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IBM Storage Networking SAN64B-6 Switch
Flow Vision: Enables administrators to identify, monitor, and analyze specific application
flows in order to simplify troubleshooting, maximize performance, avoid congestion, and
optimize resources. Flow Vision includes the following components:
– Flow Monitor: Provides comprehensive visibility, automatically learns, and
non-disruptively monitors flow performance. Administrators can monitor all flows from a
specific host to multiple targets or logical unit numbers (LUNs), from multiple hosts to a
specific target/LUN, or across a specific ISL. Additionally, they can perform LUN- level
monitoring of specific frame types to identify resource contention or congestion that is
impacting application performance.
With IO Insight capability, administrators can monitor first IO response time, IO
completion time, number of pending IOs, and IOPS metrics for a flow from a specific
host to a target or LUN.
– Flow Generator: Provides a built-in traffic generator for pre-testing and validating the
data center infrastructure for robustness (including route verification and integrity of
optics, cables, ports, back-end connections, and ISLs) before deploying applications.
– Flow Mirroring: Provides the ability to non-disruptively create copies of specific
application and data flows or frame types that can be captured for in-depth analysis.
Forward Error Correction (FEC): Enables recovery from bit errors in device connections
and ISLs, enhancing transmission reliability and performance.
Credit Loss Recovery: Helps overcome performance degradation and congestion due to
buffer credit loss.
IBM Network Advisor
IBM Network Advisor simplifies Gen 6 Fibre Channel management and helps organizations
proactively diagnose and resolve issues to maximize uptime, increase operational efficiency,
and reduce costs. The wizard-driven interface dramatically reduces deployment and
configuration times by allowing fabrics, switches, and ports to be managed as groups.
Customizable, immediately available dashboards graphically display performance and health
indicators, including all data captured using Fabric Vision technology.
To accelerate troubleshooting, administrators can use dashboard playback to quickly review
past events and identify problems in the fabric. Dashboards and reports can also be
configured to show only the most relevant data, enabling administrators to more efficiently
prioritize their actions and maintain network performance.
Fabric Operating System and management software
The Fabric Operating System (FOS), included with the SAN64B-6 Gen 6 Fibre Channel
switch, contains all of the functions that are necessary to operate the base system. These
switches require FOS V8.01 or later and IBM Network Advisor 14.0 or later to take advantage
of the advanced Gen 6 functions that are delivered through Fabric Vision technology.
The Fabric OS for the SAN64B-6 switch is enabled with the following features:
Web Tools: Enable graphical user interface (GUI)-based administration, configuration,
and maintenance of fabric switches and SANs.
Advanced Zoning: Segments a fabric into virtual private SANs to restrict device
communication and apply certain policies only to members within the same zone.
