Itzikr's Blog

We have just released what I call a “major – minor version” which is basically a release focuses on small enhancements plus bug fixes

New Features and Changes in XIOS Ver. 6.2.1-36

This section describes the following new features and changes that are introduced in this software version.

They include:

• X2-R FIPS Support
  
• Metadata-Aware Replication Improvements
  
  • Bandwidth Limitation per Session
    
  • Network Troubleshooting
    

X2-R FIPS Support

XtremIO X2-R cluster type now supports FIPS certified drives.

Metadata-Aware Replication Improvements

• Bandwidth Limitation per Session
  

XtremIO X2 Bandwidth Limitation per Session allows the user to limit the transferred bandwidth per protection session.

• Network Troubleshooting
  

XtremIO X2 Network Troubleshooting allows the user to verify connectivity to a remote cluster.

New Features and Changes in XMS Ver. 6.2.1-36

New/Updated CLI Commands

The following XMCLI commands were introduced or updated in Version 6.2.1, to enhance support of the Native Replication feature.

Fixed Issues in XIOS Ver. 6.2.1-36

General Fixed Issues

Cluster and Hardware Upgrade Fixed Issues

Native Replication Fixed Issues

NR Improvements – Session QoS

XtremApp 6.2.0 introduced the QoS feature that was able to limit a specific volume’s, CG’s or initiator group’s performance.

This code version introduces an additional QoS mechanism that allows the user to limit the bandwidth of a specific replication session.

By doing that, the user can control his WAN’s utilization.

A remote protection session can be limited upon creating or while its already running

Enabling or disabling this feature isn’t disruptive and does not require pausing the replication session

Note that limiting a remote protection session’s bandwidth may prevent the user from meeting his RPO target

NR Improvements – Session QoS – Internal Implementation

Although this feature has many similarities to the QoS feature, it’s implementation is quite different.

For QoS, the component originating the I/O operation is the host, and therefore, the system cannot assume which R module receives I/O operations and how the load distributes.

To overcome this difficulty, the QoS mechanism is implemented in the R modules, and is dynamic depending on which paths the host sends I/O to.

When talking about native replication, the component originating the I/O operation is the C module.

Each C module has to perform a snap DIFF on an equal subset of a CG and transfer it.

As the assumption is that all C modules have the same amount of work – the system will divide the allowed bandwidth equally between C modules.

C modules will then push a limited amount of data to R modules – Eventually resulting with the expected bandwidth

If a Storage Controller fails, C module bandwidth limitation is updated by the SYM and these start to push more I/O to R modules – Resulting in the expected performance.

Although a user limits a bandwidth of a session, we do not commit to reaching that limitation as the environment may prevent it from doing so:

1. The WAN could be saturated
2. The cluster may be busy performing other operations
3. etc.

Security Fixed Issues

Fixed Issues in XMS Ver. 6.2.1-36

General Fixed Issues

WebUI Fixed Issues

WebUI Improvements – New “Reset Password” button

A new WebUI API exposes the option of regenerating CHAP credentials for IP links

This functionality is already part of the XMCLI

WebUI Improvements – Ethernet interface Properties

The WebUI allows modifying a specific Ethernet port’s:

• Port type (iSCSI/Replication)
  
• MTU
  

To access this UI – On the top toolbar hit the “Settings” gear icon > Navigate to “Cluster Settings” > “Interfaces”

Note that the cluster’s defined MTU is a general setting that applies to all iSCSI ports – However, this setting allows you to override a specific port’s setting.

WebUI Improvements – Navigate with Selection

“Navigate With Selection” drop down menu should be offered in the following screens:

• Volume > Navigate to related: Alerts, Events, Data Protection, and Reports
  
• CG > Navigate to related: Alerts, Events, Data Protection, and Reports
  
• Snapshot Set > Navigate to related: Alerts and Events
  
• Initiator Group > Navigate to related: Alerts, Events, and Reports
  
• Initiator > Navigate to related: Alerts, Events, and Reports
  

WebUI Improvements – Easy QoS Policy Assignment

• Repurpose Copy
  
• Optimized Workflow
  
  • Offer QoS Upon Creation
    

  WebUI Improvements – Consistency Group improvements
  

A Consistency Group has a new “Management Locked” attribute.

This attribute defines whether all of this CG’s volumes are “Management Locked”:

• If all of the CG volumes are set as “Management Locked” – The CG is set to “Management Locked”
  
• If only a partial subset or none of the CG Volumes are set as “Management Locked” – The CG is not set to “Management Locked”
  

As a reminder – Once an object is set as “Management Locked”:

• It cannot be deleted
  
• It cannot be refreshed with data of another volume
  
• It cannot be restored to the data of another volume
  

Note that a CG is set to “Management Locked” can still be deleted (this operation will not delete the volumes inside the CG nor remove their “Management Locked” attribute)

WebUI Improvements – Volume Mapping improvements

• Better User Experience
  
• Optimized Flows
  
  • Vol > IG
    
  • CG/SS > IG
    

IG > Vol/CG

The “Mapping” UI was enhanced to display data in a more intuitive way:

• The “Source” objects (the object the user decided to map) appears on the left of the UI
  
• The “Target” object (the object that the “source” maps to) appears on the right of the UI
  
• The specific “Mapping” appears in the middle (including each specific mapping and LUN ID
  

Here is an example for when a user reaches the “Mapping” UI via selecting a volume:

• Source is the selected volume
  
• Target is the list of Initiator Groups (with relevant filters)
  
• Mapping shows the link between the specified volume and each IG including it’s LUN ID
  

Other optimized flows are:

• Mapping a Consistency Group or Snapshot Set – Where the “CG” is the Source and “Initiator Groups” are the Target
  

Mapping an Initiator Group to a Volume, CG, or Snapshot Set – Where the “Volume”, “CG”, or “Snapshot Set” are the Source and “Initiator Groups” are the Target

WebUI Improvements – “Right Click” integration

The WebUI allows using a mouse “Right Click” to easily perform management activities in the:

• “Configuration” User Interface
  
• “Data Protection” User Interface
  

The menu will offer all management activities except “Tagging” related actions

WebUI Improvements – Snapshot Set Deletion improvements

Deleting multiple protection session snapshot sets takes place when a user doesn’t require irrelevant data or wants to free up space in his DR site.

To reduce repetitive snapshot set deletion operations – The UI offers a new option of deleting all snapshot sets taken within a given timeframe.

This operation can only be performed via WebUI.

WebUI Improvements – Browser Compatibility

WebUI Improvements – New Screen Resolution Support

• 1920 X 1080
  
  • Wide Screen
    
• 1366 X 768
  

12.5″ Laptop

CloudIQ Fixed Issues

Native Replication Fixed Issues

Security Fixed Issues

Cluster and Hardware Upgrade Fixed Issues

AppSync Fixed Issues

AppSync integration Improvements

VM Exclusion: Provide the ability to exclude/include VMs from service plan execution. There should be a new button in the Service Plans tab titled “Include/Exclude VMs”.

Provide an expandable Advanced setting in the screen above, which displays toggle between:

• Include all newly created Virtual Machines as VM Consistent copies. – DEFAULT
  
• Exclude all newly created Virtual Machines as VM Consistent copies
  

Include a retry option after a failed attempt to add AppSync Server. In case of unsuccessful registration, the input window should not disappear and all inputs should be preserved so user can adjust.

Provide ability to protect multiple datastores in one operation. The Datastores Tab →All & Protected should allow multi selection of multiple datastores, with the ability to select Protect: Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Run Now