Lifecycle and support matrix
The following table details the IBM Spectrum Connect lifecycle with compatible IBM storage system microcodes and supported cloud interfaces.
Last updated: 11 February 2022
- IBM® Spectrum Virtualize Family storage systems run the IBM Spectrum Virtualize software. In addition, the IBM Spectrum Virtualize package is available as a deployable solution that can be run on any compatible hardware.
- Refer to the VMware compatibility matrix on IBM Docs for information about supported combinations of IBM storage system software versions supported by at least one Spectrum Connect version and various VMware cloud platforms.
- Refer to the matrix below to see which storage system versions are supported by your version of Spectrum Connect before referring to the VMware matrix page.
- Starting from Spectrum Connect 3.7.0, IBM Storage
Enabler for Containers is no longer supported.
For information on continuing Kubernetes support for IBM block storage, see IBM block storage CSI (Container Storage Interface) driver.
| Spectrum Connect version | General availability | IBM FlashSystem A9000/A9000R | XIV1 and Spectrum Accelerate | DS8000 Family | Spectrum Virtualize Family | Supported cloud interfaces 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9.0 | February 2022 | 12.3.0.a or later Note: VVols are not supported. |
XIV: Not supported Spectrum Accelerate: Not supported |
DS8880: 8.0.1, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x, 8.5.x Note: vSphere Web Client support is introduced by the bundle 88.1.xxx. VVols are not supported. DS8900F: 9.0.x Note: VVols are not supported. |
FlashSystem 5000: 8.3.1, 8.4.x FlashSystem 5100: 8.3.1, 8.4.x FlashSystem 5200: 8.4.0.1 or later, 8.5.0.0 FlashSystem 7200: 8.3.1, 8.4.x FlashSystem 7300: 8.5.0.0 FlashSystem 9100: 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x FlashSystem 9200: 8.3.1, 8.4.x FlashSystem 9500: 8.5.0.0 FlashSystem V9000: 7.8.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x SAN Volume Controller: 7.8.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x, 8.5.0.0 Storwize V3500, V3700: 7.8.1 Storwize V5000 Gen2: 7.8.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x Storwize V5000E: 8.2.1, 8.3.x, 8.4.x Storwize V5100: 8.2.1, 8.3.x, 8.4.x Storwize V7000: 7.8.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x Storwize V7000 Unified: 1.5.2, 1.6.0, 1.6.1, 1.6.2 Note: Only block storage is supported. File shares and file systems are not supported. |
IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client IBM Storage Plug-in for VMware vRealize Orchestrator 3 IBM Storage Management Pack for VMware vRealize Operations Manager 4 IBM Storage Automation Plug-in for PowerShell 3, 5 |
| 3.8.0 | June 2021 | 12.3.0.a or later Note: VVols are not supported. |
XIV: Not supported Spectrum Accelerate: Not supported |
DS8880: 8.0.1, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x, 8.5.x Note: vSphere Web Client support is introduced by the bundle 88.1.xxx. VVols are not supported. DS8900F: 9.0.x Note: VVols are not supported. |
FlashSystem 5000: 8.3.1, 8.4.x FlashSystem 5100: 8.3.1, 8.4.x FlashSystem 5200: 8.4.0.x FlashSystem 7200: 8.3.1, 8.4.x FlashSystem 9100: 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x FlashSystem 9200: 8.3.1, 8.4.x Storwize V3500, V3700: 7.8.x Storwize V5000 Gen2: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x Storwize V5000E: 8.2.1, 8.3.x, 8.4.x Storwize V5100: 8.2.1, 8.3.x, 8.4.x Storwize V7000: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x SAN Volume Controller: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x FlashSystem V9000: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x Spectrum Virtualize as software only: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x Note: VVols are supported by version 7.8.x and above. However, they cannot be used with HyperSwap®. Storwize V7000 Unified: 1.5.x Note: Only block storage is supported. File shares and file systems are not supported. |
IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client IBM Storage Plug-in for VMware vRealize Orchestrator 6 IBM Storage Management Pack for VMware vRealize Operations Manager 7 IBM Storage Automation Plug-in for PowerShell 3, 8 |
| 3.7.0 | February 2020 | 12.3.0.a or later Note: VVols are not supported. |
XIV: Not supported Spectrum Accelerate: Not supported |
DS8880: 8.0.1, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x, 8.5.x Note: vSphere Web Client support is introduced by the bundle 88.1.xxx. VVols are not supported. DS8900F: 9.0.x Note: VVols are not supported. |
