Specifications

Escala Tower PL & S, E, T System Hardware
Chapter 3: External Storage and SAN Subsystems 90/116
9es3s1c3.doc
Rev 5.9
02/12/2003
ASM is integrated in WebSM, and offers an easy-to-use Graphical User Interface (GUI). Multiple GUI
can be used simultaneously, on the AIX server, or on multiple distinct AIX servers and terminals. A
graphical terminal or X11 terminal is mandatory, like for any other WebSM applications. A Web
browser may be used to access a subset of ASM functionality.
The security policy is the same as the other WebSM applications. It relies on AIX and WebSM built-in
security controls. All the users can view all the information. Only root users can modify the SAN
configuration (e.g. allocate or remove storage resources for AIX servers).
Regarding the high availability aspect, a failure of ASM is fully transparent for the AIX and Windows
NT servers connected to the SAN, and for the applications using the managed SAN. Disk subsystems,
logical volumes, libraries are still available for use. Any SAN component, including servers can be
stopped and restarted or rebooted even if the SAN manager is not available. Each AIX and Windows
NT server has a local copy of its configuration data, which ensure operational continuity in case ASM
unavailability.
ASM relies on Symmetrix manager running on AIX servers to monitor the Symmetrix disk
subsystems. The Brocade switch is monitored through its built-in SNMP capabilities and no software
need to be installed on AIX servers. The PowerConsole is not a pre-requisite for ASM, but it may be
installed on a PowerConsole, and may be activated by selecting the SAN manager icon within the
PowerConsole. ASM is also independent of HA-CMP and MSCS, and can manage both standalone
AIX or Windows NT servers or clustered servers.
Restrictions for configurations where there are only Windows NT servers connected to a loop or
fabric:
•
As the discovery of the SAN topology performed on NT servers is less complete than on AIX, the
display of the topology will be poorer.
•
If no AIX server is connected to a DAS disk subsystem or Symmetrix subsystem, the monitoring
of this subsystem through the AIX SAN manager will not be operational.
7.2.2. Product’s Deployment
ASM is based on a three-tier architecture:
•
The GUI is a WebSM application. It can be installed on multiple AIX servers, not necessarily
connected to the SAN.
•
A central server, also running on AIX, consolidates all the information from the managed objects.
The server that hosts the central server is not necessarily connected to a SAN.
•
SAN Manager local host agents are installed on all the AIX and Windows NT servers connected to
the managed Storage Area Networks.
The GUI must have a TCP/IP access to the central server and to the local host agents. The central
server must also have a TCP/IP access to each local host agents, and to the managed fibre channel
switch.