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When will 8.6.0 become a recommended release?

  • 1.  When will 8.6.0 become a recommended release?

    Posted Fri November 17, 2023 05:37 PM

    New FS5200 has been ordered to sit alongside an existing FS5200.  I am assuming 8.6.0 will come shipped on the new FS5200.

    I'm planning to the Volume Group Snapshots and PBR for the new FS5200 and would like to replicate to the existing one as well as using similar policies and set-up on the current one.

    But it's difficult to ignore the Planning page which seems to be telling me not to upgrade the current FS5200 yet: IBM Storage Virtualize Family of Products Upgrade Planning

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    IBM Storage Virtualize Family of Products Upgrade Planning
    How can I determine which software release to use when planning to upgrade my IBM Storage Virtualize systems?Note, this document was formerly known as Spectrum Virtualize Family of Products Upgrade Planning.
    View this on Ibm >

     



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    Edward Yeates
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  • 2.  RE: When will 8.6.0 become a recommended release?

    Posted Tue December 12, 2023 04:59 PM

    OK - I'll ask the same question again....

    When will 8.6.0 become a recommended release? I have an existing FS5200 running 8.5.0 and a new one shipped with 8.6.0

    Why is the IBM Upgrade Planning Website not recommending my current 8.5.0 system to 8.6.0?  It means I can't use some of the 8.6 technology like policy based replication etc.   

    When will it be safe to upgrade to 8.6 ?



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    Edward Yeates
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  • 3.  RE: When will 8.6.0 become a recommended release?

    IBM Champion
    Posted Wed December 13, 2023 07:17 AM

    Way to the right of that table is a "Share your feedback" button.  I would post your question there.  Perhaps as a "content issue".  On most sites I am finding IBM very responsive to these kind of questions.



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    Robert Berendt IBMChampion
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  • 4.  RE: When will 8.6.0 become a recommended release?

    Posted Fri January 05, 2024 03:12 PM

    we have refreshed our estate to FS5200 running 840x, but I waited for 9 revisions before upgrading from 850x. However the last one arrived with 8500 - I downgraded the box to 840x and then hit an issue where the NVMe drives would not upgrade as the disk type could only be upgraded if the code was on 850x. 

    I tend to wait for 9 revisions before upgrading to a LTS stream - unless there is a Hyper in the latest release which could mean an outage, which 



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    Frank da Silva
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  • 5.  RE: When will 8.6.0 become a recommended release?

    IBM Champion
    Posted Fri January 05, 2024 03:36 PM

    How long is 9 revisions normally? 2 years?  3 years?

    How many revisions does a version have before going out of support?

    What was the earliest revision you went to because a Hyper was flagged?  Has it ever been a deciding factor?

    I'm mainly in the IBM i world and we have several camps:

    1. Those who take part in IBM's Early Programs and have at least a sand box lpar upgraded to that prior to GA.  Often brings the rest of the lpars up to the new release within a year of GA.
    2. Those who wait until x number of Cumulative fixes.  A cume fix comes out every 6 months(~).
    3. Those who wait until the release following comes out.
    4. Those who wait until the release they are on goes out of standard support.
    5. Those who wait until the release they are on goes out of extended support.
    6. Those who upgrade only because they need a new box and the old release doesn't run on the new box.
    7. Those who upgrade at gunpoint only.
    8. Those who proudly point to one of IBM's Legends videos which shows an IBM repairman showing up and everyone is trying to find the box and they track it down by cables to find it in a room which hasn't been open in years  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5zv5wFAADk


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    Robert Berendt IBMChampion
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  • 6.  RE: When will 8.6.0 become a recommended release?

    User Group Leader
    Posted Mon January 08, 2024 06:50 AM

    Hi Frank,

    Waiting for 9 revisions is a really really long wait at that point you are getting really close to EoS for a code level.  I expect 8.4.0 to go end of support this year.  You should be using the recommended versions as per our support matrix when looking at going to a new LTS.  This generally happens at the .2 or .3 ish range of the PTF cycle.

    Please note that we are generally releasing fewer ptfs over time with the exception of PSIRTs.

    Additionally - anyone looking to implement new feature functions should be looking at the non-LTS release followed by the next LTS recommended release as these have the same test cycles, but different PTF strategies.

    As per the original discussion 8.6.0 should get a recommended Flag on it imminently.



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    Evelyn Perez
    IBM Senior Technical Staff Member
    IBM Storage Virtualize Software Architect for SVC and FlashSystem
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  • 7.  RE: When will 8.6.0 become a recommended release?

    Posted Mon January 08, 2024 07:22 AM

    Hi Evelyn, 

    I'm a nervous nelly - unless there is a HIPER which could affect us then I not would jump to a LTS version with 2 PTF releases. I would rather milk the lower LTS release and then jump across (84011 then jump to 85010). We run a simple config with DRP without any FC/RC/HS features. Some other users I have spoken to will not jump to the latest PTF within a stream and would rather run N-1; as someone said earlier it depends on each environment's circumstances.

    Thanks for the note.

    Frank 



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    Frank da Silva
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  • 8.  RE: When will 8.6.0 become a recommended release?

    IBM Champion
    Posted Mon January 08, 2024 07:41 AM

    Never really understood the n-1 concept.  What if n had a critical fix that patched n-1?  I've seen this, a lot.  I could see not upgrading to n within the first month (unless it's a very critical patch).  But waiting until the next patch comes out that fixes flaws in it, just doesn't compute with me.



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    Robert Berendt IBMChampion
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  • 9.  RE: When will 8.6.0 become a recommended release?

    IBM Champion
    Posted Tue January 09, 2024 07:01 AM

    Like so many things in our IT world, rarely is their one exact correct answer. You say what if "n-1" needs a critical fix. Well, it was just "n" previously. What if "n" introduced a major catastrophic bug, like causes data corruption. You want that to be fixed before you ever go to it, often in both a PTF and the next "n". A month of "n" being available may not be long enough. But really, its never quite clear cut. 



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    Shawn Bodily
    PowerHAguy on Youtube and Twitter
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  • 10.  RE: When will 8.6.0 become a recommended release?

    Posted Wed January 10, 2024 07:29 AM

    Hello Edward. you may want to review the following:

    https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redpapers/pdfs/redp5617.pdf

    https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/concurrent-compatibility-and-code-cross-reference-ibm-storage-virtualize

    I would recommend that if these arrays are production systems, open a support case. This will ensure the correct code levels for your specific serial numbered system. Also, it will provide: additional information support has encountered/documented with the process and secondly provide an open case in the event if something were to occur during the process. Always a good idea in my opinion to start a case before major upgrades to production during planned maintenance windows. 



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    Brian Zupko
    Sr. Storage Technical Specialist
    IBM
    Cleveland, OH
    USA
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