FlashSystem 5000: 8.3.1, 8.4.x FlashSystem 5100: 8.3.1, 8.4.x FlashSystem 7200: 8.3.1, 8.4.x FlashSystem 9100: 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x FlashSystem 9200: 8.3.1, 8.4.x Storwize V3500, V3700: 7.8.x Storwize V5000 Gen2: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x Storwize V5000E: 8.2.1, 8.3.x, 8.4.x Storwize V5100: 8.2.1, 8.3.x, 8.4.x Storwize V7000: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x SAN Volume Controller: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x FlashSystem V9000: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x Spectrum Virtualize as software only: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x Note: VVols are supported. However, they cannot be used with HyperSwap. Storwize V7000 Unified: 1.5.x Note: Only block storage is supported. File shares and file systems are not supported. |
IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client IBM Storage Plug-in for VMware vRealize Orchestrator 3 IBM Storage Management Pack for VMware vRealize Operations Manager 3, 9 IBM Storage Automation Plug-in for PowerShell 3, 4 |
| 3.6.3 | August 2019 | 12.3.0.a or later Note: VVols are not supported. |
XIV: 11.6.2.x Spectrum Accelerate: 11.5.3.c, 11.5.4 Note: Can be managed using Spectrum Connect RESTful APIs. VVols are not supported. |
DS8880: 8.0.1, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x, 8.5.x Note: vSphere Web Client support is introduced by the bundle 88.1.xxx. VVols are not supported. |
Storwize V3500, V3700: 7.8.x Storwize V5000: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.0 Storwize V7000: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.0 SAN Volume Controller:: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.0 FlashSystem 9100: 8.2.x, 8.3.0 FlashSystem V9000: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.0 Spectrum Virtualize as software only: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.0 Note: VVols are supported by version 7.8.x and above. However, they cannot be used with HyperSwap. Storwize V7000 Unified: 1.5.x Note: Only block storage is supported. File shares and file systems are not supported. |
IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client IBM Storage Plug-in for VMware vRealize Orchestrator 3 IBM Storage Management Pack for VMware vRealize Operations Manager 3 IBM Storage Automation Plug-in for PowerShell 3, 4, 10 IBM Storage Enabler for Containers 4 |
| 3.6.2 | May 2019 | 12.3.0.a or later Note: VVols are not supported. |
XIV: 11.6.2.x Spectrum Accelerate: 11.5.3.c, 11.5.4 Note: Can be managed using Spectrum Connect RESTful APIs. VVols are not supported. |
DS8880: 8.0.1, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x, 8.5.x Note: vSphere Web Client support is introduced by the bundle 88.1.xxx. VVols are not supported. |
Storwize V3500, V3700: 7.8.x Storwize V5000: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x Storwize V7000: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x SAN Volume Controller:: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x FlashSystem 9100: 8.2.x FlashSystem V9000: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x Spectrum Virtualize as software only: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x Note: VVols are supported by version 7.8.x and above. However, they cannot be used with HyperSwap. Storwize V7000 Unified: 1.5.x Note: Only block storage is supported. File shares and file systems are not supported. |
IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client IBM Storage Plug-in for VMware vRealize Orchestrator 3 IBM Storage Management Pack for VMware vRealize Operations Manager 3 IBM Storage Automation Plug-in for PowerShell 3, 4, 6 IBM Storage Enabler for Containers 4 |
| 3.6.1 | March 2019 | 12.3.0.a or later Note: VVols are not supported. |
XIV: 11.6.2.x Spectrum Accelerate: 11.5.3.c, 11.5.4 Note: Can be managed using Spectrum Connect RESTful APIs. VVols are not supported. |
DS8880: 8.0.1, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x, 8.5.x Note: vSphere Web Client support is introduced by the bundle 88.1.xxx. VVols are not supported. |
Storwize V3500, V3700: 7.8.x Storwize V5000: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x Storwize V7000: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x SAN Volume Controller:: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x FlashSystem 9100: 8.2.x FlashSystem V9000:7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x Spectrum Virtualize as software only: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x VVols are supported by version 7.8.x and above. However, they cannot be used with HyperSwap. Storwize V7000 Unified: 1.5.x Note: Only block storage is supported. File shares and file systems are not supported. |
IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client IBM Storage Plug-in for VMware vRealize Orchestrator 3 IBM Storage Management Pack for VMware vRealize Operations Manager 3 IBM Storage Automation Plug-in for PowerShell 3, 4, 6 IBM Storage Enabler for Containers 4 |
