Configuring IBM Storwize V7000, Storwize V7000 Unified, or Flex System V7000 Storage Node external storage systems
By default, Storwize® V7000, Storwize V7000 Unified, or Flex System V7000 Storage Node external storage systems are configured as external storage layers to the Storwize V5000 Gen 2 replication layer. A Storwize V7000, Storwize V7000 Unified, or Flex System V7000 Storage Node storage layer system can also be configured to be in the replication layer.
Tasks to configure the storage layer system
Quorum disks on storage layer storage systems
The storage layer systems support quorum disks. Clustered systems that have a storage level system can choose MDisks that are presented by a storage level system as quorum disks.
Advanced functions for storage layer systems
Replication layer systems can use storage that is presented by the storage layer system, but Metro Mirror and Global Mirror cannot interoperate between the two systems. Replication layer systems can participate in Metro Mirror and Global Mirror partnerships only with other replication layer systems. Storage layer systems can participate in Metro Mirror and Global Mirror partnerships only with other storage layers.
For more information, see Metro Mirror and Global Mirror partnerships information.
Volumes that are defined on a storage layer system can be used by the replication layer system as a source or target for advanced copy functions. Advanced copy functions include FlashCopy®, Metro Mirror, and Global Mirror. Flex System V7000 Storage Node, Storwize V7000, or Storwize V7000 Unified advanced copy functions are not supported for volumes that are used as MDisks.
Sharing the storage layer system between a host and the Storwize V5000 Gen 2 system
A Flex System V7000 Storage Node, Storwize V7000, or Storwize V7000 Unified system can present some volumes to the Storwize V5000 Gen 2 system and other volumes to hosts on the SAN. However, an individual volume cannot be presented to both the Storwize V5000 Gen 2 system and a host simultaneously.
SAN zoning for storage layer systems
If many storage layer systems are managed by a single Storwize V5000 Gen 2 system, be aware of the published limit for maximum Flex System V7000 Storage Node, Storwize V7000, or Storwize V7000 Unified storage systems per fabric. If the limit is exceeded by as little as a single storage system, divide the storage layer systems into multiple zones. Replication layer Flex System V7000 Storage Node, Storwize V7000, or Storwize V7000 Unified systems count toward the maximum number of Storwize V5000 Gen 2 nodes that might be present within a single SAN zone. For more information, see the following website: