PowerHA Tools for IBM i - Full System FlashCopy

• On the production LPAR, pause database applications on a transaction boundary and flush pending writes to external disk
• Trigger the FlashCopy in the external storage unit
• Resume database activity on the production LPAR
• IPL the copy of the production LPAR and perform backups
• Optionally, transfer the BRMS data back to the source LPAR

The PowerHA Toolkit for IBM i version 4.6+ supports PowerVS API's. This allows it to operate in the IBM Cloud environment (it does not interface directly with PowerVC). While there are some key differences from the on-prem implementations of the toolkit the core functionality remains the same. The goal is to provide an automated backup process using Flash Copy to minimze outages to the production VM's.

A primary difference from the traditional (on-prem) toolkit implementations is the inability to directly access the storage and HMC. All of these interactions must be handled through the available PowerVS REST API's, which are layered on top of PowerVC. That removes some of the flexibility that we have on-prem and is reflected in the toolkit differences. Consider the following:

• The term 'volumes-clone' is used in the place of Flash Copy.
• The term VM or PVM is used in the place of LPAR.
• A VM must have at least one bootable volume attached.
• The volume marked as bootable has no relation to the IBM i load source.
• PowerVS does not expose VM adapters, SAN Zoning or tagged I/O to consumers.
• The maximum volumes attached to a VM is 127.
• PowerVS volumes-clone cannot re-use an existing target volume.

The toolkit takes all this into consideration and automates creating a usable copy of a production VM for backups. Compared to on-prem operations, the process of detaching, deleting, creating and attaching volumes takes additional time. Creating a snapshot (the basis of a volumes-clone) also takes longer than on-prem, so quiescing database operations might be an issue; rather than seconds, it can take minutes. *FRCWRT is always an option, and *IPL is not supported.

Similar to our on-prem model, a controlling VM with PowerHA Standard or Enterprise is required. The minimum requirements are the same as on-prem, with the exception that 0.25 CPU is the smallest increment avaialable.

The target (flashcopy) VMs must be provisioned and available; they are not deployed 'on the fly'. The toolkit does not automatically modify the resources (CPU, memory, etc) between flashcopies, but this can be done manually by customers. Nor does the toolkit support one target VM servicing multiple source VM volumes-clones. PTF SI80445 is required on all 7.4 IBM i VM's.

Toolkit licensing in PowerVS is slightly different than on-prem. It is licensed on a subscription model that includes entitlement to use the toolkit and access support. License keys are issued with expiration dates.

Before implementing the Full System FlashCopy Toolkit, meeting the following requirements will ensure the engagement goes smoothly. We can assist with any of the tasks below, but it will extend the time required to implement the toolkit. We'll send you the toolkit savefile before we arrive, which you can place on the controlling and production LPARs. Our engagement style is to direct the customer on the work involved. While this does extend the time required for the implementation somewhat, it allows them to participate in all the decisions and to understand how the toolkit is installed, take notes, and initiate a dialogue at any point during the skills transfer. If multiple personnel are to be included, a conference room with a projector is preferred. We rarely need to access the physical hardware.

7.3 is included in the tables below for historical purposes, but has limited support. The support matrix is here.

• Production LPAR created and functional
  • Backup application installed and configured (including BRMS and iCC LPPs, which may require backup LPAR licensing).
  • Journaling is not required, but is strongly recommended
  • System value QALWUSRDMN must either be set to *ALL, or have QZRDHASM and QZRDMEDCLS libraries listed

    • In addition to the typical LPPs and PTFs required for the system to be usable, the following LPPs and PTFs should be installed:

      The following LPPs and PTFs are installed

      7.3	7.4	7.5	7.6
      5770WDS *BASE, 21	5770WDS *BASE, 21	5770WDS *BASE, 21	5770WDS *BASE, 21
      MF62566, MF64641, SI77206, MF69809	MF69817, SI71911(SS1), SI72142(SS1), SI77407(SS1)	SI77521(SS1), TR1
      If using BRMS, the following PTF's are required (superseded is OK). Both BR1 and BR2 are supported.
      SI76737(BR1)	SI76738(BR1) or BR2 w/ recent PTF	BR2 w/ recent PTF	BR2 w/ recent PTF
      If NOT using BRMS for backups, but 5770BR1 is installed, the following PTFs are required
      SI70367(BR1)	SI70368(BR1)

