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
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From ThinkSystem System Manager, select Support.
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Select the Support Center tile.
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On the Support Resources tab, locate and select the Storage Array Profile link.
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Type SFP in the text box, and click Find.
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For each SFP listed in the Storage Array Profile, locate the entry for Supported data rate(s).
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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
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FC: 16 Gbps, 8 Gbps, 4 Gbps
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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
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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.
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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
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Locate the serial number.
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From ThinkSystem System Manager, select .
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With the Support Resources tab selected, scroll to the View top storage array properties section.
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Locate the Chassis Serial Number, and copy this value to a text file.
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Locate the feature pack submodel ID.
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On the Support Resources tab, locate and select the Storage Array Profile link.
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Type feature pack submodel ID in the text box, and click Find.
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Locate the feature pack submodel ID for the starting configuration.
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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.
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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
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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. -
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In System Manager, locate the Feature Enable Identifier.
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Go to Settings > System.
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Scroll down to Add-ons.
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Under Change Feature Pack, locate the Feature Enable Identifier.
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Copy and paste this 32-digit number to a text file.
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Go to Lenovo Feature on Demand, click Storage Host Protocol Change, and enter the information required to obtain the feature pack.
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Feature code
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Machine Type
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Chassis serial number
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Feature Enable Identifier (UID)
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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
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Ensure that no I/O operations are occurring between the storage array and all connected hosts. For example, you can perform these steps:
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Stop all processes that involve the LUNs mapped from the storage to the hosts.
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Ensure that no applications are writing data to any LUNs mapped from the storage to the hosts.
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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.
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If the storage array participates in a mirroring relationship, stop all host I/O operations on the secondary storage array.
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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.
Callout Type of host ports (1)
Cache Active LED
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From the Home page of ThinkSystem System Manager, select View Operations in Progress.
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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
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From ThinkSystem System Manager, select .
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Under Add-ons, select Change Feature Pack.
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Click Browse, and then select the feature pack you want to apply.
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. Type
CHANGEin the field. -
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.
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Confirm the host ports have the protocol you expect.
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From ThinkSystem System Manager, select Hardware.
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Click Show back of shelf.
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Select the graphic for either Controller A or Controller B.
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Select View settings from the context menu.
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Select the Host Interfaces tab.
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Click Show more settings.
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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.
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