IBM XIV Storage System Architecture and Implementation

This IBM® Redbooks® publication describes the concepts, architecture, and implementation of the IBM XIV® Storage System.

The XIV Storage System is a scalable enterprise storage system that is based on a grid array of hardware components. It can attach to both Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) and IP network Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) capable hosts. This system is a good fit for clients who want to be able to grow capacity without managing multiple tiers of storage. The XIV Storage System is suited for mixed or random access workloads, including online transaction processing, video streamings, images, email, and emerging workload areas, such as Web 2.0 and cloud storage.

The focus of this edition is on the XIV Gen3 running Version 11.5 of the XIV system software, which brings enhanced value for the XIV Storage System in cloud environments. It offers multitenancy support, VMware vCloud Suite integration, more discrete performance classes, and RESTful API enhancements that expand cloud automation integration. Version 11.5 introduces support for three-site mirroring to provide high availability and disaster recovery. It also enables capacity planning through the Hyper-Scale Manager, mobile push notifications for real-time alerts, and enhanced security.