Preparation for executing the Quick Format feature

Internal volumes must be in blocked status.

The number of parity groups that can undergo Quick Format

Up to 72 (VSP G800 or VSP F800), 36 (VSP G400, G600 or VSP F400, F600), or 18 (VSP G200) parity groups can concurrently undergo Quick Format. There is no limit on the number of volumes that can undergo Quick Format.

Concurrent Quick Format operations

While one Quick Format operation is in progress, another Quick Format operation can be performed. Up to 72 (VSP G800 or VSP F800), 36 (VSP G400, G600 or VSP F400, F600), or 18 (VSP G200) parity groups can concurrently undergo Quick Format.

Preliminary processing

At the beginning of the Quick Format operation, preliminary processing is performed to generate management information. If a volume is undergoing preliminary processing, the status of the volume is Preparing Quick Format. While preliminary processing is in progress, hosts cannot perform I/O access to the volume.

Blocking and restoring of volumes

If a volume undergoing Quick Format is blocked, the storage system recognizes that the volume is undergoing Quick Format. After the volume is restored, the status of the volume changes to Normal (Quick Format).

If all volumes in one or more parity groups undergoing Quick Format are blocked, the displayed number of parity groups undergoing Quick Format decreases by the number of blocked parity groups. However, the number of parity groups that have not undergone and can undergo Quick Format does not increase. To calculate the number of parity groups that have not undergone but can undergo Quick Format, use the following formula:

VSP G800 or VSP F800: 72 - X - Y

VSP G400, G600 or VSP F400, F600: 36 - X - Y

VSP G200: 18 - X - Y

Where:

X indicates the number of parity groups on which Quick Format is being performed.

Y indicates the number of parity groups where all volumes are blocked during the Quick Format.

Storage system is powered off and back on

The Quick Format operation resumes when power is turned back on.

Restrictions

• Quick Format cannot be executed on LDEVs in the parity group on which accelerated compression is enabled, external volumes, virtual volumes, or journal volumes of Universal Replicator .

• The volume migration feature or the QuickRestore feature cannot be applied to volumes undergoing Quick Format. When you use Command Control Interface to execute the volume migration operation or the QuickRestore operation on volumes undergoing Quick Format, EX_CMDRJE is reported to Command Control Interface. In this case, check the volume status.

SIM which is output when finishing of the quick format

If a quick format is performed, SIM=0x410100 is output when the format processing is finished. If multiple quick formats are performed, SIM=0x410100 is output when all format processing is finished.