IBM DS3500, Installation, User & Maintenance Manual

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Chapter 4. Operating the storage subsystem and expansion
enclosure
This chapter describes operating procedures for the storage subsystem and
expansion enclosure.
To ensure optimal operation of the storage subsystem and expansion enclosure,
see “Best practices guidelines” on page 5.
Performing the health check process
Use the health check process to help you verify and maintain the optimal
performance of the storage configuration. The information that you collect in these
steps also helps provide IBM Service with important information that is needed
during a service call.
Perform the following health check tasks after the initial configuration of the storage
subsystem and after all configuration sessions. Set a regular schedule of periodic
health check evaluations to keep the firmware levels current and to preserve
optimal data access and performance.
1. Monitor the Recovery Guru in the DS Storage Manager software for any
obvious storage subsystem errors or problem conditions.
2. Gather and save the following storage subsystem event logs for review by IBM
Service. These event logs should be gathered periodically for regular health
check monitoring regardless of the state of the Recovery Guru. (You can collect
all these logs at once and compress them into a single file by clicking the
Support tab and then Gather Support Information in the Subsystem
Management window.)
v
DS3500 storage subsystem management event log (MEL)
v Storage Subsystem Profile or DS3500 Profile
v
SAS PHY error log
In addition, you should also collect event logs for the host servers that have
mapped logical drives from the storage subsystem.
Attention: Save these event-log files to a server disk that will remain
accessible in the event of a DS3500 storage configuration failure. Do not save
these event log files only to a LUN in the DS3500 storage subsystem.
3. Use the Storage Subsystem Profile or DS3500 Profile to make sure that the
following firmware levels are at the latest versions:
v Controller firmware
v
ESM firmware
v Drive firmware
If the firmware is not up-to-date, upgrade the firmware and software to the latest
level that is applicable to the storage configuration. See “Software and hardware
compatibility and upgrades” on page 11 for information about where to find the
latest firmware and software.
Attention: You must resolve Recovery Guru errors or problems before you
upgrade firmware.
Save the storage subsystem profile before you perform any controller or ESM
firmware upgrades. Save the storage subsystem profile and all .cfg files to a
server disk that will remain accessible in the event of a DS3500 storage
configuration failure.
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2010
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