20 IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Interview Questions and Answers

The IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller (SVC) is a high-performance storage system that offers many features and benefits. When interviewing for a position that requires knowledge of the SVC, you can expect to be asked questions about its capabilities, features, and benefits. Answering these questions correctly can help you demonstrate your knowledge of the SVC and improve your chances of being hired. In this article, we review some of the most commonly asked IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller interview questions.

IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller?

IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller is a storage virtualization appliance that consolidates and optimizes storage resources from multiple heterogeneous storage systems into a single logical entity. This allows for more efficient use of storage resources, and simplifies storage administration.

2. Can you explain a typical use case for the IBM SVC product?

The IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller is a storage virtualization product that can be used to aggregate and manage multiple storage arrays from a single point of control. This can be useful in a number of scenarios, such as reducing the complexity of storage management, improving storage utilization, or providing a more flexible and scalable storage infrastructure.

3. How does SVC ensure data integrity in the event of hardware failure?

SVC uses a technique called “split mirroring” to ensure data integrity in the event of hardware failure. This means that data is written to two separate storage devices at the same time, so that if one device fails, the other can be used as a backup.

4. Which host operating systems are supported by SVC?

IBM SVC supports a wide variety of host operating systems, including AIX, HP-UX, Linux, Solaris, and Windows.

5. Is it possible to use the SVC system with an existing storage environment? If yes, how?

Yes, it is possible to use the SVC system with an existing storage environment. The SVC can be connected to existing storage arrays and can manage and control the storage devices connected to it. This allows for a more centralized and efficient storage management system.

6. Can you describe the difference between internal and external cabling when using SVC?

Internal cabling is used when all of the storage devices that will be used with SVC are located within the same data center. External cabling is used when the storage devices are located in different data centers.

7. How do you create virtual disks with SVC?

You can create virtual disks with SVC by using the management GUI or CLI to create a new storage pool and then creating virtual disks within that storage pool.

8. What happens if a physical disk fails while running on SVC?

If a physical disk fails while running on SVC, the data on that disk will be lost. The system will automatically try to rebuild the data on the disk from the other disks in the system, but there is no guarantee that all of the data will be recovered.

9. What’s the best way to check whether there were any recent failures on the SVC platform?

The best way to check for recent failures on the SVC platform is to use the SVC Management GUI and look at the “Events” tab. This tab will show you a list of all the recent events that have occurred on the platform, including any failures.

10. Can you explain what RAID-0, RAID-1, and RAID-5 are as they apply to SVC?

RAID-0 is a data striping technique that is used to improve data throughput. RAID-1 is a data mirroring technique that is used to improve data availability. RAID-5 is a data striping technique with parity that is used to improve data reliability.

11. How can you monitor performance metrics with SVC?

SVC provides a number of performance monitoring tools that can be used to track the health of your storage system. The web-based GUI, SVC Manager, provides real-time monitoring of key performance indicators. The SVC Command Line Interface can be used to collect performance data for specific time periods and generate reports. Finally, the SVC REST API can be used to programmatically collect performance data and generate custom reports.

12. What is your opinion on SVC security issues?

There are definitely security concerns that need to be considered when using SVC, as with any storage system. However, I believe that the benefits of using SVC outweigh the risks, as long as the system is properly configured and monitored.

13. What is the best way to test a new setup on SVC before going live?

The best way to test a new setup on SVC before going live is to use a test or development environment that is as similar to the production environment as possible. This will allow you to test all aspects of the SVC setup and ensure that it is working properly before putting it into production.

14. Are there any limitations around volume size or number of volumes that can be created on the SVC platform?

No, there are no such limitations in place. SVC is designed to be a highly scalable and flexible storage platform, able to accommodate a wide range of volume sizes and numbers of volumes as needed.

15. How does SVC support disaster recovery scenarios?

SVC provides a number of features to support disaster recovery scenarios, including the ability to mirror data between SVC nodes, replicate data to remote systems, and create snapshots to allow for point-in-time recovery.

16. Can you explain the difference between single-site and dual-site configurations?

A single-site configuration is one in which all of the storage devices are located in the same physical location. A dual-site configuration is one in which the storage devices are located in two different physical locations. Dual-site configurations are typically used in order to provide redundancy in case of a failure at one of the sites.

17. What are some common problems encountered with SVC deployments?

Some common problems that can be encountered when deploying SVC include incorrect zoning, incorrect cabling, and incorrect firmware levels. Additionally, if the SVC is not properly sized for the environment it is being deployed in, performance issues can arise.

18. How do you resolve network disconnection errors on SVC?

If you are experiencing network disconnection errors on your IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller, there are a few potential resolutions. First, you can try restarting the SVC. If that does not work, you can try resetting the SVC to its factory default settings. Finally, if neither of those options work, you can contact IBM support for further assistance.

19. What is your opinion on management tools offered by SVC?

I believe that the management tools offered by SVC are excellent. They are very user-friendly and offer a lot of features that make managing a SAN very easy.

20. What types of environments can benefit from using SVC?

SVC can be beneficial in a number of environments, but is particularly well-suited for organizations that have a large number of storage devices spread across multiple locations. SVC can help to simplify storage management by providing a single point of control, and can also help to improve performance and availability by providing features such as storage virtualization and thin provisioning.