If you have a DE2000H or DE4000H storage array with SFP+ (optical) host ports, you can change the host port protocol from Fibre Channel (FC) to iSCSI or from iSCSI to FC.

You can change the protocol used by the host ports built into the controller (baseboard host ports), the protocol used by the host ports on the host interface card (HIC ports), or the protocol of all host ports.

Step 1: Determine whether you have dual-protocol SFPs

Use ThinkSystem System Manager to determine what type of SFP transceivers you have. Because these SFPs can be used with both FC and iSCSI protocols, they are referred to as dual-protocol or unified SFPs.

Steps
  1. From ThinkSystem System Manager, select Support.

  2. Select the Support Center tile.

  3. On the Support Resources tab, locate and select the Storage Array Profile link.

  4. Type SFP in the text box, and click Find.

  5. For each SFP listed in the Storage Array Profile, locate the entry for Supported data rate(s).

    sam1130 ss e2800 unified spf maint e2800
  6. Refer to the table to determine whether you can reuse the SFPs, as follows:

    Supported data rate(s) SFP type Supported protocol

    16 Gbps, 10 Gbps, 8 Gbps,4 Gbps

    Dual-protocol

    • FC: 16 Gbps, 8 Gbps, 4 Gbps

    • iSCSI:10 Gbps

    25 Gbps, 10 Gbps

    25 Gbps. 10 Gbps,

    iSCSI only

    32 Gbps, 16 Gbps, 8 Gbps, 4 Gbps

    32 Gbps, 16 Gbps

    FC only

    • If you have dual-protocol SFPs, you can continue using them after you convert the protocol.

      The dual-protocol SFPs do not support 1 Gb iSCSI. If you are converting host ports to iSCSI, be aware that the dual-protocol SFPs support only a 10 Gb link to the connected port.
    • If you have 16 Gbps SFPs, and you are converting host ports to iSCSI, you must remove the SFPs and replace them with dual-protocol or 10 Gbps SFPs after converting the protocol. As needed, you can also use 10 Gbps iSCSI copper by using a special Twin-Ax cable with SFPs.

      8Gbps FC SFPs are NOT supported in the DE Series controllers. ONLY 16Gbps and 32 Gbps FC SFPs are supported.
    • If you have 10 Gbps SFPs, and you are converting host ports to FC, you must remove the SFPs from these ports and replace them with dual-protocol or 16 Gbps SFPs after converting the protocol.

Step 2: Obtain the feature pack

To obtain the feature pack, you need the serial number from the controller shelf, a Feature Code, and the Feature Enable Identifier for the storage array.

Steps
  1. Locate the serial number.

    1. From ThinkSystem System Manager, select Support  Support Center.

    2. With the Support Resources tab selected, scroll to the View top storage array properties section.

    3. Locate the Chassis Serial Number, and copy this value to a text file.

      sam1130 ss e2800 storage array profile sn smid copy maint e2800
  2. Locate the feature pack submodel ID.

    1. On the Support Resources tab, locate and select the Storage Array Profile link.

    2. Type feature pack submodel ID in the text box, and click Find.

    3. Locate the feature pack submodel ID for the starting configuration.

      storage array profile2 maint e2800
  3. Using the feature pack submodel ID, locate the corresponding Controller submodel ID for the starting configuration and find the Feature Code for the desired ending configuration within the table below. Then, copy that Feature Code to a text file.

    • For the controller that has two base-board ports on the rear:

