From: Barnhart, Troy (TBarnhart@RCRH.ORG)
Date: Wed Mar 17 2004 - 10:51:42 EST
We run FastT700's w/ McData Sphereon 4500's AND a STK Bladestore.
(Our Hospital's Radiology Department runs AGFA's PACS and images are stored
on a FastT700 (live data) and a Bladestore (long term disk storage)).
>From my understanding - the Bladestore's and the FastT's use the identical
LSI Logic controllers.
I understand how the alerting functions could overwhelm someone. It took
us a long time to figure out many aspects - especially small items related
to having W2k, Linux, AIX, and SUN connected simultaneously to the FastT's
and Bladestores. (The actual storage manager is different between IBM and STK,
but underlying functions are nearly identical.)
The main things we've run into are the following:
1) HBA's bios/flash & OS-related driver version levels.
2) Storage Controller bios/flash version level.
3) Failover drivers in the different OS's (each OS is different.)
4) Zone configurations and Connections in your fibre switches.
5) Storage Manager application version level.
fyi,
troy
Troy Barnhart, Sr. Systems Programmer,
tbarnhart@rcrh.org
Rapid City Regional Hospital,
Rapid City, South Dakota, 57701
ph: 605-719-8068 / fax: 605-719-4206
-----Original Message-----
From: Jason delaFuente [mailto:jason.delafuente@GBE.COM]
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 7:42 AM
To: aix-l@Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: StorageTek BladeStore B150
Just for the record if you do look for another vendor we have had
very good results with McData for our switches and IBM for our
storage subsystems. We are in STL also so if you want any contact
info let me know.
Jason de la Fuente
>>> JKREMBLAS@REDHEARTGIFTS.COM 03/16/04 08:44PM >>>
Todd,
The best thing I can recommend to you and your boss is to
document everything and forward the documentation to your CIO, CFO, and
legal department for action. This is the best remedy, but, then again, I
don't know how your contract is written. The better that the CIO, CFO,
and legal are aware of the issues you and your boss are up against, the
better armed your company will be creating leverage when it comes times
to pay the bill. But again, it depends on how your contract is written.
Not all contracts are boiler-plate/standard contracts. Everything is
negotiable. It goes without saying that if STK still is holding you
hostage and still not doing the right thing, then chalk it up as lessons
learned and seek another vendor immediately! There is no shame in a bad
decision. What's important is getting back on the right track as quickly
and as quietly as possible. (I believe this is written in the ancient
system administrator rule book of the sage.)
Equally important is to talk with your salesperson who sold you
the product and service. He/she may solve the problem immediately. They
have a vested interest in as their customer. Call your salesperson
immediately and explain the problem. The problem may go away at this
level. I would still advise the CIO, CFO, and legal of the issue with
this vendor.
I hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Joseph Kremblas
-----Original Message-----
From: IBM AIX Discussion List [mailto:aix-l@Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of
Willeat, Todd
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 4:57 PM
To: aix-l@Princeton.EDU
Subject: StorageTek BladeStore B150
Hi all,
I'm looking for anyone that has experience with this particular storage
system. We have one that my boss purchased against my recommendation,
and it is a nightmare. I have yet to use it because it continues to have
hardware failures and sends numerous critical alert messages for things
that STK Support say are not really errors. So far, STK has not been
very helpful in fixing our issues. My boss would like me to find other
people that have had problems with it to help prove our case to STK.
Have you had any problems you'd be willing to share? Do you know anyone
else willing to share any bad experiences?
Thank you!
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