TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Technical Alert
Number:
Date Posted:
Status:
Revision:

01_076370
21-Nov-12
Active
2

VSP - Data Inconsistency May Occur in a Dynamic Provisioning or Dynamic Tiering Volume
due to "Background Format Function" (VSP SOM896=ON, HUS VM SOM896=OFF)

DESCRIPTION:
If the **Background format function in Hitachi Dynamic Provisioning (HDP) or Hitachi Dynamic Tiering for Mainframe (HDT) is
being used or has ever been used, data inconsistency may occur in the HDP/HDT volume if a disk is blocked or a temporary
disk failure occurs in a pool volume consisting of RAID5 or RAID6 parity groups.
The "Background format function" is active on storage systems depending on the setting of System Option Mode 896 as
follows:
Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform (VSP): the "Background format function" would have been manually activated by setting
(SOM896=ON).
Hitachi Unified Storage VM (HUS VM): the "Background format function" is active as a default (SOM896=OFF).
Cause:
When page migration is performed in a pool volume, the background format function allocates the erased page to the target
page of the migration. The parity data may not be updated if an additional I/O process is performed for the same page. The
parity data updated by the second process is incorrect due to a microcode bug.

As a result, if a correction copy takes place due to a disk failure that resulted in a blocked disk or a temporary error, the user
data read by the correction copy would be invalid.
**Background format function purpose:
When many random write I/Os associated with new page allocations are issued to newly created HDP/HDT-VOLs due to file
system creation etc. Write Pending may temporarily increase because of the initialization processing of these newly allocated
pages. As a result, host write processing may be delayed. When the Background format function is activated, initialized pages
are prepared in the background and then used for new page allocations, thus preventing an increase in Write Pending at the
time of new allocation.
Conditions of Occurrence:
When all the following conditions A to E are met, then parity data may become invalid.
A. Micro-program version
VSP microcode 70-03-32-00/00 and later that are below the fixed version.
HUS VM all microcode versions below the fixed version.
B. HDP or HDT is used
C. Pool volume of RAID5 or RAID6 exists
D. Background format function was used even once in the past (even if not currently used).
VSP: The "Background format function" would have been manually activated by setting (SOM896=ON).
HUS VM: The "Background format function" is active as the default (SOM896=OFF).
E. Page migration takes place (Rebalance of Dynamic Provisioning is performed due to 0 data page reclamation/pool
expansion/pool shrink, or tier relocation of Dynamic Tiering)
Severity of Failure: High
Probability of Failure: Low

PRODUCTS AFFECTED:
Lines/Models Affected:
HUS VM (factory model HM700)
VSP (factory model RAID700)
Microcode Affected:
All microcode in the ranges listed below.
VSP microcode 70-03-32-00/00 and later that are below the fixed version.
HUS VM all microcode versions below the fixed version.

Software Affected:
HDP Hitachi Dynamic Provisioning
HDT - -Hitachi Dynamic Tiering
SYMPTOM:
Data becomes inconsistent.

RECOVERY:
Identification of the Problem
If the conditions of occurrence described have been met then the problem occurs.
Action to take when the Conditions of Occurrence are Met:
(1) Replace the micro-program with one listed in the solutions section (or a higher version).
(2) If the interim action is not taken, have service personnel perform the interim action (2) run the Verify Logical Device check.
(3) If you need to enable the background format function,
VSP: set System Option Mode896 to OFF.
HUS VM: set System Option Mode896 to ON.
After taking the interim action or the permanent action, ask the customer to restore the data from a backup.
Action in the case of the failure
(a). Identification of the problem
The conditions of occurrence are met, and data in an HDP/HDT volume of HDP or HDT belonging to a pool group that contains
a pool volume of RAID5 or RAID6 becomes invalid.
In the event that the problem does not satisfy the Conditions of Occurrence:
Contact the Hitachi Data Systems Global Support Center.

INTERIM:
HUS VM: Set System Option Mode 896 to ON which will disable the background format function. This will eliminate the
potential of generating new occurrences of invalid parity but cannot correct parity that was set incorrectly in the past.
VSP: Perform the following (1) and (2).
(1) Set System Option Mode 896 to OFF which disables the background format function.
This will eliminate the potential of generating new occurrences of invalid parity but cannot correct parity that was set incorrectly
in the past.
(2) Service personnel should run the Verify Logical Device check procedure for any pool volumes that meet the conditions of
occurrence. If any invalid parity data exists, it will be corrected by this action.

SOLUTION:
Please have your support organization install one of the following microcode versions listed below or a higher version which
includes the fix for this problem.
HDS Storage Model
(Hitachi Model)

(*1)Microcode Version Version

and ECN Revision
Number

HDS Schedule

Factory Schedule

VSP
(RAID700)

70-05-02-00/00-M135

V05+00

Released

Released

70-04-55-00/40-M137

V04a+00

Released

Released

70-03-42-00/40-M138

V03+01

Released

Released

73-01-03-00/00-M004

V03+01

Released

Released

HUS VM
(HM700)

*1: Note that the microcode versions listed above may no longer be available or supported. They are listed here only
because they were the first versions containing the fix for the problem identified in this Alert. Please obtain the highest
available microcode version that has inherited this change and is appropriate for your products environment.

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