Very Computer

> Can I use SSA Adapter 6225 on IBM RS/6000 P660 (Model 6H1) ?
> I thought 6225 & 6230 are adapter type 4-P, so I should be able to
> use. But friend of mine is stating that 6225 will not work on IBM
> RS/6000 P660 (Model 6H1) ?

> BTW, what is the difference between 6225 & 6230 ?

> EnjoyAIX,
> VK

> > Can I use SSA Adapter 6225 on IBM RS/6000 P660 (Model 6H1) ?
> > I thought 6225 & 6230 are adapter type 4-P, so I should be able to
> > use. But friend of mine is stating that 6225 will not work on IBM
> > RS/6000 P660 (Model 6H1) ?

> > BTW, what is the difference between 6225 & 6230 ?

> > EnjoyAIX,
> > VK

> Hi,

> your friend is right. 6225 Adapter is not on supported adapter list of
> P666-6H1.
> For differences, please check features:

> Here are the feature for 6230:
> ==============================
> AIX: 4.2.1, 4.3.2 or above
>     RAID support:
>         Non-RAID, 0, 1, 5, 10.
>     Option 32MB Fast-Write Cache: improves performance
>         with RAID 5, RAID-10 and non-RAID applications.
>     Initiators:
>         Non-RAID = 8
>         RAID-0 = 1
>         RAID-1 with Fast-Write option = 2
>         RAID-5 with Fast-Write option = 2
>         RAID-10 with Fast-Write option = 2
>     Number of disks:
>         2-16 per RAID-0 Array.
>         2 per RAID-1 Array.
>         3-16 per RAID-5 Array.
>         4-16 per RAID-10 Array (in pairs)
>     Bus width: 32
>     Busmaster: Yes
>     Adapter Type: Long
>     Data transfer rate: 20MB/40MB SSA link speed
>         automatically negociated
>     7133-D40/T40 require enclosure microcode level
>    >=11
>     Loops: 2
>     Max disks/loop: 48
>     Adapter Compatibility: 4M, 4N and 4P (Note 1)
>     Hot Spare: Yes
>     Fast Write Cache Option: 32MB
>     RAID/Spares Span Loops: No.
>     Boot Support: Non-RAID disk via NIM installation
>     Dump tool: Requires Hot Spar

> Here are the feature of 6225:
> =============================

> Specs:

>     AIX: 4.2.1, 4.3.0
>     8 initiators Non-RAID / 2 initiators RAID-5
>     From 3 to 16 drives per RAID Array.
>     Bus width: 32
>     Busmaster: Yes
>     Adapter Type: Long
>     Data transfer rate: 20MB/40MB SSA link speed
>         automatically negociated
>     Loops: 2
>     Max disks/loop: 48
>     Adapter Compatibility: 4M, 4N and 4P (Note 1)
>     RAID support:
>         RAID 0, RAID 5 Fast-Write Cache and Non-RAID
>         Single Adapter - RAID 5 with Fast/Write cache.
>         Single Adapter - RAID 0.
>         Two Adapters - RAID 5 and Non Fast/Write.
>     Hot Spare: Yes
>     Fast Write Cache Option: 32MB
>     RAID/Spares Span Loops: No.
>     Boot Support: No.
>     Dump tool: Requires Hot Spare

> A 6230 is the same card as a 6225, but with a free "field" upgrade via
> microcode.

> Check with your local CE to have him/her upgrade the card for you.

> Microcode and instructions are at:

> http://www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/products/ssa/rs6k/index.html

> If you are brave enough to do it on your own, make sure you read the
> instructions on the IBM website, and the microcode readme's instructions
> carefully....

> We have successfully upgraded all of our 6225 to 6230 with no problem.

> Tips: Unmount filesystems, de-activate paging spaces, and varyoffvg, then
> de-Stage and and all fast-write cache on all adapters before attempting any
> microcode upgrade.

> -D.

> > Can I use SSA Adapter 6225 on IBM RS/6000 P660 (Model 6H1) ?
> > I thought 6225 & 6230 are adapter type 4-P, so I should be able to
> > use. But friend of mine is stating that 6225 will not work on IBM
> > RS/6000 P660 (Model 6H1) ?

