This IBM® Redbooks® publication highlights TS7700 Virtualization Engine Release 2.0. It is intended for system architects who want to integrate their storage systems for smoother operation. The IBM Virtualization Engine TS7700 offers a modular, scalable, and high-performing architecture for mainframe tape virtualization for the IBM System z® environment. It integrates 3592 Tape Drives, high-performance disks, and the new IBM System p® server into a storage hierarchy. This storage hierarchy is managed by robust storage management firmware with extensive self-management capability. It includes the following advanced functions:
- Policy management to control physical volume pooling
- Cache management
- Dual copy, including across a grid network
- Copy mode control
- The TS7700 Virtualization Engine offers enhanced statistical reporting. It also includes a standards-based management interface for TS7700 Virtualization Engine management.
The new IBM Virtualization Engine TS7700 Release 2.0 introduces the next generation of TS7700 Virtualization Engine servers for System z tape:
- IBM Virtualization Engine TS7720 Server Model VEB
- IBM Virtualization Engine TS7740 Server Model V07
These Virtualization Engines are based on IBM POWER7® technology. They offer improved performance for most System z tape workloads compared to the first generation of TS7700 Virtualization Engine servers.