IBM DS8000 manual Preface, Team that wrote this redbook

Preface

This IBM® Redbook describes the IBM TotalStorage® DS8000 series of storage servers, its architecture, logical design, hardware design and components, advanced functions, performance features, and specific characteristics. The information contained in this redbook is useful for those who need a general understanding of this powerful new series of disk enterprise storage servers, as well as for those looking for a more detailed understanding of how the DS8000 series is designed and operates.

The DS8000 series is a follow-on product to the IBM TotalStorage Enterprise Storage Server® with new functions related to storage virtualization and flexibility. This book describes the virtualization hierarchy that now includes virtualization of a whole storage subsystem. This is possible by utilizing IBM’s pSeries® POWER5™-based server technology and its Virtualization Engine™ LPAR technology. This LPAR technology offers totally new options to configure and manage storage.

In addition to the logical and physical description of the DS8000 series, the fundamentals of the configuration process are also described in this redbook. This is useful information for proper planning and configuration for installing the DS8000 series, as well as for the efficient management of this powerful storage subsystem.

Characteristics of the DS8000 series described in this redbook also include the DS8000 copy functions: FlashCopy®, Metro Mirror, Global Copy, Global Mirror and z/OS® Global Mirror. The performance features, particularly the new switched FC-AL implementation of the DS8000 series, are also explained, so that the user can better optimize the storage resources of the computing center.

The team that wrote this redbook

This redbook was produced by a team of specialists from around the world working at the Washington Systems Center in Gaithersburg, MD.

Cathy Warrick is a project leader and Certified IT Specialist in the IBM International Technical Support Organization. She has over 25 years of experience in IBM with large systems, open systems, and storage, including education on products internally and for the field. Prior to joining the ITSO two years ago, she developed the Technical Leadership education program for the IBM and IBM Business Partner’s technical field force and was the program manager for the Storage Top Gun classes.

Olivier Alluis has worked in the IT field for nearly seven years. After starting his career in the French Atomic Research Industry (CEA - Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique), he joined IBM in 1998. He has been a Product Engineer for the IBM High End Systems, specializing in the development of the IBM DWDM solution. Four years ago, he joined the SAN pre-sales support team in the Product and Solution Support Center in Montpellier working in the Advanced Technical Support organization for EMEA. He is now responsible for the Early Shipment Programs for the Storage Disk systems in EMEA. Olivier’s areas of expertise include: high-end storage solutions (IBM ESS), virtualization (SAN Volume Controller), SAN and interconnected product solutions (CISCO, McDATA, CNT, Brocade, ADVA, NORTEL, DWDM technology, CWDM technology). His areas of interest include storage remote copy on long-distance connectivity for business continuance and disaster recovery solutions.

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