| 3.6.0 | December 2018 | 12.3.0.a or later Note: VVols are not supported. |
XIV: 11.6.2.x Spectrum Accelerate: 11.5.3.c,
11.5.4 Note: Can be managed using Spectrum Connect RESTful APIs. VVols are not supported. |
DS8880: 8.0.1, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x, 8.4.x, 8.5.x Note: vSphere Web Client support is introduced by the bundle 88.1.xxx. VVols are not supported. Note: For IBM DS8000 Family, IBM Storage Enabler for Containers does not support IBM System Z (s390x) architecture. |
Storwize V3500, V3700: 7.8.x Storwize V5000, V7000, SAN Volume Controller: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x FlashSystem 9100: 8.2.x FlashSystem V9000: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x Spectrum Virtualize as software only: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x VVols are supported by version 7.8.x and above. However, they cannot be used with HyperSwap. Storwize V7000 Unified: 1.5.x Note: Only block storage is supported. File shares and file systems are not supported. |
IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client IBM Storage Plug-in for VMware vRealize Orchestrator 3 IBM Storage Management Pack for VMware vRealize Operations Manager 3 IBM Storage Automation Plug-in for PowerShell 3, 4, 6 IBM Storage Enabler for Containers 4 |
| 3.5.0 | August 2018 | 12.3.0.a or later Note: VVols are not supported. |
XIV: 11.6.2.x Spectrum Accelerate: 11.5.3.c,
11.5.4 Note: Can be managed using Spectrum Connect RESTful APIs. VVols are not supported. |
DS8880: 8.0.1, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x Note: vSphere Web Client support is introduced by the bundle 88.1.xxx. VVols are not supported. Note: For IBM DS8000 Family, IBM Storage Enabler for Containers does not support IBM System Z (s390x) architecture. |
Storwize V3500, V3700, V5000, SAN Volume Controller: 7.8,
8.1.x FlashSystem 9100: 8.2.x FlashSystem V9000, Storwize V7000: 7.8.x, 8.1.x, 8.2.x Spectrum Virtualize as software only: 7.8.x, 8.1.x VVols are supported by version 7.8.x and above. However, they cannot be used with HyperSwap. Storwize V7000 Unified: 1.5.x Note: Only block storage is supported. File shares and file systems are not supported. |
IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client IBM Storage Plug-in for VMware vRealize Orchestrator 3 IBM Storage Management Pack for VMware vRealize Operations Manager 3 IBM Storage Automation Plug-in for PowerShell 3, 4, 6 IBM Storage Enabler for Containers 4 |
| 3.4.1 | June 2018 | Not supported | XIV: 11.6.2.x Spectrum Accelerate: 11.5.3.c,
11.5.4 Note: Can be managed using Spectrum Connect RESTful APIs. VVols are not supported. |
DS8880: 8.0.1, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x Note: vSphere Web Client support is introduced by the bundle 88.1.xxx. VVols are not supported. Note: For IBM DS8000 Family, IBM Storage Enabler for Containers supports x86 architecture only. |
Storwize V3500, V3700, V5000, V7000, SAN Volume Controller, FlashSystem
V9000: 7.8, 8.1.x Spectrum Virtualize as software only: 7.8.x, 8.1.x VVols are supported by version 7.8.x and above. However, they cannot be used with HyperSwap. Storwize V7000 Unified: 1.5.x Note: Only block storage is supported. File shares and file systems are not supported. |
IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client IBM Storage Plug-in for VMware vRealize Orchestrator 3 IBM Storage Management Pack for VMware vRealize Operations Manager 3 IBM Storage Automation Plug-in for PowerShell 3, 4, 6 IBM Storage Enabler for Containers 4 |
| 3.4.0 | March 2018 | Not supported | XIV: 11.6.2.x Spectrum Accelerate: 11.5.3.c,
11.5.4 Note: Can be managed using Spectrum Connect RESTful APIs. VVols are not supported. |
DS8880: 8.0.1, 8.1.x, 8.2.x, 8.3.x Note: vSphere Web Client support is introduced by the bundle 88.1.xxx. VVols are not supported. Note: For IBM DS8000 Family, IBM Storage Enabler for Containers supports x86 architecture only. |
Storwize V3500, V3700, V5000, V7000, SAN Volume Controller, FlashSystem
V9000: 7.8, 8.1.x Spectrum Virtualize as software only: 7.8.x, 8.1.x VVols are supported by version 7.8.x and above. However, they cannot be used with HyperSwap. Version 8.1.2 does not support IBM Storage Management Pack for VMware vRealize Operations Manager. Storwize V7000 Unified: 1.5.x Note: Only block storage is supported. File shares and file systems are not supported. |
IBM Storage Provider for VMware VASA IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client IBM Storage Plug-in for VMware vRealize Orchestrator 3 IBM Storage Management Pack for VMware vRealize Operations Manager 3 IBM Storage Automation Plug-in for PowerShell 3, 4, 6 IBM Storage Enabler for Containers 4 |