HP StorageWorks 1606 HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 6.3.0 release notes (5697-0358, - Page 21

Important notes, DCFM compatibility, EFCM and FM compatibility, Fabric OS compatibility

Page 21 highlights

Important notes This section contains information that you should consider before you use this Fabric OS release. DCFM compatibility Fabric OS 6.3.0 is fully compatible with DCFM 10.3.x management software. DCFM is a comprehensive SAN management application that enables end-to-end management of HP B-series data center fabrics. It is the next-generation product and the successor to existing B-series management products, including HP StorageWorks Fabric Manager (FM) and Enterprise Fabric Connectivity Manager (EFCM). DCFM is available in three versions: • DCFM Professional-An application bundled with B-series switches that is ideally suited for smalland medium-size businesses that need a lightweight management product to manage their smaller fabrics (one physical fabric at a time, up to 1,000 ports). • DCFM Professional Plus-A SAN management application designed for medium-size businesses to manage up to four physical fabrics (FOS, M-EOS, and mixed fabrics) and up to 2,560 switch ports. DCFM Professional Plus supports Brocade director products (for example, DC04 SAN Director and 4/256, but not DC SAN Backbone Director), FC switches, FCIP switches, FCR switches/Integrated Routing (IR) capabilities, FCoE/Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) switches, and Brocade HBAs. Enterprise-class customers who want to manage departmental SANs can consider deploying this product. • DCFM Enterprise-An application designed for enterprise-class customers that provides unparalleled performance and scalability (24 physical fabrics, up to 9,000 switch ports). DCFM Enterprise configures and manages DC SAN Backbone Directors, along with other B-series directors, routers, switches, and HBAs. DCFM Enterprise is required to manage FICON fabrics, and fabrics with the DC SAN Backbone Director. Existing EFCM and FM customers that have active Maintenance and Support contracts are provided a seamless migration path to DCFM Enterprise. EFCM and FM compatibility With the introduction of DCFM, both EFCM and FM have been put into sustaining mode. Consequently, neither EFCM nor FM are qualified or supported for management of switches operating with FOS v6.3.x firmware. Significant compatibility issues have been found between Fabric Manager and Fabric OS v6.3.x ,including (but not limited to) compromised functionality in the zoning dialog and performance graphs, port enabling/disabling, and FICON wizard. HP strongly recommends that customers consider migrating from these products to DCFM Enterprise. Fabric OS compatibility Table 1 on page 14 lists the earliest versions of software supported in this release, that is, the earliest supported software versions that interoperate. HP recommends using the latest software versions to get the greatest benefit from the SAN. When using the new Virtual Fabrics (VF) feature, HP recommends that all switches participating in a fabric with a logical switch use the latest firmware available. All switches must be operating at the minimum firmware levels noted in the Fabric OS Interoperability table. When using either the Encryption SAN Switch or DC Switch Encryption FC Blade, switches that are attached to hosts and targets or that are part of the encryption flow must operate at the following minimum levels: HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 6.3.0 release notes 21

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Important notes
This section contains information that you should consider before you use this Fabric OS release.
DCFM compatibility
Fabric OS 6.3.0 is fully compatible with DCFM 10.3.x management software. DCFM is a
comprehensive SAN management application that enables end-to-end management of HP B-series
data center fabrics. It is the next-generation product and the successor to existing B-series management
products, including HP StorageWorks Fabric Manager (FM) and Enterprise Fabric Connectivity
Manager (EFCM).
DCFM is available in three versions:
DCFM Professional
An application bundled with B-series switches that is ideally suited for small-
and medium-size businesses that need a lightweight management product to manage their smaller
fabrics (one physical fabric at a time, up to 1,000 ports).
DCFM Professional Plus
A SAN management application designed for medium-size businesses
to manage up to four physical fabrics (FOS, M-EOS, and mixed fabrics) and up to 2,560 switch
ports. DCFM Professional Plus supports Brocade director products (for example, DC04 SAN Dir-
ector and 4/256, but not DC SAN Backbone Director), FC switches, FCIP switches, FCR
switches/Integrated Routing (IR) capabilities, FCoE/Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) switches,
and Brocade HBAs. Enterprise-class customers who want to manage departmental SANs can
consider deploying this product.
DCFM Enterprise
An application designed for enterprise-class customers that provides unparalleled
performance and scalability (24 physical fabrics, up to 9,000 switch ports). DCFM Enterprise
configures and manages DC SAN Backbone Directors, along with other B-series directors, routers,
switches, and HBAs. DCFM Enterprise is required to manage FICON fabrics, and fabrics with the
DC SAN Backbone Director. Existing EFCM and FM customers that have active Maintenance and
Support contracts are provided a seamless migration path to DCFM Enterprise.
EFCM and FM compatibility
With the introduction of DCFM, both EFCM and FM have been put into sustaining mode. Consequently,
neither EFCM nor FM are qualified or supported for management of switches operating with FOS
v6.3.x firmware. Significant compatibility issues have been found between Fabric Manager and
Fabric OS v6.3.x ,including (but not limited to) compromised functionality in the zoning dialog and
performance graphs, port enabling/disabling, and FICON wizard. HP strongly recommends that
customers consider migrating from these products to DCFM Enterprise.
Fabric OS compatibility
Table 1
on page 14 lists the earliest versions of software supported in this release, that is, the earliest
supported software versions that interoperate. HP recommends using the latest software versions to
get the greatest benefit from the SAN.
When using the new Virtual Fabrics (VF) feature, HP recommends that all switches participating in a
fabric with a logical switch use the latest firmware available. All switches must be operating at the
minimum firmware levels noted in the Fabric OS Interoperability table.
When using either the Encryption SAN Switch or DC Switch Encryption FC Blade, switches that are
attached to hosts and targets or that are part of the encryption flow must operate at the following
minimum levels:
HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 6.3.0 release notes
21