What's New in Copy Services Manager 6.1.2

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What's New in Copy Services Manager 6.1.2

By Archive User posted Thu June 30, 2016 01:03 AM

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Originally posted by: RandyBlea

On June 28, 2016 IBM released the next version of IBM Copy Services Manager, version 6.1.2

http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ssg1S4001601

IBM Copy Services Manager is a storage replication product that provides a single place to manage all the replication across your IBM storage environment. With IBM Copy Services Manager customers can simplify the management of their replication solutions while providing disaster recovery and high availability to their applications.

What's New in IBM Copy Services Manager 6.1.2?

We're very excited to provide the following key features being released in this new version.

Copy Services Manager pre-installed on DS8000 HMC providing LDAP support
Multi Incremental Flash Copy support in Flash Copy and Practice sessions
Email notifications setup through CLI commands
Backup Copy Services Manager database via the GUI
Support for MT MM-GM session with GM capabilities at Site 3
Copy Services Manager with AIX PowerHA HyperSwap in 3 site environments

Copy Services Manager Pre-installed on DS8000 HMC providing LDAP support

Starting with the DS8000 8.1 release, Copy Services Manager will now be pre-installed on the DS8000 HMC. This solution provides a quicker and easier way for DS8000 customers to use Copy Services Manager in their environment. The pre-installed code is enabled with basic features but includes the ability to upgrade to the fully licensed version. The basic features include providing LDAP capability for the DS8000 authentication.

To fully enable Copy Services Manager running on the DS8000 HMC, you can order the CSM Advanced Feature from DSFA. DSFA will provide a key which can then be uploaded using the DSCLI to fully enable the product on the HMC.

The table below summarizes the various ways you can now license Copy Services Manager and where to download the installers and enablement files.

IBM Copy Services Manager license purchased		Installation File Location	Enablement File Location
IBM Copy Services Manager license from Passport Advantage (5725-Z54)	Distributed Install Images	Downloading IBM Copy Services Manager V6.1.1 using Passport Advantage Online then upgrade to 6.1.2 via Fix Central (see Upgrades section for details)	Downloading IBM Copy Services Manager V6.1.1 using Passport Advantage Online
	z/OS Install Images	Not entitled	Not entitled

IBM Copy Services Manager for z/OS (5698-E01)	Distributed Install Images	Fix Central (see Upgrades section for details)	The enablement files for Distributed installations are available for entitled CSM z/OS customers via *LCD8-2735-01 IBM Copy Services Manager for z/OS Systems License Keys CD* in shopZ.
IBM Copy Services Manager for z/OS (5698-E01)	z/OS Install Images	Under 5698-E01 on shopZ	Installed with the z/OS installation of 5698-E01 on shopZ

IBM Copy Services Manager DS8000 Advanced Function	Distributed Install Images	Pre-Installed on DS8000 8.1.1 or higher HMC	Available through DSFA when they purchase an 8.1 or higher system. A key will be provided that can be loaded onto the HMC via the DSCLI.
	z/OS Install Images	Not entitled	Not entitled

IBM Copy Services Manager via Spectrum Control entitlement	Distributed Install Images	Fix Central (see Upgrades section for details)	The enablement files can be found under the Spectrum Control eAssembly in Passport Advantage online, under part number CN8DJEN.
	z/OS Install Images	Not entitled	Not entitled

Multi Incremental Flash Copy support in Flash Copy and Practice sessions

DS8000 added support allowing an incremental Flash Copy to be issued to multiple target volumes from the same source. In Copy Services Manager 6.1.2 we added support for this feature. This support is in both the Flash Copy session type as well as the various Practice sessions supported by Copy Services Manager. For these session types you can specify the Incremental option on the session properties. When the Flash is issued, the incremental option will be use so that a full background copy is not necessary, only the change tracks get copied.

With Flash Copy session you will need to create multiple sessions where each of the sessions use the same source volume or volumes. Previously if you did this then only one of the sessions could have the incremental option set. Now multiple sessions can set the option for the flash.

With Practice sessions, which includes MM with Practice, GM with Practice, MGM with Practice and MT MM-GM with Practice, you can now specify the Incremental option for the practice flash role pair. For example, on a GM with Practice session you can set Incremental on the H2-I2 role pair. When the session is Prepared and you issue the Flash command, each flash will now do an incremental Flash instead of requiring a full back ground copy.

Email notifications setup through CLI commands

Copy Services Manager has always provided notifications through SNMP events. With the 6.1.2 release we have now added the ability to add in email alerts as well. Through the CSM CLI you can define an email server and then one or more recipients you want to receive email events. The list of events that will receive an email is the same as the list of SNMP events which can be found here -> http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSESK4_6.1.1/com.ibm.storage.csm.help.doc/frg_r_snmp_trap_descripts.html

Future releases will add in the ability to filter which email alerts to receive for various recipients defined. For now, just like SNMP, all alerts will be sent to the recipients. You can use you email program to define personal filters to determine which events might have a higher priority for you. The ability to define the email server and recipients in the GUI will also become available in a future release.

Backup Copy Services Manager database via the GUI

Through the CSM CLI, in previous releases you could issue the mkbackup command in order to create a .zip file containing a backup of the CSM internal datastore. With the 6.1.2 release this feature is now available on the GUI as well. On the Advanced Tools panel you can now click to create the backup as well as Download any previous backups directly from the GUI.

Support for MT MM-GM session with GM capabilities at Site 3

Copy Services Manager 6.1.2 adds a new session type for multi-target DS8000 environments. This session type is a six volume solution which allows a customer to recover to Site 3 and then issue either a StartGM H3->H1->H2 or StartGM H3->H2->H1 command which will start a GM relationship from site 3 to either site 1 or site 2 respectively. This means that the session running from site 3 will be in full Disaster Recovery capability mode protecting a customer, while running at site 3 in the event of a disaster. The solution will cascaded off of the GM relationship with Global Copy to the third site.

Copy Services Manager with AIX PowerHA HyperSwap in 3 site environments

In order to provide 3 site support for AIX PowerHA HyperSwap customers, Copy Services Manager, AIX PowerHA and DS8000 worked together to provide solution allowing customers to setup PowerHA HyperSwap on the H1H2 pairs managed by Copy Services Manager. Using a Copy Services Manager Multi-target MM-GM session ,a customer can setup the replication with Copy Services Manager's ease of use and then provide high availability for those volumes by using PowerHA HyperSwap. When a HyperSwap is triggered on the H1H2 pairs in the session, Copy Services Manager will recognize the event and move the relationship to Target Available allowing the customer to then issue the Start H2->H1 H2->H3 command to restart replication across all three sites again. With Copy Services Manager's ease of use in managing a three site environment, and the high availability capabilities of PowerHA HyperSwap, a customer has a great solution for managing their replication.

What's New in Version 6.1.2 Video

Watch the following video for an overview of the above new set of features, as well as a demo or some of the key features.