sunflash-Distributed to mailing list sunflash@suntri sunflash-Send requests and problem reports to owner-sunflash@suntri.east.sun.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Online: DiskSuite 2.0 SunFLASH Vol 53 #16 May 1993 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- **************************************************************************** * * * - Online: DiskSuite 2.0, the most complete and robust UNIX * * disk mirroring product, is now available on Solaris 2.1 * * and later releases * * * * - Configurations: * * SPARCserver 1000 and SPARCcenter 2000 are now supported * * as well as all SPARC systems * * * **************************************************************************** On May 11, 1993 Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC) announced the availability and pricing of Online: DiskSuite(TM) 2.0, along with an upgrade from DiskSuite 1.0. Pricing is unchanged from previous releases. Online: DiskSuite provides high data availability for demanding commercial and technical applications. Using the mirroring features of Online: DiskSuite, data is available to applications and users despite failures of controllers or disk devices. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION ------------------- Online: DiskSuite provides three key capabilities: 1) Disk mirroring for data availability 2) Data striping across disks and controllers for higher I/O throughput 3) Support for creation and extension of UNIX(R) file systems larger than 2 GB Limitations in the previous release have been removed. The number of configured "meta-devices" can be increased simply by changing a configuration file and rebooting. Sizes of stripes and concatenations can be changed dynamically at runtime. PRODUCT POSITIONING ------------------- Online: DiskSuite is the most complete and robust UNIX mirroring product. It includes features not normally found in mirroring products--such as the ability to mirror raw partitions, system disks, and a unique "hot spares" capability which prevents data corruption in the event of compound failures. Online: DiskSuite protects against single and compound failures of disk controllers and drives. Online: DiskSuite is a software only product that provides RAID levels 0 (Striping) and 1 (Mirroring). Online: DiskSuite has the advantage of a lower initial and incremental cost when compared to a hardware RAID system. FEATURES AND BENEFITS --------------------- Features Benefits -------- -------- Disk mirroring Applications and data are still available transparently despite failures of individual disk drives or controllers Mirrors raw partitions as well as Can be used with DBMS (raw) partitions UNIX file system partitions Ability to mirror system devices Even system disk failures do not (/ and /usr file systems) interrupt work Hot spares capability Ensures multiple copies of data even in event of compound failures Disk striping Boosts I/O throughput for sequential access to large files Create UNIX file systems larger Administration is easier: than 2 GB UNIX file systems can be expanded without re-formatting Licensing --------- The licensing model is similar to that of Solaris(R) 2 system software: - Uniprocessor systems - Multiprocessor systems This is different from the DiskSuite 1.0 licensing model which was Desktop and Server options. Online: DiskSuite 2.0 uses neither floating licenses nor any form of license assurance. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ------------------- Minimal Configuration: Online: DiskSuite 2.0 runs on any SPARC(R)-processor based system with at least 16 MB of main memory and at least two free disk partitions. Typical configurations are 32 MB RAM, 1+ GB of disk space, and 2 or more disk drives. Maximum Configuration: Online: DiskSuite 2.0 is flexibly configurable. The software will support the largest SPARCcenter(TM) 2000 and SPARCserver(TM) 1000 configurations with the maximum amount of configured disks. Limitations on the number of configurable meta-devices in the previous release of Online: DiskSuite have been removed. Online: DiskSuite is supported on Solaris 2.1 and Solaris 2.2 releases. Online: DiskSuite is a software only product that is independent of controller or drive hardware. It works with SCSI, IPI, and SMD controllers from Sun. The Online: DiskSuite software is 1.5 MB in size. The AnswerBook(TM) documentation is 2.0 MB in size. LOCALIZATION ------------ Online: DiskSuite 2.0 provides English language messages and prompts. AVAILABILITY ------------ Online: DiskSuite 2.0 is orderable now and will begin shipping for SMCC on May 24, 1993. Online: DiskSuite 1.0 will continue to be available for shipment with Solaris 1 orders for those customers needing to order configurations with prior releases of the Solaris system software. