Symmetrix BIN files

IMPL.BIN
When referring to BIN file, we are mostly referring to the Symmetrix BIN file, IMPL.BIN (Initial Memory Program Load BIN). Symmetrix IMPL.bin File Stored in Two Places. Both Channel and
Disk directors have a local copy of the configuration file stored in EEPROM.
This enables Channel Directors to be aware of the Disk Directors that are managing the physical copies of Symmetrix logical volumes and vice versa. The IMPL.bin file also allows Channel
Directors to map host requests to a channel address, or target and LUN to the Symmetrix logical volume. Changes made to the bin file must first be made to the IMPL.bin on the Service
Processor and then Use SYMMWIN download it to the directors over the internal Ethernet LAN. Configuration changes can also be made using EMC ControlCenter Configuration Manager GUI
and Solutions Enabler.
The IMPL.BIN file contains configuration information for VMAX/DMX:
- Physical Hardware Configuration (Directors; Memory; Physical Drives)
- Logical Storage Configuration (Emulation-CKD,FBA; Data Protection<RaidType>; Director Flags)
SymmWin is an EMC written graphical-based application for managing a Symmetrix. Capabilities include:
- Building and modifying system configuration files (IMPL.bin)
- Issuing Inlines commands, diagnostic, and utility scripts
- Monitoring performance statistics
- Automatically performs periodic error polling for errors and events. Certain errors will cause the service processor to - Call Home.SymmWin runs locally on a Symmetrix Service Processor or
on a standalone PC. Running on the service processor allows communications with an operational Symmetrix. Running it on a standalone system allows you to build a new configuration or
view and modify an archived configuration file.
symapi_db.bin
Sometime the BIN file also referring to the Solutions Enabler symapi_db.bin file. A SYMAPI configuration database (.bin) file, which is stored on the host system that resides in the symapi\db
folder, contains the physical configuration information of SCSI devices and Symmetrix parameters that define your entire storage complex. More than one configuration database file may be
required to support your operational needs.
The SYMAPI configuration database is sometimes referred to as the host configuration database, SYMAPI database (because of how the file is named), or the Symmetrix database file. All of
these names are referring to the same Symmetrix configuration database,symapi_db.bin.

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EMC Symmetrix BIN file, largely an unknown topic in the storage industry and practically there is no available information related to it. This post is just an attempt to shed some light as to what a BIN file
is, how it works, what’s in it and why is it essential with the Enginuity code.
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Some EMC folks have capitalized on the BIN file as to the personality it brings to the Symmetrix, while the EMC competition always uses it against them as it introduces complexities in the storage
environment with management and change control.

Personally I feel a Symmetrix wouldn’t be a Symmetrix if the BIN file weren’t there. The personality, characteristics, robustness, compatibility, flexibility, integration with OS’s, etc wouldn’t be there if the
BIN file didn’t exist.

With the total number of OS’s, device types, channel interfaces and flags it supports today, sort of making it one of the most compatible storage arrays in the market. The configuration and compatibility on
the Symmetrix can be verified using the E-Lab navigator available on Powerlink.

So here are some facts about the BIN file

 Only used with Symmetrix systems (Enginuity Code)

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 BIN file stands for BINARY file.

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 BIN file holds all information about the Symmetrix configuration

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 One BIN file per system serial number is required.

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 BIN file was used with Symmetrix Gen 1 in 1990 and is still used in 2010 with Symmetrix V-Max systems.
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 BIN file holds information on SRDF configurations, total memory, memory in slots, serial number of the unit, number of directors, type of directors, director flags, engines, engine ports, front end ports,
back end ports, drives on the loop, drives on the SCSI bus, number of drives per loop, drive types in the slots, drive speeds, volume addresses, volume types, meta’s, device flags and many more settings.
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 The setup for host connection if the OS is Open Systems or Mainframe environments using FICON, ESCON, GbE, FC, RF, etc is all defined in the BIN file. Also director emulations, drive formats if OSD or
CKD, format types, drive speeds, etc is all defined in the BIN file.
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 BIN file is required to make a system active. It is created based on customer specifications and installed by EMC during the initial setup.
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 Any ongoing changes in the environment related to hardware upgrades, defining devices, changing flags, etc is all accomplished using BIN file changes.
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 BIN file changes can be accomplished 3 ways.