      DE2000H

      Starting configuration Ending configuration Feature Code

      Controller submodel ID

      Baseboard ports

      Controller submodel ID

      Baseboard ports

      422

      FC

      423

      iSCSI

      B4DH

      423

      iSCSI

      422

      FC

      B4XC

      DE4000H

      Starting configuration Ending configuration Feature Code

      Controller submodel ID

      Baseboard ports

      HIC ports

      Controller submodel ID

      Baseboard ports

      HIC ports

      424

      FC

      FC

      425

      iSCSI

      FC

      B4XH

      424

      FC

      FC

      427

      iSCSI

      iSCSI

      B4E1

      424

      FC

      FC

      426

      FC

      iSCSI

      B4XK

      425

      iSCSI

      FC

      424

      FC

      FC

      B4XJ

      425

      iSCSI

      FC

      426

      FC

      iSCSI

      B4XM

      425

      iSCSI

      FC

      427

      iSCSI

      iSCSI

      B4XP

      426

      FC

      iSCSI

      424

      FC

      FC

      B4XL

      426

      FC

      iSCSI

      425

      iSCSI

      FC

      B4XN

      426

      FC

      iSCSI

      427

      iSCSI

      iSCSI

      B4XR

      427

      iSCSI

      iSCSI

      424

      FC

      FC

      B4XG

      427

      iSCSI

      iSCSI

      425

      iSCSI

      FC

      B4XQ

      427

      iSCSI

      iSCSI

      426

      FC

      iSCSI

      B4XS

      DE4000F

      Starting configuration Ending configuration Feature Code

      Controller submodel ID

      Baseboard ports

      HIC ports

      Controller submodel ID

      Baseboard ports

      HIC ports

      428

      FC

      FC

      429

      iSCSI

      FC

      B4DK

      428

      FC

      FC

      430

      FC

      iSCSI

      B4XU

      428

      FC

      FC

      431

      iSCSI

      iSCSI

      B4G7

      429

      iSCSI

      FC

      428

      FC

      FC

      B4DL

      429

      iSCSI

      FC

      430

      FC

      iSCSI

      B4XW

      429

      iSCSI

      FC

      431

      iSCSI

      iSCSI

      B4XY

      430

      FC

      iSCSI

      428

      FC

      FC

      B4XV

      430

      FC

      iSCSI

      429

      iSCSI

      FC

      B4XX

      430

      FC

      iSCSI

      431

      iSCSI

      iSCSI

      B4Y0

      431

      iSCSI

      iSCSI

      428

      FC

      FC

      B4XT

      431

      iSCSI

      iSCSI

      429

      iSCSI

      FC

      B4XZ

      431

      iSCSI

      iSCSI

      430

      FC

      iSCSI

      B4LZ

    • For the controller that does not have two base-board ports on the rear:

      DE2000H, DE4000H and DE4000F

      No feature code is available for DE2000H.

      DE4000H

      Starting configuration Ending configuration Feature Code

      Controller submodel ID

      HIC ports

      Controller submodel ID

      HIC ports

      424

      FC

      427

      iSCSI

      BQGY

      427

      iSCSI

      424

      FC

      BQGZ

      DE4000F

      Starting configuration Ending configuration Feature Code

      Controller submodel ID

      HIC ports

      Controller submodel ID

      HIC ports

      428

      FC

      431

      iSCSI

      BQH0

      431

      iSCSI

      428

      FC

      BQH1

    If your Controller submodel ID is not listed, contact Lenovo Data Center Support.
  4. In System Manager, locate the Feature Enable Identifier.

    1. Go to Settings > System.

    2. Scroll down to Add-ons.

    3. Under Change Feature Pack, locate the Feature Enable Identifier.

    4. Copy and paste this 32-digit number to a text file.

      sam1130 ss e2800 change feature pack feature enable identifier copy maint e2800
  5. Go to Lenovo Feature on Demand, click Storage Host Protocol Change, and enter the information required to obtain the feature pack.

    • Feature code

    • Machine Type

    • Chassis serial number

    • Feature Enable Identifier (UID)

  6. Choose whether to receive the key file for the feature pack in an email or download it directly from the site.

Step 3: Stop host I/O

You must stop all I/O operations from the host before converting the protocol of the host ports. You cannot access data on the storage array until you successfully complete the conversion.

Steps
  1. Ensure that no I/O operations are occurring between the storage array and all connected hosts. For example, you can perform these steps:

    • Stop all processes that involve the LUNs mapped from the storage to the hosts.

    • Ensure that no applications are writing data to any LUNs mapped from the storage to the hosts.

    • Unmount all file systems associated with volumes on the array.

      The exact steps to stop host I/O operations depend on the host operating system and the configuration, which are beyond the scope of these instructions. If you are not sure how to stop host I/O operations in your environment, consider shutting down the host.
      Possible data loss — If you continue this procedure while I/O operations are occurring, the host application might lose access to the data because the storage is not accessible.
  2. If the storage array participates in a mirroring relationship, stop all host I/O operations on the secondary storage array.

  3. Wait for any data in cache memory to be written to the drives.

    The green Cache Active LED on the back of each controller is on when cached data needs to be written to the drives. You must wait for this LED to turn off.28 dwg 2800 controller attn led maint e2800

    Callout Type of host ports

    (1)

    Cache Active LED

  4. From the Home page of ThinkSystem System Manager, select View Operations in Progress.

  5. Wait for all operations to complete before continuing with the next step.

Step 4: Change the feature pack

Change the feature pack to convert the host protocol of the baseboard host ports, the IB HIC ports, or both types of ports.

Steps
  1. From ThinkSystem System Manager, select Settings  System.

  2. Under Add-ons, select Change Feature Pack.

    sam1130 ss system change feature pack maint e2800
  3. Click Browse, and then select the feature pack you want to apply.

  4. . Type CHANGE in the field.

  5. Click Change.

    The feature pack migration begins. Both controllers automatically reboot twice to allow the new feature pack to take effect. The storage array returns to a responsive state after the reboot is complete.

  6. Confirm the host ports have the protocol you expect.

    1. From ThinkSystem System Manager, select Hardware.

    2. Click Show back of shelf.

    3. Select the graphic for either Controller A or Controller B.

    4. Select View settings from the context menu.

    5. Select the Host Interfaces tab.

    6. Click Show more settings.

    7. Review the details shown for the baseboard ports and the HIC ports (labeled “slot 1”), and confirm that each type of port has the protocol you expect.

What’s next?