HP XP7 Owner's Guide

Connectivity
HP XP7
The HP XP7 Disk Array supports most major IBM Mainframe operating systems and Open System
operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, Oracle Solaris, IBM AIX, Linux, HP-UX, and
VMware. For more complete information on the supported operating systems, contact HP Technical
Support.
HP XP7 supports the following host interfaces. They can mix within the disk array.
• Mainframe: Fibre Channel (FICON)
• Open system: Fibre Channel
Remote Web Console
The required features for the Remote Web Console computer include operating system, available
disk space, screen resolution, CD drive, network connection, USB port, CPU, memory, browser,
Flash, and Java environment. These features are described in Chapter 1 of the HP XP7 Remote
Web Console User Guide.
High reliability
The HP XP7 disk array includes the following features that make the system extremely reliable:
• Support for RAID6 (6D+2P), RAID5 (3D+1P/7D+1P), and RAID1 (2D+2D/4D+4D) See
“Functional and operational characteristics” (page 17) for more information on RAID levels.
• All main system components are configured in redundant pairs. If one of the components in
a pair fails, the other component performs the function alone until the failed component is
replaced. Meanwhile, the disk array continues normal operation.
• The HP XP7 is designed so that it cannot lose data or configuration information if the power
fails. This is explained in “Battery backup operations” (page 67).
Non disruptive service and upgrades
The HP XP7 disk array is designed so that service and upgrades can be performed without
interrupting normal operations. These features include:
• Main components can be “hot swapped” — added, removed, and replaced without any
disruption — while the disk array is in operation. The front and rear fan assemblies can be
moved out of the way to enable access to disk drives and other components, but not both at
the same time. There is no time limit on changing disk drives because either the front or rear
fans cool the unit while the other fan assembly is turned off and moved out of the way.
• A Service Processor mounted on the controller chassis monitors the running condition of the
disk array. Connecting the SVP with a service center enables remote maintenance.
• The firmware (microcode) can be upgraded without disrupting the operation of the disk array.
The firmware is stored in shared memory (part of the cache memory module) and transferred
in a batch, reducing the number of transfers from the SVP to the controller chassis via the LAN.
This increases the speed of replacing the firmware online because it works with two or more
processors at the same time.
• The HP XP7 is designed so that it cannot lose data or configuration information if the power
fails (see “Battery backup operations” (page 67)).
Economical and quiet
The three speed fans in the control and drive chassis are thermostatically controlled. Sensors in
the units measure the temperature of the exhaust air and set the speed of the fans only as high as
necessary to maintain the unit temperature within a preset range. When the system is not busy and
Features 11

HP XP7 Specifications

General

Brand	HP
Model	XP7
Category	Storage
Language	English