Global Storage

I was reading this announcement https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/hardware-withdrawal-flashsystem-5200-flashsystem-7300-flashsystem-9500-select-features-replacement-available

Basically it says the following FlashCore Module 3 are being withdrawn and are being replaced with FlashCore Modules 4.

I am trying to determine if this affects me.

Based on the following, what am I on?

I was reading this announcement https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/hardware-withdrawal-flashsystem-5200-flashsystem-7300-flashsystem-9500-select-features-replacement-available

Basically it says the following FlashCore Module 3 are being withdrawn and are being replaced with FlashCore Modules 4.

I am trying to determine if this affects me.

Based on the following, what am I on?

Hi Robert!

FCMs (and only FCMs) use the following Version format:

FCM Generation Major Version Minor Version 

So Firmware Level: 3_1_11 Tells you this is an FCM 3 running 1.11 

FCM4s are a drop in replacement for FCM3, so they can be used as a FRU part, an MES upgrade or extension of an existing FCM3 RAID array or as new storage in your FCM3 supporting systems (5200, 7300, 9500).

Please note:  The FCM4 in the same array as FCM3s will behave as an FCM3.

Generally, FCM3 users don't need to care or pay attention to this.  

Cheers,

I was reading this announcement https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/hardware-withdrawal-flashsystem-5200-flashsystem-7300-flashsystem-9500-select-features-replacement-available

Basically it says the following FlashCore Module 3 are being withdrawn and are being replaced with FlashCore Modules 4.

I am trying to determine if this affects me.

Based on the following, what am I on?

Hi Robert!

FCMs (and only FCMs) use the following Version format:

FCM Generation Major Version Minor Version 

So Firmware Level: 3_1_11 Tells you this is an FCM 3 running 1.11 

FCM4s are a drop in replacement for FCM3, so they can be used as a FRU part, an MES upgrade or extension of an existing FCM3 RAID array or as new storage in your FCM3 supporting systems (5200, 7300, 9500).

Please note:  The FCM4 in the same array as FCM3s will behave as an FCM3.

Generally, FCM3 users don't need to care or pay attention to this.  

Cheers,

I was reading this announcement https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/hardware-withdrawal-flashsystem-5200-flashsystem-7300-flashsystem-9500-select-features-replacement-available

Basically it says the following FlashCore Module 3 are being withdrawn and are being replaced with FlashCore Modules 4.

I am trying to determine if this affects me.

Based on the following, what am I on?

I do have one question though, is there a drawback to "The FCM4 in the same array as FCM3s will behave as an FCM3."?

What are the advantages to a FCM4 acting as an FCM4 instead of an FCM3?

Hi Robert!

FCMs (and only FCMs) use the following Version format:

FCM Generation Major Version Minor Version 

So Firmware Level: 3_1_11 Tells you this is an FCM 3 running 1.11 

FCM4s are a drop in replacement for FCM3, so they can be used as a FRU part, an MES upgrade or extension of an existing FCM3 RAID array or as new storage in your FCM3 supporting systems (5200, 7300, 9500).

Please note:  The FCM4 in the same array as FCM3s will behave as an FCM3.

Generally, FCM3 users don't need to care or pay attention to this.  

Cheers,

I was reading this announcement https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/hardware-withdrawal-flashsystem-5200-flashsystem-7300-flashsystem-9500-select-features-replacement-available

Basically it says the following FlashCore Module 3 are being withdrawn and are being replaced with FlashCore Modules 4.

I am trying to determine if this affects me.

Based on the following, what am I on?

Hi Robert,

There are additional/new features in the FCM4  that cannot be active if you have a mixed array.  See the description from Denis here:  https://www.ibm.com/blog/announcement/ibm-storage-more-value-in-store/

Cheers,

------------------------------
Evelyn Perez
IBM Senior Technical Staff Member
IBM Storage Virtualize Software Architect for SVC and FlashSystem

Original Message:
Sent: Wed February 14, 2024 07:26 AM
From: Robert Berendt
Subject: How to tell if I am running

I do have one question though, is there a drawback to "The FCM4 in the same array as FCM3s will behave as an FCM3."?

