Flash for IBM Storage Protect for Virtual Environments: Data Protection for VMware in versions 8.1.12.0 to 8.1.17.2
IBM published a flash for APAR IT43031 on 16/01/2024. It refers to a software error in IBM Storage Protect for Virtual Environments: Data Protection for VMware, which can be found in versions 8.1.12.0 to 8.1.17.2.
With this article we would like to point out the urgency of an update and the necessary VM full backup.
We are currently assuming that a large number of customers are affected, as the software error extends across all versions from 8.1.12.0 to 8.1.17.2 and therefore over a period of around two years.
- Release date ISP4VE 8.1.12.0 on 23/04/2021
- Release date ISP4VE 8.1.17.2 on 17/03/2023
Who is affected, is my environment affected?
After adding a new virtual hard disk (VMDK) to a VM, all subsequent incremental backups created by IBM Storage Protect for Virtual Environments: Data Protection for VMware 8.1.12.0 - 8.1.17.2 will be possibly corrupted. It is not possible to retrospectively check which systems are affected!
What the release is about (Flash)
Essentially, if you have ever used one of the affected versions in your system, you are potentially affected and should perform a full backup of all VMs after an update.
We assume that many customers are not aware of this important information.
The crucial part of the release
A fix is available as of version 8.1.19.0 (June 2023).
If you have ever used an affected version of Data Protection for VMware in your environment, IBM strongly recommends that you install the fix, create full backups of your VMs, and then resume incremental backups.
Existing corrupted backup versions cannot be repaired.
Link to IBM Flash and APAR IT43031
Flash: Possible undetected corruption of backup data after adding a new virtual hard drive to a VMware VM: Subsequent incremental forever backups are corrupted and cannot be restored (APAR IT43031)
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7105603
Link to IT43031
Restored VM does not boot or data is missing after restore due to unrecognised data corruption during backup after adding a new vmdk
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/apar/IT43031
Update to IBM Storage Protect for Virtual Environments: Data Protection for VMware 8.1.22.0
Currently, the latest IBM Storage Protect for Virtual Environments: Data Protection for VMware version 8.1.22.0 is available.
If you have any questions about installing version 8.1.22.0, we will be happy to help you.
Do you have any questions about this article or about IBM Storage Protect ?
Andreas Schwab, Senior Consultant
Phone +49 171 954 86 44
