HP SureStore E Disk Array MC256

by Rich Bassett--CSY Lab Alex Early--CSY Product Marketing

The Hewlett-Packard SureStore E Disk Array MC256 provides high-capacity, high-speed mass storage, with continuous data availability, ease of service, scalability, and connectivity. The disk array can be connected to multiple server systems. The HP 3000 supports the MC256 through Fast-wide SCSI connections. The disk array can have up to 32 SCSI ports. It can be directly connected to the HP 3000 or connected via the SCSI-Fibre Channel Router for distances up to 10km.

The disk array is the first RAID disk array to truly provide continuous data availability. It is designed for nonstop operation and continuous access to all user data. The disk array has no active single point of component failure. It is not expected to fail in anyway that would interrupt user access to data. The MC256 is easily configured on the HP 3000.

Announcing Support of the HP SureStore E Disk Array MC256

The following is a summary of site, software and hardware requirements for support of the HP SureStore E Disk Array MC256. Device installation and support is to be provided by HP. For detail information on the support and configuration of MC256, refer customers to the Operating System Configuration Guide (A5701-90910). Support of MC256 product will have the following general restrictions:

Support will only be allowed on a dedicated SCSI bus, with no other types of devices (homogeneous bus environment).
Daisy-chaining of two or more MC256 units are not supported.
Maximum of 15 LDEVs per SCSI bus (Maximum of 8 LDEVs for performance)
NOTE: Having 9 or more LDEVs configured will cause performance degeneration under high I/O loads.
No support for shared SCSI busses.
F/W SCSI Device Adapter Card (28696A, known as "Wizard") firmware MUST be at level 3728 or greater.
9x9 Core I/O card (A2372-60004 or A3453-60010, known as "Mustang") will be conditionally supported with the following restrictions:
- Must disconnect all internal F/W SCSI drives.
- Must have firmware level of 3636.
- Up to 8 LDEVs will be supported (Tested limit).
LDEV 1 boot will have the following conditions:
- ONLINE HOT replacement of FRUs is supported with the exception of microcode downloading, online memory replacements, disk adapter replacements.
- Only RAID 1 is support for LDEV 1.
- Microcode down-loading, online memory replacements and disk adapter replacements must be performed with no jobs or sessions logged on.
- LDEV 1 capacity limited to 4 Gbytes (due to NIO IODC limits).

MC256 has certified this disk to operate with the following MPE/iX Releases:

MPE/iX 5.5 PowerPatch 7 + KXL9 or MPE/iX 6.0 PowerPatch 1 + KXL9

Support on 5.5 and 6.0 will have the following restrictions:

No logging to the host of any vendor unique error codes. These codes are used to identify any hardware component (FRU) that has failed. For example, the failure of a fan inside the device would be reported as a FRU error.
SYSMAP will identify the MC256 device as non-supported.
No predictive support.
SYSGEN product ID is "HPDARRAY".
MC256 microcode revision level B++(rev 36) or later is required. Host mode table should be set to 08.
Target address support only (Multi- LUN support available on request)

An additional requirement for support is that each MC256 will have a telephone modem connected for remote access. Normally, the MC256 will call HP support when it detects any errors. SCSIDSK2 can be used on the MC256 to validate access to the device. For information on support, see the HP support plan.

HP SureStore E Disk Array MC256

Technical documentation

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Announcing Support of the HP SureStore E Disk Array MC256