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RSM is an SSA configuration and management tool that allows an
administrator to configure and maintain SSA systems safely via a
browser. The browser can run on any machine that is networked to the
administrator's SSA server. (In this summary, SSA
server means either the server that runs the RSM NT Service, or the
TME10 Netfinity Web Services)
RSM allows local and remote configuration. You can perform local
configuration if you run a browser on the SSA server itself. You can
perform remote configuration if you run a browser on any machine that is on
the SSA server network. For both conditions, use the following URL used
to access RSM :
http://<your tcpip address>:511/ssa (Stand Alone Version) You can also access RSM, RSM help, this tutorial, readme documents, and
other IBM SSA services via URL :
http://<your tcpip address>:511/index.htm Or you can click on the SSA Tools icon that has been created in
your Start Menu. With RSM, you can perform all the actions that you previously did with the IBM
SSA NT Text-based configurator (ISSACFG.EXE ) and many more.
What is RSM?
http://<your tcpip address>:411/ssa (Netfinity Version)
(All future URL references will be made to port 511, if you are running the
Netfinity Version, replace with 411 as appropriate)
You can configure your SSA system in various ways (if your adapter provides
support for them). These are :
This configuration consists of a loop of SSA resources that goes from port
A1 of adapter(1) to port A1 of adapter(2), then from port A2 of adapter(2) to
port A2 of adapter(1). The loop, therefore, starts at adapter(1), goes
through some resources to adapter(2), loops through adapter(2), then goes back
through other resources to adapter(1). This type of configuration is
sometimes known as a Cluster. You can use Microsoft Cluster Services to
do failover. For more details, see the documentation that is supplied
with your adapter. See the table describing Cluster
Modes for a list of modes and assocaited resources which are available with
your adapter.
SSA Terminology
Configurations
RAID Array - An array is a resource created from Non-RAID
Disk resources. Each IBM SSA adapter supports a different sub-set
of the following RAID types. Check the documentation supplied with
your adapter(s) for details.
A Non-RAID Disk (or Resource) is a resource which is simply
a single SSA disk.
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RAID 0 is also known as STRIPING. Such an array will provide a broad bandwidth for processing large data files. |
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RAID 1 is also known as MIRRORING or DUAL COPY. This provides the highest assurance of data availability but requires real disk capacity of twice the data size. |
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RAID-5 arrays implement data stripping and provide protection
against drive failures (redundancy) by storing parity information.
For an array with N+1 components there is one parity strip for every N data
strips. The parity strip is calculated by performing an `exclusive or' of
the data in all of the associated data strips.The parity and associated data
strips are always stored on different components of the array so that in the
event of a drive failure which prevents a data strip being read the parity
and remaining data strips can still be read from the other components.
Using the parity and other data strips the data on the bad drive can be
reconstructed by performing an `exclusive or' of the parity with the
remaining data strips.
Every time data is written to a RAID-5 array both a data strip and the corresponding parity strip must be updated. If all the parity in an array was stored on one drive this would mean that every write operation would require to write data to the parity drive and consequently performance would be limited by the speed at which the parity data can be written. To prevent this bottleneck RAID-5 arrays distribute parity strips across different components of the array. RAID 5 provides redundancy with good performance for reading large or small data files. Data can be reconstructed in the event of one member failure. However, due to the "read/modify/write" penalty in updating parity during write operations, the write performance is not as good as with other RAID options. |
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RAID-10 arrays implement data stripping and mirroring. That is, data is striped across a set of disks, and the same striping is made to a duplicate set of disks. This allows multiple domains to be created within a RAID-10 array in such a way that if one half, or domain, of the array becomes unavailable, the other domain can continue to perform read and write operations. See the RAID10 and Hot-spare Manager Tutorial. |
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Hot-spare Pools can be used to protect arrays against disk failures. These are only available with the IBM Advanced SerialRAID/X Adapter See the RAID10 and Hot-spare Manager Tutorial. |
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A Non-RAID Disk |
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Within RSM, NVRAM entries are also classed as resources, although generally no user configuration is possible, the exception being deleting "dormant" entries. See description in Logical View section for more details. |
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Again within RSM, Enclosures, and their constituent parts are classed as resources. See Enclosure View section for more details. |
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Offline Non-RAID Disk | A Non-RAID Disk will go offline only for a short time if the resource is unavailable but the device driver still has an open handle. |
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Offline RAID 0 Array | An array will go offline if two or more (one or more for RAID 0)
of its member resources are unavailable, or if one of its member resources
is unavailable during a rebuild process. Note: Similar icons exist for RAID 1 and RAID 5. |
Arrays can also be in two further "states", degraded or exposed.