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ------------------- Q: What's new in the Online: DiskSuite 2.0 from previous releases? A: Online: DiskSuite 2.0 is a Solaris 2 port; the functionality is largely the same. DiskSuite 2.0 has been improved for use on very large hardware configurations such as the SPARCcenter 2000 and SPARCserver 1000. There is no longer a hard software limit on the numbers of meta-devices (partitions) configurable. DiskSuite 2.0 supports the SPARCcenter 2000 and SPARCserver 1000 with the maximum number of physically configured disk devices. The meta-level driver in DiskSuite 2.0 is now multi-threaded for scalable I/O performance on multiprocessor systems. Installation has also been simplified; building a new kernel is no longer needed. And finally, online documentation is included in AnswerBook format. Q: What steps are needed to upgrade a configuration to DiskSuite 2.0? A: Configuration files and formats for metadevices (partitions) were changed in DiskSuite 2.0 to provide new features. Device and file names were also revised for consistency with the Solaris 2 environment. For systems running DiskSuite 1.0 and Solaris 1.X the following recommendation applies as a results: Users *must* dump to tape filesystems created with DiskSuite 1.0, upgrade to Solaris 2 and install DiskSuite 2.0, reconfigure the state databases and metadevices using DiskSuite 2.0, then newfs and restore the filesystems. [This is *different* from the recommendation for UNIX filesystems created on SunOS 4.1.X and later upgraded to Solaris 2; they can be mounted safely by Solaris 2 systems without a required dump-and-restore operation.] Q: Does disk striping increase I/O throughput in all cases? A: No, performance increases from striping depends on both the application and the configuration. If the application does sequential I/O on large files, then striping can increase throughput. If the application does random I/O or only accesses a small amount of data then striping doesn't help. If the configuration spreads the I/O across several controllers or disk then striping will increase throughput across controllers and spindles. Striping on only one controller or disk will tend to cause bottlenecks within the hardware string. Q: Is Online: DiskSuite supported with Prestoserve? A: The combined use of Online: DiskSuite and NV-RAM NVSIMM Prestoserve will be tested and supported with Solaris 2.2. Use of NVRAM-NVSIMM Prestoserve together with Online: DiskSuite can increase NFS(R) write throughput by as much as 400% compared to an unaccelerated NFS-mounted mirrored disk. However, use of NV-RAM NVSIMM Prestoserve in high availability configurations can introduce a potential single point of failure. Users should make a considered decision whether they value overall increased NFS write thoughput of mirrored data more highly than the assurances of a configuration with no single point of failure. U.S. PRICING AND ORDERING INFORMATION ------------------------------------- THESE PRODUCTS APPEAR IN BOTH THE END USER AND RESELLER PRICE LISTS Order List Discount SunSpectrum S/W Description Number Price Category Enhancements ================================================================================= Online: DiskSuite for Solaris 2.x: CD-ROM, online and hardcopy documentation, and single-system license for: Uniprocessor systems ODS-U-P $1000 A $25 Multiprocessor systems ODS-M-P $2500 A $55 Single-system license no media or documentation: Uniprocessor systems ODS-U-L $800 A $25 Multiprocessor systems ODS-M-L $2300 A $55 UPGRADES -------- Upgrade from DiskSuite 1.0 ODS-PF $500 A $25/$55 CD-ROM, online and hardcopy documentation and single-system license for either uniprocessor or multiprocessor systems running a DiskSuite 1.0 version Uniprocessor to Multiprocessor ODS-M-LF $1500 A $55 Upgrade for DiskSuite 2.0 Single-system license no media or documentation (c) 1993 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation, Online: DiskSuite, Solaris, AnswerBook, and NFS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All SPARC trademarks, including the SCD Compliant Logo, are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. SPARCcenter and SPARCserver are licensed exclusively to Sun Microsystems, Inc. Products bearing the SPARC trademark are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX Systems,Laboratories, Inc. All other product or service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu, ftp.uu.net, sunsite.unc.edu, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. Send brief articles (e.g. third party announcements) and include contact information (non-800#, fax #, email, etc) to: John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@Sun.COM. +1 305 351 4909