3PAR InForm® OS 2.3.1 Concepts Guide (320-200112 Rev B, February 2010)

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3PAR InForm Software
InForm OS Version 2.3.1 3PAR InForm OS Concepts Guide
■ 3PAR Thin Conversion converts a fully-provisioned volume to a Thinly-Provisioned Virtual
Volume (TPVV). Virtual volumes with large amounts of allocated but unused space are
converted to TPVVs that are much smaller than the original volume. To use the Thin
Conversion feature you must have an InServ F-Class or T-Class Storage Server, a 3PAR Thin
Provisioning license, and a 3PAR Thin Conversion license. To learn more about 3PAR Thin
Conversion, see Chapter 12, Enhanced Storage Applications.
■ 3PAR Thin Persistence keeps InServ Thinly-Provisioned Virtual Volumes (TPVVs) small by
detecting pages of zeros during data transfers and not allocating space for the zeros. This
feature works in real-time and analyzes the data before it is written to the destination
TPVV. To use the Thin Persistence feature you must have an InServ F-Class or T-Class Storage
Server, a 3PAR Thin Provisioning license, a 3PAR Thin Conversion license, and a 3PAR Thin
Persistence license. To learn more about 3PAR Thin Persistence, see Chapter 12, Enhanced
Storage Applications.
■ 3PAR Thin Copy Reclamation reclaims space when snapshots are deleted from an InServ
Storage Server. As snapshots are deleted, the snapshot space is reclaimed from a TPVV or
fully-provisioned virtual volume and returned to the CPG for reuse by other volumes. To
learn more about 3PAR Thin Copy Reclamation, see Chapter 12, Enhanced Storage
Applications.
■ 3PAR Virtual Copy allows you to take instant virtual copy snapshots of existing volumes. It
uses copy-on-write technology so that virtual copies consume minimal capacity. Virtual
copies are presentable to any host with read and write capabilities. In addition, virtual
copies can be made from other virtual copies, providing endless flexibility for test, backup,
and business-intelligence applications. To learn more about virtual copies, see Virtual Copy
Snapshots on page 10.7.
■ 3PAR Remote Copy is a host-independent, array-based data mirroring solution that
enables affordable data distribution and disaster recovery for applications. With this
optional utility, you can copy virtual volumes from one InServ Storage Server to a second
InServ Storage Server. 3PAR Remote Copy currently requires the use of the InForm CLI. For
more information about the 3PAR Remote Copy application, see the 3PAR Remote Copy
User’s Guide.
■ 3PAR Dynamic Optimization allows you to improve the performance of virtual volumes
without interrupting access. Use this feature to avoid over provisioning for peak system
usage by optimizing the layout of your virtual volumes. With 3PAR Dynamic Optimization
you can change virtual volume parameters, RAID levels, set sizes, and disk filters by
associating the virtual volume with a new CPG. To learn more about 3PAR Dynamic
Optimization, see Chapter 12, Enhanced Storage Applications.