What are the advantages to a FCM4 acting as an FCM4 instead of an FCM3?

------------------------------
Robert Berendt IBMChampion

Original Message:
Sent: Wed February 14, 2024 04:42 AM
From: Evelyn Perez
Subject: How to tell if I am running

Hi Robert!

FCMs (and only FCMs) use the following Version format:

FCM Generation Major Version Minor Version 

So Firmware Level: 3_1_11 Tells you this is an FCM 3 running 1.11 

FCM4s are a drop in replacement for FCM3, so they can be used as a FRU part, an MES upgrade or extension of an existing FCM3 RAID array or as new storage in your FCM3 supporting systems (5200, 7300, 9500).

Please note:  The FCM4 in the same array as FCM3s will behave as an FCM3.

Generally, FCM3 users don't need to care or pay attention to this.  

Cheers,

------------------------------
Evelyn Perez
IBM Senior Technical Staff Member
IBM Storage Virtualize Software Architect for SVC and FlashSystem

Original Message:
Sent: Tue February 13, 2024 01:15 PM
From: Robert Berendt
Subject: How to tell if I am running

I was reading this announcement https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/hardware-withdrawal-flashsystem-5200-flashsystem-7300-flashsystem-9500-select-features-replacement-available

Basically it says the following FlashCore Module 3 are being withdrawn and are being replaced with FlashCore Modules 4.

I am trying to determine if this affects me.

Based on the following, what am I on?

------------------------------
Robert Berendt IBMChampion
------------------------------

Evelyn,

We are being told by Arrow:

It is not advise to mix FCM3 and FCM4 in the same Array. It will cause problems. They recommended a separate DRAID 6 set

------------------------------
Dave Chizek

Original Message:
Sent: Wed February 14, 2024 09:36 AM
From: Evelyn Perez
Subject: How to tell if I am running

Hi Robert,

There are additional/new features in the FCM4  that cannot be active if you have a mixed array.  See the description from Denis here:  https://www.ibm.com/blog/announcement/ibm-storage-more-value-in-store/

Cheers,

------------------------------
Evelyn Perez
IBM Senior Technical Staff Member
IBM Storage Virtualize Software Architect for SVC and FlashSystem

Original Message:
Sent: Wed February 14, 2024 07:26 AM
From: Robert Berendt
Subject: How to tell if I am running

I do have one question though, is there a drawback to "The FCM4 in the same array as FCM3s will behave as an FCM3."?

What are the advantages to a FCM4 acting as an FCM4 instead of an FCM3?

------------------------------
Robert Berendt IBMChampion

Original Message:
Sent: Wed February 14, 2024 04:42 AM
From: Evelyn Perez
Subject: How to tell if I am running

Hi Robert!

FCMs (and only FCMs) use the following Version format:

FCM Generation Major Version Minor Version 

So Firmware Level: 3_1_11 Tells you this is an FCM 3 running 1.11 

FCM4s are a drop in replacement for FCM3, so they can be used as a FRU part, an MES upgrade or extension of an existing FCM3 RAID array or as new storage in your FCM3 supporting systems (5200, 7300, 9500).

Please note:  The FCM4 in the same array as FCM3s will behave as an FCM3.

Generally, FCM3 users don't need to care or pay attention to this.  

Cheers,

------------------------------
Evelyn Perez
IBM Senior Technical Staff Member
IBM Storage Virtualize Software Architect for SVC and FlashSystem

Original Message:
Sent: Tue February 13, 2024 01:15 PM
From: Robert Berendt
Subject: How to tell if I am running

I was reading this announcement https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/hardware-withdrawal-flashsystem-5200-flashsystem-7300-flashsystem-9500-select-features-replacement-available

Basically it says the following FlashCore Module 3 are being withdrawn and are being replaced with FlashCore Modules 4.

I am trying to determine if this affects me.

Based on the following, what am I on?

------------------------------
Robert Berendt IBMChampion
------------------------------

I do have one question though, is there a drawback to "The FCM4 in the same array as FCM3s will behave as an FCM3."?

What are the advantages to a FCM4 acting as an FCM4 instead of an FCM3?

