Release Information for IBM FlashSystem Plug-In for Veeam Backup & Replication

The following is a list of known major issues for IBM FlashSystem Plug-In for Veeam Backup & Replication.

For IBM Spectrum Virtualize 8.7.1 and later:

• The vendor no longer supports Metro Mirror, Global Mirror, and HyperSwap features. As a result, the replication feature is unavailable in Veeam Backup & Replication. You can configure backup and snapshot creation only for the primary storage array.
  
  For existing backup jobs that use the replication feature, ensure that the "Failover to primary storage snapshot" option is enabled. Alternatively, you can remove the replication feature at the Secondary Target step of the wizard or create new backup jobs.
  
  If you need the replication feature, use IBM Spectrum Virtualize versions prior to 8.7.1.

For IBM Spectrum Virtualize 8.4.2 and later with iSCSI connectivity:

• During backup from storage snapshots and storage rescan, storage snapshot export to a proxy is required. If the default proxy is used, Veeam Backup & Replication creates a service host with the "VeeamAUX" prefix in the default portset of the storage system. If you want to send traffic using a custom portset, you can manually specify the required portset in the service host settings. If another proxy is used, check that the host that performs the proxy role has the required port set in the host settings.

For IBM Spectrum Virtualize 8.5.0 and earlier:

• Before adding the storage system to the backup infrastructure, ensure that a license for the IBM Spectrum Virtualize storage system supports IBM FlashCopy.

For IBM Spectrum Virtualize 8.5.1 and later:

• Volume snapshot functionality can cause node warmstarts on IBM Spectrum Virtualize 8.5.1 and later. This issue occurs if the account used to connect to the storage system in Veeam Backup & Replication is a member of an ownership group on the storage system. The problem is due to a known IBM issue (SVAPAR-138214).
  To avoid warmstarts, use an Administrator account that is not a member of the ownership group. Alternatively, you can switch to IBM FlashCopy by setting a registry value. For more information, contact Veeam Customer Support.
• For FlashSystem models that support storage volume snapshot technology, Veeam Backup & Replication automatically uses that functionality, which does not require license support for IBM FlashCopy.
  
  Once a storage volume snapshot is created (with or without Veeam Backup & Replication), FlashCopies—including policy-based Safeguarded backups created with third-party software—are blocked from being created. However, it remains possible to restore from previously created FlashCopies. If needed, you can continue working with FlashCopy by setting a registry value available from Veeam Customer Support. Note that setting this registry value would require removing all storage volume snapshots.

IBM FlashSystem Plug-In for Veeam Backup & Replication [2.0.26] - 2024-08-28

Requirements

Before installing IBM FlashSystem Plug-In v2.0.26, ensure that you are running Veeam Backup & Replication 12.2, 12.3, 12.3.1, or 12.3.2 (version 13+ not supported by this plug-in version). You can check the build number in the Veeam Backup & Replication Console's Main Menu (≡) under Help > About.

IBM FlashSystem Plug-In v2.0.26 supports integration with the following storage systems:

• IBM FlashSystem (formerly Spectrum Virtualize, includes IBM StorWize and IBM SVC) running IBM Spectrum Virtualize OS version 8.2 or later

Follow detailed instructions on configuring the IBM FlashSystem Plug-in and the storage system in the Veeam Backup & Replication Storage System Snapshot Integration Guide: Configuring Storage Systems.

What's New

• This independent plug-in implements a full functionality set previously built into Veeam Backup & Replication.
  For details, please review: Veeam Backup & Replication Storage System Snapshot Integration Guide: VMware Integration.

Known Issues

The following is a list of known major issues for IBM FlashSystem Plug-In for Veeam Backup & Replication.

For IBM Spectrum Virtualize 8.7.1 and later:

• The vendor no longer supports Metro Mirror, Global Mirror, and HyperSwap features. As a result, the replication feature is unavailable in Veeam Backup & Replication. You can configure backup and snapshot creation only for the primary storage array.
  
  For existing backup jobs that use the replication feature, ensure that the "Failover to primary storage snapshot" option is enabled. Alternatively, you can remove the replication feature at the Secondary Target step of the wizard or create new backup jobs.
  
  If you need the replication feature, use IBM Spectrum Virtualize versions prior to 8.7.1.

For IBM Spectrum Virtualize 8.4.2 and later with iSCSI connectivity:

• During backup from storage snapshots and storage rescan, storage snapshot export to a proxy is required. If the default proxy is used, Veeam Backup & Replication creates a service host with the "VeeamAUX" prefix in the default portset of the storage system. If you want to send traffic using a custom portset, you can manually specify the required portset in the service host settings. If another proxy is used, check that the host that performs the proxy role has the required port set in the host settings.

For IBM Spectrum Virtualize 8.5.0 and earlier:

• Before adding the storage system to the backup infrastructure, ensure that a license for the IBM Spectrum Virtualize storage system supports IBM FlashCopy.

For IBM Spectrum Virtualize 8.5.1 and later:

• Volume snapshot functionality can cause node warmstarts on IBM Spectrum Virtualize 8.5.1 and later. This issue occurs if the account used to connect to the storage system in Veeam Backup & Replication is a member of an ownership group on the storage system. The problem is due to a known IBM issue (SVAPAR-138214).
  To avoid warmstarts, use an Administrator account that is not a member of the ownership group. Alternatively, you can switch to IBM FlashCopy by setting a registry value. For more information, contact Veeam Customer Support.
• For FlashSystem models that support storage volume snapshot technology, Veeam Backup & Replication automatically uses that functionality, which does not require license support for IBM FlashCopy.
  
  Once a storage volume snapshot is created (with or without Veeam Backup & Replication), FlashCopies—including policy-based Safeguarded backups created with third-party software—are blocked from being created. However, it remains possible to restore from previously created FlashCopies. If needed, you can continue working with FlashCopy by setting a registry value available from Veeam Customer Support. Note that setting this registry value would require removing all storage volume snapshots.