| name | storage |
| description | Monitor and analyze IBM i storage resources including ASPs, disk units, temporary storage, user storage consumption, and NVMe devices via SQL services. Use when user asks about: (1) ASP capacity, usage, or health, (2) disk unit status or I/O performance, (3) temporary storage consumption by jobs, (4) storage used per user profile, (5) NVMe device health, (6) IASP vary operations, or (7) replacing WRKDSKSTS, WRKSYSSTS storage info, or WRKSTG commands. |
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):
ibmi tools --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/" --toolset storage_default
ibmi tool get_asp_info --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"
ibmi sql "SELECT * FROM QSYS2.ASP_INFO ORDER BY ASP_NUMBER"
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,
DECIMAL((TOTAL_CAPACITY - TOTAL_CAPACITY_AVAILABLE) * 100.0
/ NULLIF(TOTAL_CAPACITY, 0), 5, 2) AS PCT_USED,
STORAGE_THRESHOLD_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,
ELAPSED_READ_REQUESTS, ELAPSED_WRITE_REQUESTS, ELAPSED_PERCENT_BUSY
FROM QSYS2.SYSDISKSTAT
WHERE ELAPSED_IO_REQUESTS > 0
ORDER BY ELAPSED_PERCENT_BUSY DESC
FETCH FIRST 10 ROWS ONLY;
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 "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"
ibmi tool <tool_name> --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/" --dry-run
ibmi tools show <tool_name> --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"
Reference Documentation