• Controlling LPAR created with the OS and PTFs installed
  • Can communicate (ping) the storage, HMC, and source LPAR
    • Controllers must be able to ping (iCMP) the HMC, Storage and production LPARs
    • Controllers use SSH (port 22) access the HMCs
    • Controllers use REST APIs and ssh (ports 22 and 7443) to the Flash System
    • Controllers use DSCLI (ports 1751 and 8542) to the DSs
    • Controllers must have public IP's to access PowerVS REST API endpoints
    • Controllers and production LPARs use port 55920 to communicate (this port is configurable)
    • PowerHA on the controllers must be able to communicate with each other on ports 5550 and 5551
  • Job CCSID must be 37
  • > 0.05 CPU, uncapped
  • 6 GB mainstore
  • > 200 GB DASD (enough for the OS, LPP's, PTF's etc)

  • In addition to the typical LPPs and PTFs required for the system to be usable, the following LPPs and PTFs should be installed:

    LPPs and PTF for the controlling LPAR

    7.3	7.4	7.5	7.6
    5733SC1 *Base, 1	5733SC1 *Base, 1	5733SC1 *Base, 1	5733SC1 *Base, 1
    5770SS1 30, 33, 41	5770SS1 30, 33, 41	5770SS1 30, 33, 41	5770SS1 30, 33, 41
    5770JV1, *Base, 16	5770JV1, *Base, 16	5770JV1, *Base, 16	5770JV1, *Base, 16
    5770HAS *Base and 1 or 2	5770HAS *Base and 1 or 2	5770HAS *Base and 1	5770HAS *Base and 1
    5770WDS *BASE, 21	5770WDS *BASE, 21	5770WDS *BASE, 21	5770WDS *BASE, 21
    Recent Group PTFs SF99876, SF99725	Recent Group PTFs SF99666, SF99665	Recent Group PTFs SF99676, SF99955	Recent Group PTFs SF99686, SF99965
    5770999 PTF MF62566

• FlashCopy LPAR created, no OS is required (for compliance, all the cores must be licensed)
  • Recommend communications adapter is in a different slot (Cxx) than the adapter on the production LPAR
  • Available IP address
  • Sufficient CPU and memory to perform backups
  • Host connections to the FlashCopy LUNs
  • Necessary licenses for backup products (BRMS, iCC, etc)
• Backup Devices attached to all the LPARs (controllers, source and target)
  • Adapters and SAN Zoning
  • Libraries and volumes created
  • Enrolled in BRMS
• IP addresses, administrative user IDs and passwords for:
  • HMC's
  • LPAR's (including the FlashCopy target)
  • Storage devices (SVC / DS8K)
• The storage unit (DS8K/SVC) has:
  • Been installed and is running
  • FlashCopy licensed
  • Create LUNs for the target and RPF LPAR
  • Replication started (if using replication)
  • NOTE: DS firmware levels 7.8.30.470 or greater requires Java 8 (5770JV1 opt 16) on the controlling LPAR
  • NOTE: If using FS910 with GMCV and the change volumes are in a data reduction pool (DRP), the SVC must be at firmware level 8.2.1.1 or higher
  • Flash System SSL security level set to 5 or lower
• If using Recovery Point FlashCopy (RPF):
  • No target LPAR or IP addresses is required

Defect Support for the PowerHA® Toolkit for IBM i is for customers who meet the following criteria:

• Current IBM i Software Maintenance Agreement
• Current Technology Expert Labs Toolkit Software Maintenance Agreement

Before contacting support, please do the following:

• Read the job log from the bottom up, and look for messages which indicate the problem. Many toolkit messages include recovery steps.
• Read the toolkit log (QZRDHASM/VIEWLOG) from the bottom up. Note that it may indicate information is provided in another log.
• Run the command QZRDHASM/DMPINF on the controller and provide the generated compressed file to support.

For immediate 24x7 assistance, reach out to IBM Support (IBM i Software) at https://www.ibm.com/planetwide/

For non-urgent issues or questions contact the consultant who installed the Toolkit. To reach a Toolkit developer for non-urgent issues and questions, or to report a bug, send an email to iessspt@us.ibm.com

Additional Configuration topics: 

Additional Troubleshooting topics: