Unisphere for PowerMax, Solutions Enabler 9.x: Software Unable to See New PowerMax Arrays

Due to the new array structure changes, the old 9.x software version cannot understand, nor recognize, the V4 array models. The V4 array models are PowerMax2500 and PowerMax8500.

Development focuses on N and N-1 major releases. This means that 9.x is no longer a focused release, and features are not backported to the 9.x versions. The following is available to better describe what this means:

• Version 10.x software versions are required to manage PowerMax 2500 or 8500 arrays. 
• All V4 arrays come with 10.x preinstalled on eMGMT instances.
  • 10.x is also available for standalone installations.
• For older arrays, the 10.x software is NOT available for its eMGMT instance. 
  • But 10.x can be used on standalone installations with gatekeeper communication used between the standalone instance and the older array models. 
• 10.x is compatible for all arrays running 5977.1131.1131 microcode and above.
  • Old V2 arrays and lower are not compatible with 10.x (DMX, VMAX 10K, VMAX 20K, VMAX 40K).
• NDM sessions can be performed from V3 to V4 arrays, but a 10.x instance of software is required to manage the NDM session.
• In the 9.x software, SRDF sessions show as partitioned for pairs going from V3 to V4 arrays.
  • This is because the 9.x software cannot discover the V4 array.
  • 10.x software shows the true state of the SRDF pairs.
• V3 SnapVX snapshot policies are NOT able to complete for SRDF devices replicating between a V3 and a V4 array.
  • This is because the daemons in eMGMT manage the snapshot policies, and V3 arrays cannot have 10.x software running on eMGMT. This means that the policy daemon is unable to see the V4 array side of the SRDF replication and cannot confirm the SRDF state for snapshot creation.
• V2 arrays and lower (5876.xxx uCode and lower) are not visible from the management software once upgraded to 10.x. 
  • Even if gatekeepers are presented or there is active replication to these V2 models, the 10.x software removes the V2 arrays from use.
  • Any active SRDF replication continues, but displays the pair state as Partitioned.
• SMI-S software installed with Solutions Enabler is removed with 10.x
  • This applies to both eMGMT instances and standalone instances running 10.x. Solutions Enabler automatically removes SMI-S once upgraded.
  • Fresh installations do not include SMI-S as an option during the installation.
• Dell Unisphere or Solutions Enabler vApps are discontinued with the 10.x versions and above.
  • This means that 9.x versions of Dell Unisphere, Solutions Enabler, or VASA vApps cannot upgrade to 10.x. This must be removed, and a full standalone version should be installed.
• Only eVASA is allowed for V4 arrays. 
  • This means that if VASA vApps are in use and a V4 array is added to the environment, the eVASA container must be added to the V4 array. The V4 eVASA containers must be configured to the vCenter.
• The vApp Manager pages are discontinued with 10.x. 
  • All eMGMT instances on the V4 arrays no longer have the vApp Manager. Instead, a new tab is available in Unisphere for PowerMax 10.x called "Serviceability," which adds the functionality from the vApp. 
  • The Serviceability tab allows the configuration of Solutions Enabler and the collection of logs that were previously done through the vApp Manager. 
• eNAS is not being used on V4 arrays. Software Defined NAS (SDNAS) replaces eNAS on V4 arrays.
  • 10.x is required to manage the new SDNAS software.
• CloudIQ connectivity, LDAP, Alerting, and other features not listed above continue to be part of version 10.x.