What's new in version 3.4.0

Version 3.4.0 introduces a range of enhancements and fixes as detailed in the following sections.

Synchronous mirroring

Version 3.4.0 adds support for Spectrum Accelerate Family remote mirroring, allowing VMware administrators to create mirrored volumes automatically via vSphere Web Client. The mirrored volumes can be provisioned with or without consistency groups independently from storage administrators.

Local HyperSwap for Spectrum Virtualize systems

Version 3.4.0 allows the Spectrum Virtualize Family storage systems to use the local HyperSwap data protection function. Similar to the stretched cluster, the local HyperSwap method makes highly-available volumes accessible through two remote sites, while maintaining a fully-independent copy of data at each site. The storage system at a third site acts as a tie-breaking quorum device in this deployment.

Data mirroring for Spectrum Virtualize systems

Version 3.4.0 lets the Spectrum Virtualize Family storage systems to use data mirroring. This high-availability method allows two mirrored copies of the volume to be maintained on the same storage system, while keeping each copy of the volume in a separate storage pool.

Host clustering for Spectrum Virtualize systems

Starting from version 3.4.0, Spectrum Connect supports host clustering for Spectrum Virtualize storage systems. This simplifies host management by providing clustered hosts with identical volume mappings.

Registering multiple Spectrum Connect instances on several vCenter servers

Starting from version 3.4.0, multiple Spectrum Connect instances can be registered as storage providers on several VMware vCenter servers in a mesh topology. In addition, a priority of each instance can be defined, determining priority of all storage systems added to the current Spectrum Connect.

IBM Storage Enabler for Containers support by DS8000 Family products

Version 3.4.0 allows IBM Storage Enabler for Containers to provision volumes from DS8000 Family storage systems for containerized applications.

IBM Storage Automation Plug-in for PowerShell support by FlashSystem A9000 and A9000R

Version 3.4.0 introduces automation in storage provisioning on IBM FlashSystem A9000 and A9000R storage systems using IBM Storage Automation Plug-in for PowerShell.

CentOS 7.x and RHEL 6.9 support

Version 3.4.0 adds support for CentOS version 7.x to bring robustness of this enterprise-class operating system, ensuring resiliency of the Spectrum Connect deployments in business environment. In addition, now you can run Spectrum Connect under RHEL 6.9.

Performance improvements

Version 3.4.0 improves stability and overall performance of the system in VVol and non-VVol applications.

Resolved issues

For information about resolved issues in version 3.4.0, see Change log.