2.7.3 EVAs and VLS are Types of Storage Cells
As of the current release of SEA, there are two types of Storage Cells that SEA can monitor and process: an HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA) and a Virtual Library System (VLS). HP's Command View EVA program is the software that manages an EVA. WEBES deals directly with VLS devices. As of the current release, SEA supports EVA Storage Cells only on Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows 2003 on the Intel Pentium platform. SEA supports VLS Storage Cells only on an HP ProLiant 32-bit Windows 2000 server or Windows server 2003. Because it must be installed on the same machine as the ISEE Client, it cannot be a Windows XP host. SEA is intended to support managed entities on other operating systems and platforms in the future.
An HP ProLiant Intel 32-bit machine (other prerequisites apply) can support multiple VLS devices. This machine can be a Systems Management Server (SMS), Storage Management Appliance (SMA), or Network Attached Storage (NAS) that is supported by Command View TL and may be running Command View TL, however at the time of this writing, these have not been fully tested. You must enter the model and serial number of the server during the HP ISEE Client installation. This is for entitlement purposes, even though successful entitlement of the server is not necessary to enable the separately entitled HP ISEE VLS Support.
VLS is not supported on Windows XP, 64-bit Windows, or non-Windows platforms.
SEA can monitor and process events logged by the EVAs to the system's binary event log via Command View EVA. WEBES is enabled to pick up SNMP traps to monitor and process events for VLS devices. SEA displays the information in the web interface by automatically analyzing events from such entities and by sending notifications when appropriate, much like the functioning of SEA with a node's binary events. SEA can gather configuration information about the EVAs from the Command View and about a VLS by reading the MIB. With the configuration data supplied by the user, SEA can fill in the appropriate information to be sent in problem report notification.
During the WEBES installation process, you are prompted to enter configuration information for any managed entities detected on the node where you are installing WEBES. This information is included with the results of SEA analysis. If an entity is not fully configured during WEBES installation or a new entity is detected later, the Web interface prompts for the entity configuration information, when the user logs in.
Refer to Section 3.13 "Managed Entities (SMA, EVA, WBEM Server and VLS) Commands" for more information on Managed Entity Command and Section 7.13 "Managed Entities" for more information on Web-based management interface.
EVA Storage Systems Status and Events
WEBES V4.5 now supports the gathering of status and error data from the fiber ports associated with HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA) storage subsystems.
The EVA status and error data is reported to the EM-Client, which is part of the HP StorageWorks Command View storage management application.
The port data that can be collected is related to:
By default, WEBES V4.5 polls the EM-Client for fiber port status every 12 hours.
This new EVA fiber port support allows HP StorageWorks Serviceability Engineering to write rules that present status information and error callouts in the Command View application. These rules will support the following assets:
- An array is powered up.
- A loop circuit is re-synchronized
- A link is lost
- A LIP command is invoked.
- The disk firmware does not meet the minimum revision
The current port status is kept in memory for 24 hours, after which it is removed.
These new EVA fiber port rules will be available as future rules updates to WEBES v4.5.
VLS support in WEBES facilitates lower failure-to-repair time and higher first-time-fix rates for customers entitled by warranty or an appropriate support contract ID. WEBES supports automated event monitoring using custom rules, detects actionable hardware failures, and engages HP service as needed.
The Preliminary implementation of HP ISEE Virtual Library System (VLS) Support is disabled in WEBES 4.5 by default. A message will display if you try to configure support of VLS devices.
The Beta program will validate the preliminary implementation prior to official release. After Beta, ISEE VLS support will be available to all VLS customers with products under warranty or an appropriate support contract. Through "Subscriber's Choice," HP will notify VLS customers when ISEE VLS support is enabled by default in a WEBES release, or if needed, how to enable it. (See the "»Subscribe" link on the bottom of the www.hp.com home page.)
Please contact isee.vlsbeta@hp.com if you are interested in participating in the Beta program.