> > BTW, what is the difference between 6225 & 6230 ?

> > EnjoyAIX,
> > VK

> > A 6230 is the same card as a 6225, but with a free "field" upgrade via
> > microcode.

> > Check with your local CE to have him/her upgrade the card for you.

> > Microcode and instructions are at:

> > http://www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/products/ssa/rs6k/index.html

> > If you are brave enough to do it on your own, make sure you read the
> > instructions on the IBM website, and the microcode readme's instructions
> > carefully....

> > We have successfully upgraded all of our 6225 to 6230 with no problem.

> > Tips: Unmount filesystems, de-activate paging spaces, and varyoffvg,
then
> > de-Stage and and all fast-write cache on all adapters before attempting
any
> > microcode upgrade.

> > -D.

> > > Can I use SSA Adapter 6225 on IBM RS/6000 P660 (Model 6H1) ?
> > > I thought 6225 & 6230 are adapter type 4-P, so I should be able to
> > > use. But friend of mine is stating that 6225 will not work on IBM
> > > RS/6000 P660 (Model 6H1) ?

> > > BTW, what is the difference between 6225 & 6230 ?

> > > EnjoyAIX,
> > > VK

> Dear Dudeman,
> Thanks a LOT, surely this will *save* approx. US$20,000 for our SP2
> Nodes, F50s and 43Ps. Special thanks for Tips!

> What do you mean by 'de-Stage' ?
> I can take care for varyofvg for 'user defined Volume Groups' , I have
> to take care for rootvg and standard paging space (hd6)?

> With Warm Regards,
> VK

> First - the varyoffvg I spoke of only applies to VG's on SSA drives
> utilizing the "SSA Fast-Write Cache" feature, so if your rootvg is not on
> SSA, or is but does not have the fast-write" feature turned on, then you
> should be ok - please see the rest of the post before you do anything....

> If you have the "fast write cache" option card installed on your SSA adapter
> (FC 6235) and have the fast-write feature turned on for any drives, you must
> turn it off before you attempt any upgrade of the firmware, or risk the loss
> of data.

> To view/change fast-write settings for drives, use "smitty ssafastw".

> If you have RAID arrays, you can only turn fast-write on/off for the whole
> array hdisk, if you use straight hdisk/pdisk as system drives, then it
> operates on each hdisk individually.

> Tip - you can always turn fast-write ON for a drive at any time, but to turn
> it OFF is a more lengthy process as described in my earlier post...  It only
> becomes a real pain when there is paging on the "fast-writed" device, and
> you need to reboot to de-activate the paging....

> FYI - if you have the SSA card out of the machine, you can easily see if you
> have the H/W feature - it looks like a standard PCMCIA card inserted on the
> SSA Card - it has warnings about customer data, battery backed
> data....etc...

> If there is an empty PCMCIA card slot on the card, then you don't have the
> option, and don't worry about the fast-write....

> If you want to check the individual cards to see if they have the fast-write
> card installed, you can do a lscfg -vl sssX, and look for the Z1 field (or
> whatever shows the "cache= line").  Like this:

> lscfg -vl ssa0
>   DEVICE            LOCATION          DESCRIPTION

>   ssa0              1A-08             IBM SSA 160 SerialRAID Adapter
>                                       (14109100)

>         Part Number................. 09L5695
>         FRU Number.................. 34L5388
>         Serial Number...............S0270160
>         EC Level....................    F23699
>         Manufacturer................IBM053
>         ROS Level and ID............8300    0000
>         Loadable Microcode Level....05
>         Device Driver Level.........00
>         Displayable Message.........SSA-ADAPTER
>         Device Specific.(Z0)........SDRAM=128
>         Device Specific.(Z1)........CACHE=32
> <========================
>         Device Specific.(Z2)........UID=006094BE0000EA18
>         Device Specific.(YL)........P1-I3/Q1

> If you were wondering about the Z0 SDRAM line, then this is the scoop -
> normal cards with no Fast-write come with 64MB SDRAM.  If you ever want to
> use the Fast-write option card, *AND* you are going loop drives into 2
> adapters (dual initiator) for redundancy, then you need the 128MB option (FC
> 6231) otherwise you will only be able to use 16MB of the 32MB Fastwrite, and
> you will get "SSA Performance Degraded" error messages in the error report
> for ever.  Moral:  If you do redundant loops w/Fast-Write, spring for the
> extra DRAM.

