IBM FlashSystem 900 product information resources guide users through the various features and components of the storage system, including usage and troubleshooting guides. To read about this storage system and learn how to use or troubleshoot, see IBM Knowledge Center for IBM FlashSystem 900 or visit the IBM Redbooks® website for the IBM FlashSystem 900 Product Guide.
The current release is considered a major release including new features and quality of life improvements for the FlashSystem 900 product.
After initial configuration of the hardware is complete, IBM strongly recommends that you make sure that your IBM FlashSystem firmware is up-to-date. Visit IBM Fix Central using the link below to see if any updates are available for your system.
The following information lists the features that come with each major release for the IBM FlashSystem 900 product.
The following are features of all 1.5 releases and are therefore included in the latest release:
Remote Support Assistance - IBM Support can now access user systems remotely and provide assistance via the command line if this feature is enabled.
IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager (SKLM) - Encryption can be enabled using SKLM, which provides access to system encryption keys using servers.
Open PMR - Users can now raise events from the user management GUI against their system. This event triggers a Problem Management Record (PMR) to be opened. The user can provide a short description of the perceived issue and IBM support will be notified. This feature is available from the Monitoring --> Events panel or from the banner help drop down menu anywhere in the GUI.
Environmental improvements have been made which provide better system hardware stability.
Systems that support flash modules with compression hardware will now allow users to utlize more logical space than there is physical capacity through compression.
RESTful API - Hardware health check has been updated to include upgrade status and compression information has been added for the array.
The following are features of all 1.4 releases and are therefore included in the latest release:
Test Only utility - A Test Only button has been added to the Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the update test utility. Users can now test their systems for issues that might hinder an upgrade without starting the upgrade. This button is found by navigating to Settings System Update System.
Default logout time - A logout time can now be set under Settings --> GUI preferences --> General. The default logout time is set to 120 minutes. This can either be increased, decreased, or disabled.
Login message - Users can configure a login message which appears under the authentication fields for the GUI login.
SSL certificate panel - Secure Communications is enhanced with the new SSL certificate panel in the GUI, found by navigating to Settings --> Security --> Secure Communications.
RESTful API - System health check added and battery reconditioning added.
Automatic battery reconditioning - Starting in 1.4.7.0 firmware, if automatic battery reconditioning is turned on, battery reconditioning will automatically start for a redundant battery if needed.
The following are features of all 1.3 releases and are therefore included in the latest release:
Sector size support on VDisk creation through the GUI
Interface quality improvements
The multi-system monitoring GUI tool Neighborhood has been re-enabled.
Upgrade test utility improvements.
The following are features of all 1.2 releases and are therefore included in the latest release:
Error isolation and detection logic throughout data path to enhance component failure identification
Integrity is ensured with the addition of a background continuous array sweeper.
The ability to correct certain single drive errors from system level RAID which serves to reduce the need for flash module replacement
Background trim functions to reclaim unused space.
Support for SCSI UNMAP.
Support for the VMware vSphere Storage APIs Array Integration (VAAI) UNMAP action.
The first 1MB of VDisk space is deleted upon creation to remove any old file system information.
Support for VMware vSphere API for Storage Awareness (VASA).
Support for a RESTful API.
Rear system view of components is available through the management GUI.
The multi-system monitoring tool called Neighborhood is available for use through the GUI.
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InfiniBand (IB) Trade Association Architecture Specification (V1.2)
Note: To test or demonstrate concurrent maintenance on canisters and batteries, use this featured document, which describes the recommended process for concurrent maintenance.
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