Supportability of IBM SAN Volume Controller (SVC) (2145) with SVC firmware code 5.1.0.2 with Storage Foundation 5.1 release for AIX platform

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Article ID: 100026012

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Updated On:

Cause

The following Symantec Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) document suggests that IBM SANVC (SVC) supported with A/A-A (Asymmetric Active Active) storage configuration with SVC Firmware version greater than 4.2.1.1 for SVC and minimum SF version of Storage Foundation 5.1 RP1.
Hardware Compatibility List for Veritas Storage Foundation (tm) and High Availability Solutions 5.1 (including SFCFS for Oracle RAC for RHEL, SLES and OEL), 5.1 Platform Release 1, 5.1 Service Pack 1, 5.1 Service Pack 1 Platform Release 4, and VirtualStore 5.1 SP1 PR3 - http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH74012

However IBM SVC support link below suggests that IBM do not support the configuration with Storage Foundation version on any 5.1 release where the IBM SVC Array Firmware code version is at version V5.1.x.
V5.1.x - Recommended Software Levels for SAN Volume Controller - https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ssg1S1003554#_AIX 
(example: Look for the list of AIX releases for AIX v6.1 and under the listed SDD versions you will see the Storage Foundation version 5.0 is listed, but not Storage Foundation version 5.1)
 

Resolution

To avoid this confusion, Veritas is publishing this article to explain that Veritas will always document within our HCL only the minimum Firmware versions required for any given array and it is up to the Hardware Vendor to further validate the supportability of the configuration due to any discrepancy in supportability.

Veritas strongly suggests that customers using Storage Foundation 5.1 RP1 (AIX) or higher with IBM SVC Microcode version 5.1.x or lower to upgrade to IBM's SVC microcode version 6.1.x to be fully supported by IBM. Please contact IBM for exact details and further clarification on the supportability.
 

Please Note: This information is valid on the date of writing this document. Please refer to the updated information on IBM's web site and on the most recent HCL document of Veritas Storage Foundation which is available on the SORT web site


Issue/Introduction

There is some discrepancy about the supportability of IBM SANVC (2145) with SVC firmware code 5.1.0.2 with Storage Foundation 5.1 release for AIX platform