals who need to plan, install, tailor, and configure FlashSystem A9000 and FlashSystem A9000R. For detailed information about configuration, management, and replication functions and their usage, refer to the following publications: , SG24-8376 IBM Spectrum Accelerate Family Storage Configuration and Usage for IBM FlashSystem A9000, IBM Flashsystem A9000R and IBM XIV Gen3 , REDP-5401 IBM FlashSystem A9000 and A9000R Replication Solutions , SG24-8368 IBM FlashSystem A9000, IBM FlashSystem A9000R and IBM XIV Storage System Host Attachment and Interoperability This IBM® Redbooks® publication presents the architecture, design, concepts, and technology that are used in IBM FlashSystem® A9000 and IBM FlashSystem A9000R. FlashSystem A9000 and FlashSystem A9000R deliver the microsecond latency and high availability of IBM FlashCore® technology with grid architecture, simple scalability, and industry-leading IBM software that is designed to drive your business into the cognitive era. Comprehensive data reduction capabilities, including inline deduplication and a new compression engine, help lower total cost of ownership, and a highly intuitive user interface simplifies management. FlashSystem A9000 and FlashSystem A9000R transform technology infrastructure into business innovation. From a functional standpoint, FlashSystem A9000 and FlashSystem A9000R take advantage of most of the software-defined storage features that are offered by the IBM Spectrum™ Accelerate software, including multi-tenancy and business continuity functions. This publication is intended for those individuals who need to plan, install, tailor, and configure FlashSystem A9000 and FlashSystem A9000R. For detailed information about configuration, management, and replication functions and their usage, see the following publications: IBM Spectrum Accelerate Family Storage Configuration and Usage for IBM FlashSystem A9000, IBM Flashsystem A9000R and IBM XIV Gen3, SG24-8376 IBM FlashSystem A9000 and A9000R Replication Solutions, REDP-5401 IBM FlashSystem A9000, IBM FlashSystem A9000R and IBM XIV Storage System Host Attachment and Interoperability, SG24-8368

This IBM® Redbooks® publication describes the concepts, architecture, and implementation of the IBM DS8880 family. The book provides reference information to assist readers who need to plan for, install, and configure the DS8880 systems. The IBM DS8000® family is a high-performance, high-capacity, highly secure, and resilient series of disk storage systems. The DS8880 family is the latest and most advanced of the DS8000 offerings to date. The high availability, multiplatform support, including IBM z Systems®, and simplified management tools help provide a cost-effective path to an on-demand world. The IBM DS8880 family now offers business-critical, all-flash, and hybrid data systems that span a wide range of price points: DS8884 -- Business Class DS8886 -- Enterprise Class DS8888 -- Analytics Class The DS8884 and DS8886 are available as either hybrid models, or can be configured as all-flash. Each model represents the most recent in this series of high-performance, high-capacity, flexible, and resilient storage systems. These systems are intended to address the needs of the most demanding clients. Two powerful IBM POWER8® processor-based servers manage the cache to streamline disk I/O, maximizing performance and throughput. These capabilities are further enhanced with the availability of the second generation of high-performance flash enclosures (HPFEs Gen-2). Like its predecessors, the DS8880 supports advanced disaster recovery (DR) solutions, business continuity solutions, and thin provisioning. All disk drives in the DS8880 storage system include the Full Disk Encryption (FDE) feature. The DS8880 can automatically optimize the use of each storage tier, particularly flash drives and flash cards, through the IBM Easy Tier® feature. The DS8880 also includes the Copy Services Manager code and allows for easier integration in a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) infrastructure.

This IBM® Redbooks® publication provides guidance about how to configure, monitor, and manage your IBM DS8880 storage systems to achieve optimum performance, and it also covers the IBM DS8870 storage system. It describes the DS8880 performance features and characteristics, including hardware-related performance features, synergy items for certain operating systems, and other functions, such as IBM Easy Tier® and the DS8000® I/O Priority Manager. The book also describes specific performance considerations that apply to particular host environments, including database applications. This book also outlines the various tools that are available for monitoring and measuring I/O performance for different server environments, and it describes how to monitor the performance of the entire DS8000 storage system. This book is intended for individuals who want to maximize the performance of their DS8880 and DS8870 storage systems and investigate the planning and monitoring tools that are available. The IBM DS8880 storage system features, as described in this book, are available for the DS8880 model family with R8.0 release bundles (Licensed Machine Code (LMC) level 7.8.0).

This IBM Redbooks publication will help you plan, install, and configure the IBM System Storage DS6000 Copy Services functions in System z environments, and provides the details you need to implement and manage these functions. The book includes hints and tips.