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Degraded / Exposed Free RAID 0 Array | An array will first become Degraded if one of its member
resources is unavailable. Upon the first attempted write to a Degraded array,
the state will change to Exposed. Both of these states are depicted by the
same icons (half red, half colour - depends upon array usage - this one is free).
You can tell if the array is Degraded or Exposed by looking at either the
Resource List or the
Resource View. Note: Similar icons exist for RAID 1 and RAID 5. |
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Degraded / Exposed System RAID 0 Array | As above but this is array has a usage of System (PC). Note: Similar icons exist for RAID 1 and RAID 5. |
would be an online, system (PC)
RAID5 array,
would be a degraded / exposed,
free RAID 5 array,
would be an online, hot spare
Non-RAID Disk, etc...
RSM Page Layout: The RSM page layout is designed around the Netfinity Web
Services format.
The left hand frame, the explorer frame,
contains an expandable tree of SSA adapters and their resources.
The resources are grouped by resource type. The common navigation frame, above the
explorer frame contains links to the RSM functions which are
available from every RSM page. The right hand frame, the configuration frame, contains several
sub-areas. The style of each sub-area is constant throughout RSM. The navigation area contains a links to the main
RSM resource views; System View,
Logical View, Physical View,
and Enclosure View. It also contains a
logically back button, and a link to the relevant help page.
You must first select an adapter from the Adapter List
page before you can select any of the Logical, Physical, or Enclosure Views.
If you have not yet selected an adapter, the buttons will be greyed out.
Logically back means to go back one logical step. For example,
if you are in the middle of creating an array (a procedure that contains
several steps), and you select the logically back button, you
will return to the page where you selected Create Array. The information area contains reports of user errors, warnings,
and (after some actions) important information . These messages appear
only once. For example, if you are in a Resource View, and select FlashOn
for the resource, a message appears to verify that the
resource if flashing. When you move elsewhere, the message
disappears. It does not reappear, although the resource may still be flashing.
The title area contains links to other Views and CheckLevels
(where appropriate). The page title contains the name of the resource you
are configuring or viewing (for example, an adapter or drive serial number).
The configuration area contains the relevant details for
the resource that you are observing. It also contains user input forms
(where appropraite). The actions area contains all the actions you can perform on
or with the resource that you are viewing.
Design Concepts
Note:
There are four main views within RSM.
Although some adapters are supplied with the IBM SSA Text-based configurator
(ISSACFG), it is recommended that ALL users move to use RSM even for local
configuration purposes. ISSACFG does not support the IBM SerialRAID Adapter,
and will not support any future IBM SSA products.
Local configuration of SSA resources can be performed by accessing the URL:
http://<your tcpip address>:511/ssa
You must have the correct security access to
allow configuration of SSA resources.
RSM provides remote configuration of SSA resources via an Intranet or the Internet,
provided the client machine (where the browser is running) is networked to the SSA
server.
Remote configuration of SSA resources can be performed by accessing the same URL:
http://<your tcpip address>:511/ssa
You must have the correct security access to
allow configuration of SSA resources. Due to the remote nature of RSM, security is
of utmost importance. All administrators are advised to remove the default SSA
user from RSM as soon as you create a new user with Admin access. If you delete
the SSA user first, you will not be able to access the service.
Within RSM, each page contains a help icon in the navigation area. Simply click
this icon to open the RSM Context-sensitive help window. The help will automatically
move to the area of the file relevant to the currently viewed RSM resource page / view.
For users with access to the Internet, RSM provides various code update / check level functions.
Clicking on a Check Level link will open a new browser window.
We strongly recommended you regularly use these functions and also visit the SSA
Customer Support Homepage directly for updates and other IBM SSA innovations.
http://www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/products/ssa/rsm/
Local Configuration
Remote Configuration
Help
RSM Code Updates (Check Levels)
N.B. You must submit a disk code level check
for each type of IBM SSA UltraStar disk(s) you have. Disks can be differentiated
by the first 4 characters of the ProductID. Valid types are DCHC, DFHC and
DGHC.