IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASAVersion 1.1.5

Release Notes

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First Edition (May 2013)

This edition applies to version 1.1.5 of the IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA software package. Newerdocument editions may be issued for the same product version in order to add missing information or amendtypographical errors. The edition is reset to 'First Edition' for every new product version.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2011, 2013.US Government Users Restricted Rights – Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contractwith IBM Corp.

Contents

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Compatibility and requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Supported operating systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Supported storage systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Supported VMware platforms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Change log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Version 1.1.5 (May 2013) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Version 1.1.1 (February 2012) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Version 1.1.0 (November 2011) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Known issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Related information and publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Getting information, help, and service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Trademarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

© Copyright IBM Corp. 2011, 2013 iii

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Overview

For IBM® XIV® and VMware vSphere users, the IBM Storage Provider for VMwareVASA improves the ability to monitor and automate storage-related operations onVMware platforms.

The IBM Storage Provider is installed on an IBM Storage Integration Server (aLinux server) that monitors one or more IBM XIV storage systems. From thatserver, the IBM Storage Provider provides a standard interface for any connectedVMware vCenter Server using VMware APIs for Storage Awareness (VASA),delivering information about storage topology, capabilities and state, as well asstorage events and alerts to vCenter Server in real time.

In addition, a range of CLI management utilities for server configuration isincluded in the software package.

You can download the IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA software packageat any time from the IBM Fix Central website (www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral).

Compatibility and requirementsThis section specifies the compatibility and requirements of version 1.1.5 of theIBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA.

Supported operating systemsVersion 1.1.5 of the IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA is compatible withthe following Linux version.

Operating system Architecture

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 6.3 x64

Important: Microsoft Windows Server is no longer supported.

Supported storage systemsThe IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA supports different microcodeversions of the IBM XIV Storage System, as listed in the following table.

Storage system Microcode version

IBM XIV Storage System 10.2.x

11.0.x, 11.1.x, 11.2.x

Supported VMware platformsThe IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA supports different VMwareplatforms, as detailed in the following table.

VMware platform Version

vCenter Server 5.0, 5.1

ESXi 5.0, 5.1

© Copyright IBM Corp. 2011, 2013 1

Change logThis section summarizes the changes made in different version releases of the IBMStorage Provider for VMware VASA.

Version 1.1.5 (May 2013)Version 1.1.5 is a brand new software solution that works on a Linux server andoffers a range of new management capabilities.

Note: The previously released Windows-based versions of the IBM StorageProvider for VMware VASA (1.1.0, 1.1.1) have been deprecated.

Version 1.1.5 introduces the following new CLI management utilities:v ibmvp_storage_credentials – For setting, removing, and listing XIV access

credentials.v ibmvp_admin_commands – For adding, removing, and listing IBM Storage

Integration Server users.v ibmvp_storage_array – For adding, removing, and listing connected XIV storage

systems.v ibmvp_capabilities – For defining storage capabilities.v ibmvp_volume – For listing the available storage volumes and assigning storage

capabilities to these volumes.v ibmvp_configuration – For backing up or restoring a specific configuration of

the IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA.

For more information about each utility, refer to the user guide.

Version 1.1.1 (February 2012)Version 1.1.1 included the following enhancements and fixes.

Ticket ID Description

VASA-170231 Enhancement: The password for connecting to the XIVstorage system is now encrypted and has been removedfrom the vasa_util view command output.

VASA-169620 Fixed: The vpd_config_get command erroneouslyfunctions the same as the version_get command.

VASA-168678 Fixed: The VASA Provider does not work with XIVmicrocode version 10.2.4.a.

Version 1.1.0 (November 2011)Version 1.1.0 was the initial version that introduced the IBM Storage Provider forVMware VASA as the interface between the VMware vSphere environment and theIBM XIV Storage System.

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Known issuesThis section details the known issues in version 1.1.5, along with possibleworkarounds (if workarounds are available).

Ticket ID Description

VASAVP-257821 All events are being resent to vCenter upon a resetaction on the vCenter side.

This occurs when the context is reset due to an invalidsession initiated by vCenter Server.

Currently there is no workaround for this limitation(VASAVP-257821)

VASAVP-257883 In some rare cases, the service status check (using theservice ibm_vasa_provider status command) mightreport that all Celery services are running, even whensome Celery processes are down.

Currently there is no workaround for this limitation(VASAVP-257883).

VASAVP-258106 If a volume is deleted on the XIV storage system andthen a new volume is created with the same volumename shortly afterwards, the IBM Storage Providerdatabase might not be updated with the new volumeinformation. As a result, the connected vCenter serversstop receiving updated information.

v To resolve this issue if it has been encountered, usethe ibmvp_storage_array remove command removethe XIV storage system on which the new volumeresides, and then use the ibmvp_storage_array addcommand to add it again as shown in the followingexample:

ibmvp_storage_array remove -a xivstorage1ibmvp_storage_array add -i 10.100.155.200

v To avoid this issue and prevent its occurrence, allowat least 15 minutes between the volume deletionaction and the new volume creation action. Thisallows the IBM Storage Provider database to beupdated with the deletion action before the newvolume is created. You can use the ibmvp_volume listcommand to verify that the deleted volume is nolonger listed in the database.

