82 DS8000 Series: Concepts and Architecture
While the installation process described above may seem complex, it will not require a great
deal of user intervention. The code installer will normally just start the process and then
monitor its progress using the S-HMC.
S-HMC considerations
Before updating the DS8000 code, the Storage Hardware Management Consoles should be
updated to the latest code version. This could usually be done at any time prior to the change
window, since the DS8000 can continue to operate without an S-HMC, provided no Copy
Services or configuration changes are planned while it is unavailable. If you have two
S-HMCs you could perform Copy Services operations or configuration changes using the
second S-HMC.
Different code versions across storage images
If the DS8000 is partitioned into multiple storage images, it is possible to run each storage
image on a different LIC version. This could be beneficial if one image was being used as a
production image, while the other was being used for testing.
If this was desired, steps one to four would still affect both storage images since they affect
common hardware. However, it is possible to then perform steps 5 and 6 on only one storage
image and leave the other storage image downlevel. This situation could then be left until a
testing regimen has been performed. At some point the downlevel image could then be
updated by performing just steps 5 and 6 on that image.
4.9 Management console
The DS8000 management network consists of redundant Ethernet switches and redundant
Storage Hardware Management (S-HMC) consoles.
S-HMC
The S-HMC is used to perform configuration, management, and maintenance activities on the
DS8000. It can be ordered to be located either physically inside the base frame or external for
mounting in a customer-supplied rack.
If the S-HMC is not operational then it is not possible to perform maintenance, power the
DS8000 up or down, or perform Copy Services tasks such as the establishment of
FlashCopies. It is thus recommended to order two management consoles to act as a
redundant pair.
Ethernet switches
Each DS8000 base frame contains two 16-port Ethernet switches. Two switches are supplied
to allow the creation of a fully redundant management network. Each server in the DS8000
has a connection to each switch. Each S-HMC also has a connection to each switch. This
means that should a single Ethernet switch fail, all traffic can successfully travel from either
S-HMC to any server in the storage unit using the alternate switch.
4.10 Summary
This chapter has described the RAS characteristics of the DS8000. These characteristics
combine to make the DS8000 a world leader in reliability, availability, and serviceability.