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 BIN file change for hardware upgrades is typically performed by EMC only.
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 BIN file change for other changes that are device, director, flags, meta’s, SRDF configurations etc is either performed through the SYMAPI infrastructure using SymCLI or ECC (Now Ionix) or SMC
(Symmetrix Management Console) by the customer. (Edited based on the comments: Only some changes now require traditional BIN file change, typically others are performed using sys calls in enginuity
environment)
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 Solutions enabler is required on the Symcli, ECC, SMC management stations to enable SYMAPI infrastructure to operate.
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 VCMDB needs to be setup on the Symmetrix for SymCLI, ECC, SMC related changes to work.
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 Gatekeeper devices need to be setup on the Symmetrix front end ports for SymCLI, ECC, SMC changes to work
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 For Symmetrix Optimizer to work in your environment, you need DRV devices setup on your Symmetrix.(EDITED based on comments: Only required until DMX platform. Going forward with DMX3/4 & V-
Max platforms it uses sys calls to perform these Optimizer changes).
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Back in the day

All and any BIN file changes on the Symmetrix 3.0, Symmetrix 4.0 used to be performed by EMC from the Service Processor. Over the years with introduction of SYMAPI and other layered software
products, now seldom is EMC involved in the upgrade process.

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Hardware upgrades

BIN File changes typically have to be initiated and performed by EMC, again these are the hardware upgrades. If the customer is looking at adding 32GB’s of Cache to the existing DMX-4 system or adding
new Front End connectivity or upgrading 1200 drive system to 1920 drives, all these require BIN file changes initiated and performed by EMC. To my understanding the turn around time is just a few days
with these changes, as it requires change control and other processes within EMC.

Customer initiated changes

Configuration changes around front end ports, creating volumes, creating meta’s, volume flags, host connectivity, configuration flags, SRDF volume configurations, SRDF replication configurations, etc can
all be accomplished through the customer end using the SYMAPI infrastructure (with SymCLI or ECC or SMC).

Enginuity upgrade

Upgrading the microcode (Enginuity) on a DMX or a V-Max is not a BIN file change, but rather is a code upgrade. Back in the days, many upgrades were performed offline, but in this day and age, all
changes are online and accomplished with minimum pains.

Today

So EMC has moved quite ahead with the Symmetrix architecture over the past 20 years, but the underlying BIN file change requirements haven’t changed over these 8 generations of Symmetrix.

Any and all BIN file changes are recommended to be done during quite times (less IOPS), at schedule change control times. Again these would include the ones that EMC is performing from a hardware
perspective or the customer is performing for device/flag changes.

The process

During the process of a BIN file change, the configuration file typically ending with the name *.BIN is loaded to all the frontend directors, backend directors, including the global cache. After the upload, the
system is refreshed with this new file in the global cache and the process makes the new configuration changes active. This process of refresh is called IML (Initial Memory Load) and the BIN file is typically
called IMPL (Initial Memory Program Load) file.

A customer initiated BIN file works in a similar way, where the SYMAPI infrastructure that resides on the service processor allows the customer to interface with the Symmetrix to perform these changes.
During this process, the scripts verify that the customer configurations are valid and then perform the changes and make the new configuration active.

To query the Symmetrix system for configuration details, reference the SymCLI guide. Some standard commands to query your system would include symcfg, symcli, symdev, symdisk, symdrv, symevent,
symhost, symgate, syminq, symstat commands and will help you navigate and find all the necessary details related to your Symmetrix. Also similar information in a GUI can be obtained using ECC and
SMC. Both will allow the customer to initiate SYMAPI changes.

Unless something has changed with the V-Max, typically to get an excel based representation of your BIN file, ask your EMC CE.

Issues

You cannot run two BIN files in a single system, though at times the system can end up in a state where you can have multiple BIN files on various directors. This phenomenon typically doesn’t happen to
often, but an automated script when not finished properly can put the system in this state. At this point the Symmetrix will initiate a call home immediately and the PSE labs should typically be able to
resolve these issues.

Additional software like Symmetrix Optimizer also uses the underlying BIN file infrastructure to make changes to the storage array to move hot and cold devices based on the required defined criteria.
There have been quite a few known cases of Symmetrix Optimizer causing the above phenomenon of multiple BIN files. , Though many critics will disagree with that statement. (EDITED based on
comments: Only required until DMX platform. Going forward with DMX3/4 & V-Max platforms it uses sys calls to perform these Optimizer changes).

NOTE: One piece of advice, never run SYMCLI or ECC scripts for BIN file changes through a VPN connected desktop or laptop. Always run all necessary SymCLI / SMC / ECC scripts for changes from a
server in your local environment. Very highly recommend, never attempt to administer your Symmetrix system with an iPhone or a Blackberry.

Hope in your quest to get more information on BIN files, this serves as the starting point..

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