IBM Spectrum Virtualize V8.2.1

IBM Spectrum Virtualize V8.2.1 delivers new functions and a common software level across supported platforms

IBM Spectrum Virtualize software delivers a solution for storage virtualization, offering storage capabilities such as NVMe over FC support and increased host mappings.

Spectrum Virtualize V8.2.1 adds following benefits:

NVMe over FC support on 16Gb FC adapters: Extends the simplicity, efficiency, and end-to-end NVMe model where NVMe commands and structures are transferred end to end, requiring no translations
IP-based quorum: Delivers support for administrators looking to consolidate their infrastructure over Ethernet
Increased host mappings: Increases host mappings to 64K from the previous limitation of 20K
IBM Spectrum Insights: Provides a call home protocol that uses IBM IP to deliver a more robust path and higher bandwidth/higher frequency data transmission, with end-to-end confirmation of receipt
Single copy vdisk expand with format: Enables administrators to expand a vdisk without migrating the data off and back on
iSER support for host attachment with 25GbE adapters: Expands the host connectivity options for those storage arrays not initially covered by V8.2
Clustering support over Ethernet using RDMA: Enables Spectrum Virtualize software to run over multiple types of technology, including FS9100, SVC, V9000, and V7000

Software requirements

SAN Volume Controller V8 (5641-VC8, 5641-CP8, 5725-M19, and 5725-H04) has the same software prerequisites as SAN Volume Controller V7.8.1.
Spectrum Virtualize software only V8 (5725-Z61) has the same software prerequisites as SAN Volume Controller V7.8.1.
Enterprise Support for SAN Volume Controller (5773-ECS) is required on SAN Volume Controller with a three-year warranty (2147-SV1). 5773-ECS requires feature number 1792.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for SAN Volume Controller Encryption Software V8 (5641-B08 and 5725-Y35) requires PID 5641-VC8.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V7000 V8 (5639-CB8, 5639-XB8, and 5639-EB8) has the same software prerequisites as IBM Storwize V7000 V7.8.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5000 V8 (5639-ET8) requires the base software feature. All other features are optional.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5010 V8 (5639-SV5) requires the base software feature. All other features are optional.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5020 V8 (5639-SV6) requires the base software feature. All other features are optional.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5030 V8 (5639-SV7) requires the base software feature. All other features are optional.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V50x0 Expansion V8 (5639-SV8) requires the base software feature. There are no optional software features on the expansions.
FlashSystem V9000 Software V8 (5639-RB8) requires the base software feature. Externally virtualized storage is subject to the same capacity-based licenses as SAN Volume Controller and is optional.
Enterprise Support for FlashSystem V9000 (5773-FLH) is required on FlashSystem 9100 systems with a three-year warranty (machine type 9848). 5773-FLH requires feature number 6082.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for FlashSystem 9110 Software V8 (5639-FA2) requires the base software feature. Externally virtualized storage is subject to the same capacity-based licenses as SAN Volume Controller and is optional.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for FlashSystem 9150 Software V8 (5639-FA3) requires the base software feature. Externally virtualized storage is subject to the same capacity-based licenses as SAN Volume Controller and is optional.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for FlashSystem 9100 Expansions (5639-FA1) requires at least one FlashSystem 9100 expansion enclosure (9846-AFF, 9846-A9F, 9848-AFF, or 9848-A9F) for installation. The high-density enclosures (9846-A9F and 9848-A9F) require four of the base software charge codes to support the number of drive slots in the system.

Hardware requirements

Spectrum Virtualize Software Only requires at least one pair of supported Intel Servers. Supported configurations of Lenovo and Supermicro servers can be found at the IBM Spectrum Virtualize software support website.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for SAN Volume Controller V8 requires at least one pair of IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller (2145-SV1, 2145-DH8, or 2147-SV1) storage engines for installation.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for SAN Volume Controller Encryption Software V8 (5641-B08 and 5725-Y35) requires Encryption Enablement Feature ACE2 or ACE5.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V7000 Controller Software (5639-CB8) requires at least one Storwize V7000 control enclosure (2076-724, 2076-U7B, 2076-U7A, 2076-AF6, 2076-624, or 2076-524) for installation. 2076-724 and 2076-U7B requires version 8.2.0.2 or later.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V7000 Expansion Software (5639-XB8) requires at least one Storwize V7000 expansion enclosure (2076-A9F, 2076-92F, 2076-AFF, 2076-12F, or 2076-24F) for installation. The high-density enclosure (2076-A9F or 2076-92F) requires four of the base software charge codes to support the number of disk slots in the system.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V7000 External Data Virtualization Software (5639-EB8) requires at least one IBM Storwize V7000 enclosure (2076-724, 2076-AF6, 2076-624, or 2076-524) for installation.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5000 External Data Virtualization Software (5639-ET8) requires at least one Storwize V5000 control enclosure (2077-AF3, 2077-312, 2077-324, 2078-AF3, 2078-312, or 2078-324) for installation.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5010 V8 (5639-SV5) requires at least one Storwize V5010 control enclosure (2077-112, 2077-124, 2078-112, or 2078-124) for installation.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5020 V8 (5639-SV6) requires at least one Storwize V5020 control enclosure (2077-212, 2077-224, 2078-212, or 2078-224) for installation.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V5030 V8 (5639-SV7) requires at least one Storwize V5030 control enclosure (2077-AF3, 2077-312, 2077-324, 2078-AF3, 2078-312, or 2078-324) for installation. The compression feature for V5030 requires the 64GB cache feature (#ACHD) on models 312 and 324 for machine types 2077 and 2078.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for Storwize V50x0 Expansion V8 (5639-SV8) requires at least one Storwize V50x0 expansion enclosure (2077-92F, 2077-12F, 2077-24F, 2077-AFF, 2077-A9F, 2078-92F, 2078-12F, 2078-24F, 2078-AFF, or 2078-A9F) for installation. The high-density enclosures (2077-92F, 2077-A9F, 2078-92F, or 2078-A9F) require four of the base software charge codes to support the number of disk slots in the system.
FlashSystem V9000 Software V8 (5639-RB8) requires at least two FlashSystem V9000 Control Enclosures (9846-AC2, 9848-AC2, 9846-AC3, or 9848-AC3) and at least one FlashSystem V9000 Storage Enclosure (9846-AE2, 9846-AE3, 9848-AE2, or 9848-AE3).
Spectrum Virtualize Software for FlashSystem 9110 Controller (5639-FA2) requires at least one FlashSystem 9110 control enclosure (9846-AF7, 9848-AF7, or 9848-UF7) for installation.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for FlashSystem 9150 Controller (5639-FA3) requires at least one FlashSystem 9150 control enclosure (9846-AF8, 9848-AF8, or 9848-UF8) for installation.
Spectrum Virtualize Software for FlashSystem 9100 Expansions (5639-FA1) requires at least one FlashSystem 9100 expansion enclosure (9846-AFF, 9846-A9F, 9848-AFF, or 9848-A9F) for installation. The high-density enclosures (9846-A9F and 9848-A9F) require four of the base software charge codes to support the number of drive slots in the system.

Current support summaries, including specific software, hardware, and firmware levels supported, are maintained at their respective support websites.

Planned availability date: December 7, 2018