BVQ, Release Highlights

BVQ 2024.H2 Release Highlights

January 29, 2025 No comments yet

The latest BVQ release, BVQ 2024.H2, introduces powerful enhancements designed to streamline IT infrastructure management, expand storage platform support, and deliver advanced monitoring capabilities. Let’s explore the key updates in this release.

New Inventory Feature

The Inventory serves as a central hub for managing your IT infrastructure, providing a holistic view of all layers, platforms, and systems scanned in BVQ. Key benefits include:

  • Comprehensive Overview: Aggregated topology, performance, and capacity data with weekly comparisons.
  • Enhanced Object Directory: Locate and analyze specific objects with ease.
  • Expert GUI Integration: The first step towards integrating advanced analysis tools into BVQ’s web interface.

New Storage Platform: PureStorage FlashArray

BVQ now supports PureStorage FlashArray, enabling users to efficiently monitor and optimize storage performance. Key capabilities include:

  • Performance Monitoring: Identify and resolve performance issues.
  • End-to-End Connectivity: Analyze connectivity from VMware or PowerVM through FC SAN to FlashArray.
  • Configuration Analysis: Verify component configurations.
  • Health Monitoring: Utilize BVQ’s alerting engine with predefined FlashArray rules.

Licensing:

  • PureStorage FlashArray is licensed per capacity (TiB).
  • If virtualized behind IBM Storage Virtualize (already licensed), no additional costs apply.

Data Collection:

  • Topology Configuration: Gathered hourly, covering 13 object types with 211 attributes.
  • Performance Statistics: Collected every 5 minutes, visualized in 6 object types with 52 attributes.

Supported Object Types

BVQ introduces a structured approach to PureStorage FlashArray, supporting key object types such as:

  • Cluster & Array: Represents the physical storage hardware.
  • Volumes & Pods: Manages data storage and synchronous replication.
  • SAN & Connectivity: Monitors host ports, FC ports, and host logins.

New Storage Platform: Dell PowerStore

BVQ has expanded its storage compatibility to include Dell PowerStore, providing in-depth visibility and performance monitoring. Key capabilities include:

  • Performance Analysis: Detect and resolve storage bottlenecks.
  • Connectivity Mapping: Track end-to-end storage paths.
  • Configuration Validation: Ensure correct storage settings.
  • Health Alerts: Utilize predefined PowerStore alert rules.

Licensing:

  • Dell PowerStore is licensed per capacity (TiB).
  • No additional cost if virtualized behind an already licensed IBM Storage Virtualize instance.

Data Collection:

  • Topology Configuration: Gathered hourly, covering 10 object types with 135 attributes.
  • Performance Statistics: Collected every 5 minutes, visualized in 3 object types with 45 attributes.

Supported Object Types

BVQ structures Dell PowerStore object types into categories like:

  • Cluster & Appliance: Represents physical infrastructure.
  • Volumes & Hosts: Manages storage assignments.
  • SAN Connectivity: Tracks host ports, FC ports, and logins.

New Features & Enhancements

Linux x86 Agent on VMware VMs

BVQ extends Linux Agent support to x86-based VMware VMs, enhancing monitoring capabilities.

  • License Information: Available in BVQ° License Entitlements.
  • Prerequisites: See OS Agent preparation for supported OS versions.

GPU Monitoring for VMware vSphere Hosts

New GPU object type enables real-time monitoring of GPU usage in VMware vSphere environments. Key statistics include:

  • % GPU Utilization
  • % Total GPU Memory Usage

Two new BVQ° Alert rules help track utilization and temperature, ensuring system performance remains optimal.

NetApp REST API Support

BVQ now utilizes NetApp ONTAP REST API for performance scanning from version 9.11 onwards, replacing the previous ZAPI interface.

  • Customers running ONTAP 9.11+ can deactivate ONTAPI access for improved security.
  • Aggregate performance metrics are now derived from disk partitions, introducing minor metric variations.

NetApp Security Enhancements

Additional security-focused NetApp attributes and objects have been introduced to align with BSI security standards.

  • 15 new alert rules enhance security posture.
  • A detailed security report will follow in an upcoming release.

Conclusion

The BVQ 2024.H2 release brings significant advancements in infrastructure monitoring, storage compatibility, and security enhancements. With PureStorage FlashArray and Dell PowerStore support, GPU monitoring, and improved NetApp security, BVQ continues to provide cutting-edge insights for IT environments.

For full release notes and licensing details, visit the BVQ° License Entitlements page. Stay tuned for further enhancements in future updates!