IBM i Storage Management

Monitor and analyze storage resources on IBM i using SQL services from QSYS2.

Available Tools

The ibmi CLI is the primary tool for executing storage queries. Set SKILL_DIR to this skill's installed location (the directory containing this SKILL.md file):

# SKILL_DIR = directory containing this SKILL.md
# Examples: ./skills/storage, ~/.claude/skills/storage

# List all storage tools
ibmi tools --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/" --toolset storage_default

# Run a specific tool
ibmi tool get_asp_info --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"

# Ad-hoc SQL for custom queries
ibmi sql "SELECT * FROM QSYS2.ASP_INFO ORDER BY ASP_NUMBER"

The ibmi-mcp-server also provides execute_sql and describe_sql_object for MCP-connected agents.

Service Selection Guide

ASP Management

• QSYS2.ASP_INFO — ASP capacity, usage %, storage type, disk unit counts
• QSYS2.ASP_JOB_INFO — Jobs active on Independent ASPs
• QSYS2.ASP_VARY_INFO — IASP vary-on/vary-off history and timing

Disk & Hardware

• QSYS2.SYSDISKSTAT (view) — Quick disk status overview
• QSYS2.SYSDISKSTAT (table function) — Detailed I/O counters and response times
• QSYS2.NVME_INFO — NVMe device health, temperature, firmware
• QSYS2.LOCKING_POLICY_INFO — NVMe locking policy status

Storage Consumption

• QSYS2.SYSTMPSTG — Temporary storage usage by job
• QSYS2.USER_STORAGE — Storage used per user profile

Key Capabilities

ASP Health & Capacity

• View all ASPs with capacity, usage percentage, and storage type
• Monitor Independent ASP (IASP) availability and vary operations
• Identify jobs running against specific IASPs before maintenance

Disk Performance

• Check disk utilization percentages across all units
• Identify SSD vs spinning disk storage
• Monitor I/O read/write counters and response times

Storage Consumption Analysis

• Find jobs consuming the most temporary storage
• Identify peak temp storage by job for capacity planning
• Track storage used per user profile and ASP
• Check user storage limits vs actual usage

Hardware Monitoring

• NVMe device inventory with firmware and serial numbers
• Temperature monitoring (controller and composite)
• Available spare capacity and percentage used
• Locking policy status for encrypted storage

Common Use Cases

1. System Storage Overview

Check overall ASP capacity and usage across all pools

2. Disk Health Check

Identify disk units with high utilization or poor I/O response

3. Temp Storage Troubleshooting

Find jobs consuming excessive temporary storage

4. User Storage Audit

Identify top storage consumers and users exceeding limits

5. IASP Maintenance

Check what jobs are active on an IASP before vary-off

6. Hardware Inventory

List NVMe devices with health and firmware status

CL Command Migration

CL Command	SQL Service
WRKDSKSTS	SYSDISKSTAT (view or table function)
WRKSYSSTS (storage)	ASP_INFO + SYSTMPSTG
WRKSTG	USER_STORAGE

Quick Examples

Check ASP usage

SELECT ASP_NUMBER, TOTAL_CAPACITY, CURRENT_USAGE_PERCENTAGE
  FROM QSYS2.ASP_INFO ORDER BY ASP_NUMBER;

Find top temp storage consumers

SELECT JOB_NAME, JOB_USER_NAME, BUCKET_CURRENT_SIZE, BUCKET_PEAK_SIZE
  FROM QSYS2.SYSTMPSTG
  WHERE JOB_STATUS = '*ACTIVE'
  ORDER BY BUCKET_CURRENT_SIZE DESC
  FETCH FIRST 10 ROWS ONLY;

Check disk I/O performance

SELECT RESOURCE_NAME, PERCENT_USED,
       SAMPLE_READ_RESPONSE_TIME, SAMPLE_WRITE_RESPONSE_TIME
  FROM TABLE(QSYS2.SYSDISKSTAT(RESET_STATISTICS => 'NO'))
  ORDER BY SAMPLE_WRITE_RESPONSE_TIME DESC;

Pre-built Tools

The tools/storage.yaml file provides 9 ready-to-use tools:

Tool	Description
get_asp_info	ASP capacity, usage, and storage type
get_asp_job_info	Jobs active on Independent ASPs
get_asp_vary_info	IASP vary-on/vary-off history
get_disk_status	Quick disk utilization overview
get_disk_status_detailed	Detailed disk I/O counters
get_temp_storage	Temp storage by active job
get_user_storage	Storage used per user profile
get_nvme_info	NVMe device health and firmware
get_locking_policy_info	NVMe locking policy status

ibmi tool <tool_name> --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"          # Execute
ibmi tool <tool_name> --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/" --dry-run # Preview SQL
ibmi tools show <tool_name> --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"     # View details

Reference Documentation

• Storage Services Catalog — All STORAGE category services from SERVICES_INFO
• Storage Examples — Working SQL query examples
• IBM i Services - Storage — IBM documentation