> FYI...The adapter above is a 6230 by purchase, but as you can see the
> firmware also needs to be updated (ROS Level and ID - 8300 is old, AB00 is
> the latest I believe)....shame on me.

> I hope this helps.

> P.S. - http://www.ibmlink.ibm.com/ussman - look up a 7026, 7017, etc... Look
> for Feature codes 6230, 6231, and 6235.

> Also check the SSA card manuals on:

> http://www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/products/ssa/docs/index.html

> http://www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/products/ssa/docs/sc2_inst.html - this
> is the SerialRAID Adapters install guide - check page 1, chapter 1 for an
> intro to Fast-Write.....

> Happy upgrading....
> -D.

> > > VK,

> > > A 6230 is the same card as a 6225, but with a free "field" upgrade via
> > > microcode.

> > > Check with your local CE to have him/her upgrade the card for you.

> > > Microcode and instructions are at:

> > > http://www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/products/ssa/rs6k/index.html

> > > If you are brave enough to do it on your own, make sure you read the
> > > instructions on the IBM website, and the microcode readme's instructions
> > > carefully....

> > > We have successfully upgraded all of our 6225 to 6230 with no problem.

> > > Tips: Unmount filesystems, de-activate paging spaces, and varyoffvg,
>  then
> > > de-Stage and and all fast-write cache on all adapters before attempting
>  any
> > > microcode upgrade.

> > > -D.

> > > > Can I use SSA Adapter 6225 on IBM RS/6000 P660 (Model 6H1) ?
> > > > I thought 6225 & 6230 are adapter type 4-P, so I should be able to
> > > > use. But friend of mine is stating that 6225 will not work on IBM
> > > > RS/6000 P660 (Model 6H1) ?

> > > > BTW, what is the difference between 6225 & 6230 ?

> > > > EnjoyAIX,
> > > > VK

> > Dear Dudeman,
> > Thanks a LOT, surely this will *save* approx. US$20,000 for our SP2
> > Nodes, F50s and 43Ps. Special thanks for Tips!

> > What do you mean by 'de-Stage' ?
> > I can take care for varyofvg for 'user defined Volume Groups' , I have
> > to take care for rootvg and standard paging space (hd6)?

> > With Warm Regards,
> > VK

> > First - the varyoffvg I spoke of only applies to VG's on SSA drives
> > utilizing the "SSA Fast-Write Cache" feature, so if your rootvg is not
on
> > SSA, or is but does not have the fast-write" feature turned on, then you
> > should be ok - please see the rest of the post before you do
anything....

> > If you have the "fast write cache" option card installed on your SSA
adapter
> > (FC 6235) and have the fast-write feature turned on for any drives, you
must
> > turn it off before you attempt any upgrade of the firmware, or risk the
loss
> > of data.

> > To view/change fast-write settings for drives, use "smitty ssafastw".

> > If you have RAID arrays, you can only turn fast-write on/off for the
whole
> > array hdisk, if you use straight hdisk/pdisk as system drives, then it
> > operates on each hdisk individually.

> > Tip - you can always turn fast-write ON for a drive at any time, but to
turn
> > it OFF is a more lengthy process as described in my earlier post...  It
only
> > becomes a real pain when there is paging on the "fast-writed" device,
and
> > you need to reboot to de-activate the paging....

> > FYI - if you have the SSA card out of the machine, you can easily see if
you
> > have the H/W feature - it looks like a standard PCMCIA card inserted on
the
> > SSA Card - it has warnings about customer data, battery backed
> > data....etc...

> > If there is an empty PCMCIA card slot on the card, then you don't have
the
> > option, and don't worry about the fast-write....

