Front cover Implementing IBM FlashSystem 900 Karen Orlando Ingo Dimmer Detlef Helmbrecht Jon Herd Carsten Larsen Matt Levan Redbooks International Technical Support Organization Implementing IBM FlashSystem 900 November 2016 SG24-8271-01 Note: Before using this information and the product it supports, read the information in “Notices” on page ix. Second Edition (November 2016) This edition applies to the IBM FlashSystem 900, Release 1.2. © Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 2015, 2019. All rights reserved. Note to U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights -- Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp. Contents Notices . ix Trademarks . .x IBM Redbooks promotions . xi Preface . xiii Authors. xiv Now you can become a published author, too! . xvi Comments welcome. xvi Stay connected to IBM Redbooks . xvii Summary of changes. xix April 2019, Second Edition update. xix November 2016, Second Edition . xix May 2015, First Edition . xix Chapter 1. FlashSystem storage introduction . 1 1.1 FlashSystem storage overview . 2 1.2 IBM FlashCore technology . 2 1.2.1 Flash wear guarantee . 4 1.3 Why flash technology matters . 4 1.4 IBM FlashSystem family: Product differentiation. 5 1.5 Technology and architectural design overview . 6 1.5.1 Hardware-only data path. 7 1.5.2 The 20nm flash card memory chips . 8 1.5.3 Flash module capacities . 8 1.5.4 Gateway interface FPGA . 8 1.5.5 Flash controller FPGA. 8 1.5.6 IBM Variable Stripe RAID and 2D Flash RAID overview . 9 1.6 Variable Stripe RAID . 10 1.6.1 How Variable Stripe RAID works . 10 1.7 Two-dimensional (2D) Flash RAID . 12 Chapter 2. IBM FlashSystem 900 architecture . 15 2.1 Introduction to the IBM FlashSystem 900 architecture . 16 2.1.1 Capacity . 16 2.1.2 Performance and latency . 17 2.1.3 Power requirements . 18 2.1.4 Physical specifications . 18 2.1.5 FlashCore technology . 18 2.1.6 Scalability . 20 2.1.7 Protocol support . 20 2.1.8 Encryption support . 21 2.1.9 Comparison of IBM FlashSystem models 840 and 900 . 23 2.1.10 Management . 23 2.2 Architecture of IBM FlashSystem 900. 24 2.2.1 Overview of architecture . 24 2.2.2 Hardware components . 26 2.2.3 Canisters. 26 © Copyright IBM Corp. 2015, 2019. All rights reserved. iii 2.2.4 Interface cards . 27 2.2.5 MicroLatency modules . 31 2.2.6 Battery modules . 34 2.3 Administration and maintenance. 36 2.3.1 Serviceability and software enhancements. 36 2.3.2 System management . 37 2.4 Support matrix. 43 2.5 Product integration overview. 43 2.5.1 IBM Spectrum Virtualize - SAN Volume Controller . 44 2.5.2 IBM Storwize V7000 storage array . 45 2.5.3 IBM DB2 database environments . 46 2.5.4 IBM Spectrum Scale . 46 2.5.5 IBM TS7650G ProtecTIER . 47 2.5.6 VMware with IBM Storage Integration Server. 48 Chapter 3. Planning . 49 3.1 Prerequisites to installation . 50 3.1.1 Contact information and checklist . 50 3.1.2 Completing the hardware location chart . 51 3.2 Planning cable connections . 52 3.2.1 Management port connections . 52 3.2.2 Interface card connections . 54 3.3 Planning for power . 59 3.4 Planning for configuration . 59 3.5 The call home option. 61 3.6 TCP/IP requirements. 62 3.7 Planning for encryption . 63 3.8 Checking web browser settings for the management GUI . 64 3.9 Licensing . ..