Optical Virtualization - IBM I VIRTUALIZATION - READ ME FIRST 7-9-2010 Manual

client partition, an additional pair of virtual SCSI server (VIOS) and client (IBM i) adapters must be
created in the HMC or on the IVM/VIOS command line. Additional LUNs available in VIOS can
then be linked to the new vhostX device through vtscsiX devices, making them available to IBM i.
Prior to May 2009, creating vtscsiX devices and thus virtualizing open storage LUNs to IBM i was
necessarily a task performed only on the IVM/VIOS command line when the server was HMC-
managed. When the server is IVM-managed, assignment of virtual resources is performed using
the IVM browser-based interface. However, the HMC interface has been significantly
enhanced, making the use of the IVM/VIOS command line rare. Once available in VIOS,
open storage LUNs and optical devices can be assigned to IBM i using the following steps in the
HMC:
•
Select the correct managed server
•
In the menu below, expand Configuration, then Virtual Resources
•
Click Virtual Storage Management
•
Select the correct VIOS in the drop-down menu and click Query VIOS
•
Click the Physical Volumes (or Optical Devices for optical resources)
•
Select the correct LUN(s) or optical device(s) and click Modify assignment... to assign
to IBM i
If the QAUTOCFG system value in IBM i is set to "1" (which is the default), the new virtual
resources will become available in IBM i immediately. No steps are required on the IVM/VIOS
command line.
8.2.3. Adding devices to VIOS
VIOS does not autoscan for new devices added after the initial boot is complete. When a new
device – such as a LUN on a storage subsystem – is added to VIOS, prompt VIOS to scan for
new devices by connecting with Telnet or SSH and using the following command:
•
cfgdev
Once it has detected the device, VIOS will autoconfigure it and make it available for use. It can
then be virtualized to the IBM i client partition using the HMC, as described in the previous
section. Note that if the SAN configuration is performed before the VIOS partition boots, this step
is not necessary, as VIOS will recognize all available devices at boot time.

8.3. Optical virtualization

8.3.1. Physical optical devices
CD and DVD drives supported by VIOS can be virtualized to IBM i directly. Optical drives are
recognized in VIOS as cdX devices. A cdX device is linked to a vhostX virtual SCSI server
adapter and made available to IBM i through a virtual target optical device, vtoptX. The same
optical drive can be made virtualized to multiple IBM i client partitions by creating separate vtoptX
devices linked to different vhostX adapters for the same cdX device. Only one IBM i client
partition can use the physical optical drive at a time. If the physical optical drive is writeable, IBM
i will be able to write to it. Similar to LUNs, optical devices can be virtualized to IBM i using the
enhanced functions of the HMC; it is not necessary to use the IVM/VIOS command line to create
the vtoptX devices.
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