> > If you want to check the individual cards to see if they have the
fast-write
> > card installed, you can do a lscfg -vl sssX, and look for the Z1 field
(or
> > whatever shows the "cache= line").  Like this:

> > lscfg -vl ssa0
> >   DEVICE            LOCATION          DESCRIPTION

> >   ssa0              1A-08             IBM SSA 160 SerialRAID Adapter
> >                                       (14109100)

> >         Part Number................. 09L5695
> >         FRU Number.................. 34L5388
> >         Serial Number...............S0270160
> >         EC Level....................    F23699
> >         Manufacturer................IBM053
> >         ROS Level and ID............8300    0000
> >         Loadable Microcode Level....05
> >         Device Driver Level.........00
> >         Displayable Message.........SSA-ADAPTER
> >         Device Specific.(Z0)........SDRAM=128
> >         Device Specific.(Z1)........CACHE=32
> > <========================
> >         Device Specific.(Z2)........UID=006094BE0000EA18
> >         Device Specific.(YL)........P1-I3/Q1

> > If you were wondering about the Z0 SDRAM line, then this is the scoop -
> > normal cards with no Fast-write come with 64MB SDRAM.  If you ever want
to
> > use the Fast-write option card, *AND* you are going loop drives into 2
> > adapters (dual initiator) for redundancy, then you need the 128MB option
(FC
> > 6231) otherwise you will only be able to use 16MB of the 32MB Fastwrite,
and
> > you will get "SSA Performance Degraded" error messages in the error
report
> > for ever.  Moral:  If you do redundant loops w/Fast-Write, spring for
the
> > extra DRAM.

> > FYI...The adapter above is a 6230 by purchase, but as you can see the
> > firmware also needs to be updated (ROS Level and ID - 8300 is old, AB00
is
> > the latest I believe)....shame on me.

> > I hope this helps.

> > P.S. - http://www.ibmlink.ibm.com/ussman - look up a 7026, 7017, etc...
Look
> > for Feature codes 6230, 6231, and 6235.

> > Also check the SSA card manuals on:

> > http://www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/products/ssa/docs/index.html

> > http://www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/products/ssa/docs/sc2_inst.html -
this
> > is the SerialRAID Adapters install guide - check page 1, chapter 1 for
an
> > intro to Fast-Write.....

> > Happy upgrading....
> > -D.

> > > > VK,

> > > > A 6230 is the same card as a 6225, but with a free "field" upgrade
via
> > > > microcode.

> > > > Check with your local CE to have him/her upgrade the card for you.

> > > > Microcode and instructions are at:

> > > > http://www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/products/ssa/rs6k/index.html

> > > > If you are brave enough to do it on your own, make sure you read the
> > > > instructions on the IBM website, and the microcode readme's
instructions
> > > > carefully....

> > > > We have successfully upgraded all of our 6225 to 6230 with no
problem.

> > > > Tips: Unmount filesystems, de-activate paging spaces, and varyoffvg,
> >  then
> > > > de-Stage and and all fast-write cache on all adapters before
attempting
> >  any
> > > > microcode upgrade.

> > > > -D.

> > > > > Can I use SSA Adapter 6225 on IBM RS/6000 P660 (Model 6H1) ?
> > > > > I thought 6225 & 6230 are adapter type 4-P, so I should be able to
> > > > > use. But friend of mine is stating that 6225 will not work on IBM
> > > > > RS/6000 P660 (Model 6H1) ?

> > > > > BTW, what is the difference between 6225 & 6230 ?

> > > > > EnjoyAIX,
> > > > > VK

> > > Dear Dudeman,
> > > Thanks a LOT, surely this will *save* approx. US$20,000 for our SP2
> > > Nodes, F50s and 43Ps. Special thanks for Tips!

> > > What do you mean by 'de-Stage' ?
> > > I can take care for varyofvg for 'user defined Volume Groups' , I have
> > > to take care for rootvg and standard paging space (hd6)?

> > > With Warm Regards,
> > > VK

> Dear Dudeman,
> Again Thanks, at this stage all I can say ,If you wish to visit Dubai
> , the "City Of Gold". IOU please contact me on +9714 301 2183 and I
> will take you to 'Desert Safari'

> V K Agarwal
> Dubai Petroleum Company
> SAP R/3 Support (AIX, DB2/UDB , R/3)