Hi Robert!

FCMs (and only FCMs) use the following Version format:

FCM Generation Major Version Minor Version 

So Firmware Level: 3_1_11 Tells you this is an FCM 3 running 1.11 

FCM4s are a drop in replacement for FCM3, so they can be used as a FRU part, an MES upgrade or extension of an existing FCM3 RAID array or as new storage in your FCM3 supporting systems (5200, 7300, 9500).

Please note:  The FCM4 in the same array as FCM3s will behave as an FCM3.

Generally, FCM3 users don't need to care or pay attention to this.  

Cheers,

I was reading this announcement https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/hardware-withdrawal-flashsystem-5200-flashsystem-7300-flashsystem-9500-select-features-replacement-available

Basically it says the following FlashCore Module 3 are being withdrawn and are being replaced with FlashCore Modules 4.

I am trying to determine if this affects me.

Based on the following, what am I on?

Hi Robert!

FCMs (and only FCMs) use the following Version format:

FCM Generation Major Version Minor Version 

So Firmware Level: 3_1_11 Tells you this is an FCM 3 running 1.11 

FCM4s are a drop in replacement for FCM3, so they can be used as a FRU part, an MES upgrade or extension of an existing FCM3 RAID array or as new storage in your FCM3 supporting systems (5200, 7300, 9500).

Please note:  The FCM4 in the same array as FCM3s will behave as an FCM3.

Generally, FCM3 users don't need to care or pay attention to this.  

Cheers,

I was reading this announcement https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/hardware-withdrawal-flashsystem-5200-flashsystem-7300-flashsystem-9500-select-features-replacement-available

Basically it says the following FlashCore Module 3 are being withdrawn and are being replaced with FlashCore Modules 4.

I am trying to determine if this affects me.

Based on the following, what am I on?

Hi Evelyn,

Can FCM3 be used to expand an FCM2 array?  Appreciate these have been withdrawn now.

Cheers,

Jack

Hi Robert!

FCMs (and only FCMs) use the following Version format:

FCM Generation Major Version Minor Version 

So Firmware Level: 3_1_11 Tells you this is an FCM 3 running 1.11 

FCM4s are a drop in replacement for FCM3, so they can be used as a FRU part, an MES upgrade or extension of an existing FCM3 RAID array or as new storage in your FCM3 supporting systems (5200, 7300, 9500).

Please note:  The FCM4 in the same array as FCM3s will behave as an FCM3.

Generally, FCM3 users don't need to care or pay attention to this.  

Cheers,

I was reading this announcement https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/hardware-withdrawal-flashsystem-5200-flashsystem-7300-flashsystem-9500-select-features-replacement-available

Basically it says the following FlashCore Module 3 are being withdrawn and are being replaced with FlashCore Modules 4.

I am trying to determine if this affects me.

Based on the following, what am I on?

Hi Jack ,

 No. FCM2 and FCM3 are not compatible in the same array.  FCM2 and 1 are compatible pairs.  FCM 3 and 4 are compatible pairs, but between we changed the PCIe/nand technology, compression and capacities and thus they are not able to co-exist in the same array.

Hi Evelyn,

Can FCM3 be used to expand an FCM2 array?  Appreciate these have been withdrawn now.

Cheers,

Jack

Hi Robert!

FCMs (and only FCMs) use the following Version format:

FCM Generation Major Version Minor Version 

So Firmware Level: 3_1_11 Tells you this is an FCM 3 running 1.11 

FCM4s are a drop in replacement for FCM3, so they can be used as a FRU part, an MES upgrade or extension of an existing FCM3 RAID array or as new storage in your FCM3 supporting systems (5200, 7300, 9500).

Please note:  The FCM4 in the same array as FCM3s will behave as an FCM3.

Generally, FCM3 users don't need to care or pay attention to this.  

Cheers,

I was reading this announcement https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/hardware-withdrawal-flashsystem-5200-flashsystem-7300-flashsystem-9500-select-features-replacement-available

Basically it says the following FlashCore Module 3 are being withdrawn and are being replaced with FlashCore Modules 4.

I am trying to determine if this affects me.

Based on the following, what am I on?