Author Description

This IBM® Redbooks® publication highlights TS7700 Virtualization Engine Release 3.0. It is intended for system architects who want to integrate their storage systems for smoother operation. The IBM Virtualization Engine TS7700 offers a modular, scalable, and high-performing architecture for mainframe tape virtualization for the IBM System z® environment. It integrates 3592 Tape Drives, high-performance disks, and a new disk cache subsystem into a storage hierarchy. This storage hierarchy is managed by robust storage management firmware with extensive self-management capability. It includes the following advanced functions: Policy management to control physical volume pooling Cache management Dual copy, including across a grid network Copy mode control The TS7700 Virtualization Engine offers enhanced statistical reporting. It also includes a standards-based management interface for TS7700 Virtualization Engine management. The new IBM Virtualization Engine TS7700 Release 3.0 continues the next generation of TS7700 Virtualization Engine servers for System z tape: IBM Virtualization Engine TS7720 Server Model VEB with 3956-CS9 and 3 TB disk drive modules (DDMs) IBM Virtualization Engine TS7740 Server Model V07 with 3956-CC9 with 600 GB DDMs These Virtualization Engines are based on IBM POWER7® technology. They offer improved performance for most System z tape workloads compared to the first generation of TS7700 Virtualization Engine servers. TS7700 Virtualization Engine Release 3.0 builds on the existing capabilities of the TS7700 family. It also introduces the following capabilities: Up to 4,000,000 logical volumes per grid domain Disk cache refresh utilizing 3956-CC9 for TS7740 Model V07 and 3956-CS9 for TS7720 Model VEB Virtualization Engines IPv4 or IPv6 support for customer network and IP Security for grid communication.