Related information and publicationsYou can find additional information related to the IBM Storage Provider forVMware VASA on the following and websites.v IBM Storage Host Software Solutions Information Center

(publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/strhosts/ic)v IBM XIV Storage System Information Center (publib.boulder.ibm.com/

infocenter/ibmxiv/r2)

Overview 3

v VMware Documentation website (www.vmware.com/support/pubs)

Getting information, help, and serviceIf you need help, service, technical assistance, or want more information about IBMproducts, you can find various sources to assist you. You can view the followingwebsites to get information about IBM products and services and to find the latesttechnical information and support.v IBM website (ibm.com®)v IBM Support Portal website (www.ibm.com/storage/support)v IBM Directory of Worldwide Contacts website (www.ibm.com/planetwide)

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Notices

These legal notices pertain to IBM Storage Host Software Solutions productdocumentation.

This information was developed for products and services offered in the U.S.A.

IBM may not offer the products, services, or features discussed in this document inother countries. Consult your local IBM representative for information on theproducts and services currently available in your area. Any reference to an IBMproduct, program, or service is not intended to state or imply that only that IBMproduct, program, or service may be used. Any functionally equivalent product,program, or service that does not infringe any IBM intellectual property right maybe used instead. However, it is the user's responsibility to evaluate and verify theoperation of any non-IBM product, program, or service.

IBM may have patents or pending patent applications covering subject matterdescribed in this document. The furnishing of this document does not grant youany license to these patents. You can send license inquiries, in writing, to:

IBM Director of LicensingIBM CorporationNorth Castle DriveArmonk, NY 10504-1785U.S.A.

For license inquiries regarding double-byte character set (DBCS) information,contact the IBM Intellectual Property Department in your country or sendinquiries, in writing, to:

Intellectual Property LicensingLegal and Intellectual Property LawIBM Japan Ltd.1623-14, Shimotsuruma, Yamato-shiKanagawa 242-8502 Japan

The following paragraph does not apply to the United Kingdom or any othercountry where such provisions are inconsistent with local law:INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION PROVIDES THISPUBLICATION "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHEREXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIEDWARRANTIES OF NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESSFOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some states do not allow disclaimer of express orimplied warranties in certain transactions, therefore, this statement may not applyto you.

This information could include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors.Changes are periodically made to the information herein; these changes will beincorporated in new editions of the publication. IBM may make improvementsand/or changes in the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in thispublication at any time without notice.

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Any references in this information to non-IBM Web sites are provided forconvenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those Websites. The materials at those Web sites are not part of the materials for this IBMproduct and use of those Web sites is at your own risk.

IBM may use or distribute any of the information you supply in any way itbelieves appropriate without incurring any obligation to you.

Licensees of this program who wish to have information about it for the purposeof enabling: (i) the exchange of information between independently createdprograms and other programs (including this one) and (ii) the mutual use of theinformation which has been exchanged, should contact:

IBM CorporationAttn: Office of Legal Counsel650 Harry RoadSan Jose, CA 95120-6099U.S.A.

Such information may be available, subject to appropriate terms and conditions,including in some cases, payment of a fee.

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Any performance data contained herein was determined in a controlledenvironment. Therefore, the results obtained in other operating environments mayvary significantly. Some measurements may have been made on development-levelsystems and there is no guarantee that these measurements will be the same ongenerally available systems. Furthermore, some measurements may have beenestimated through extrapolation. Actual results may vary. Users of this documentshould verify the applicable data for their specific environment.

Information concerning non-IBM products was obtained from the suppliers ofthose products, their published announcements or other publicly available sources.IBM has not tested those products and cannot confirm the accuracy ofperformance, compatibility or any other claims related to non-IBM products.Questions on the capabilities of non-IBM products should be addressed to thesuppliers of those products.

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TrademarksIBM, the IBM logo, and ibm.com are trademarks or registered trademarks ofInternational Business Machines Corp., registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.Other product and service names might be trademarks of IBM or other companies.A current list of IBM trademarks is available on the Copyright and trademarkinformation website (www.ibm.com/legal/us/en/copytrade.shtml).

Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States, other countries, orboth.

Microsoft, Windows Server, Windows, and the Windows logo are trademarks orregistered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, othercountries, or both.

VMware, the VMware logo, ESX, ESXi, vSphere, vCenter, and vStorage aretrademarks or registered trademarks of VMware Corporation in the United States,other countries, or both.

Other product and service names might be trademarks of IBM or other companies.

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