SAN Volume Controller installation and configuration overview

Additional publications are included with some of the hardware components; however, use the installation and configuration procedures in the documents that are listed here.

• IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Planning Guide
• IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Model 2145-XXX Hardware Installation Guide, where 2145-XXX is a specific node model
• IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Software Installation and Configuration Guide

See the Support for SAN Volume Controller (2145) Web site for access to SAN Volume Controller publications:

Support for SAN Volume Controller (2145) Web site

To access the SSPC publications, go to the Printable PDFs section and click the IBM System Storage Productivity Center link from the following Web site:

IBM Tivoli® Storage Productivity Center Information Center

Planning tasks to complete before installing the SAN Volume Controller

Before you install the SAN Volume Controller, you must complete the following planning tasks or have them completed by an IBM service representative or IBM Business Partner:

1. Verify that all the SAN Volume Controller installation requirements have been met.

   Review Chapter 2 of the IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Planning Guide to make sure that space and power requirements have been met before you begin the installation. SAN Volume Controller nodes and uninterruptible power-supply units are installed in pairs.

2. Review SAN fabric and zoning guidelines and develop your SAN Volume Controller cluster, host systems, and storage controllers plan.

   This task helps to assure a seamless configuration. For more information, see Chapters 3 and 4 of the IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Planning Guide.

3. Complete all physical planning charts.

   Chapter 2 of the IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Planning Guide provides instructions for accessing and completing the following charts and tables:

   • Hardware location chart
   • Cable connection table
   • Configuration data table
   • Redundant ac-power connection chart

   The SAN Volume Controller charts and tables are available at the Support for SAN Volume Controller (2145) Web site:

   Support for SAN Volume Controller (2145) Web site

   You can save, edit, and share the charts and tables between members of the installation team.

   For the SSPC, complete the planning worksheet in the Appendix of the IBM System Storage Productivity Center Introduction and Planning Guide.

   You can also obtain the planning work sheet from the IBM System Storage Productivity Center Information Center at http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/tivihelp/v4r1/index.jsp. In the left navigation pane, click System Storage Productivity Center > Getting started > Planning work sheet.

Hardware installation tasks that an IBM service representative performs

To install the SAN Volume Controller hardware, an IBM service representative must complete the following tasks:

1. Verify that you have all of the required parts for the installation.

   Chapter 2 of the IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Model 2145-XXX Hardware Installation Guide provides a list of all the parts that are required for an installation. The list includes the SAN Volume Controller nodes, uninterruptible power-supply units, optional redundant ac-power switches, and associated parts.

2. Install the SAN Volume Controller hardware.

   Chapter 2 of the IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Model 2145-XXX Hardware Installation Guide describes the procedures for installing the uninterruptible power-supply units, SAN Volume Controller nodes, and the optional redundant ac-power switches.

3. Install the SSPC server.

   Read This First: Installing the IBM System Storage Productivity Center describes how to install the SSPC server.

Configuration tasks

To configure a SAN Volume Controller cluster, you must complete the following tasks or have them completed by an IBM service representative or IBM Business Partner:

1. Register your product.

   To receive product support notifications from IBM, you must register your product. To register your product, click Register at the Support for IBM System Storage and TotalStorage® products Web site:

   Support for IBM System Storage and TotalStorage products

2. Optionally, check for an updated version of the SAN Volume Controller Console (GUI) software.

   For the latest information, click Install/use, and then click the link for the appropriate recommended software level from the Support for SAN Volume Controller (2145) Web site:

   Support for SAN Volume Controller (2145) Web site

   Additionally, preinstalled software on the SSPC console might need to be updated to fully support the latest level of SAN Volume Controller. For the latest information, go to the Support for System Storage Productivity Center (SSPC) Web site:

   Support for System Storage Productivity Center (SSPC)

3. Configure the SSPC.

   The IBM System Storage Productivity Center User's Guide describes how to configure the SSPC for the SAN Volume Controller.

4. Create a SAN Volume Controller cluster.
   The IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Software Installation and Configuration Guide describes this procedure, which is completed in two phases:

   1. Use the Create Cluster option on the front panel of one of the SAN Volume Controller nodes that you have installed to create the cluster.

      This procedure is usually performed by an IBM representative or IBM Business Partner using information that the customer provides.

   2. Use the Add a Cluster function from the SAN Volume Controller Console.
5. Complete the initial SAN Volume Controller configuration.

   After you create the SAN Volume Controller cluster, you must perform the configuration procedures that are needed to meet your requirements. You can perform these procedures in stages; for example, add nodes to a cluster, set cluster date and time, and set license features immediately. Later, after your applications are tested and migrated to SAN Volume Controller, create host definitions, assign managed disks (MDisks) to MDisk groups, and set up virtual disks (VDisks) and assign them to hosts.

   You can also set up event notifications, including Call Home e-mails, to immediately notify you and the IBM Support Center if critical problems occur.

   The IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Software Installation and Configuration Guide describes how to perform these steps by using either the SAN Volume Controller Console or the comand-line interface (CLI).