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Using Aix'S Mpio With Datacore Servers: Technical Bulletin #6
Using Aix'S Mpio With Datacore Servers: Technical Bulletin #6
Technical Bulletin #6
June 16, 2011
SANsymphony 6.0 PSP2 Update 3 and greater SANmelody 2.0 PSP4 Update 2 and greater
Overview This technical bulletin provides information on how to configure AIX Application Servers to use AIXs MPIO high availability software with DataCore Servers using Fibre Channel HBAs. Important: SANsymphony-V R8 is not currently qualified with AIXs MPIO
Technical Bulletin #6 Cumulative Change Summary Modified to reflect changes made in SSY 6.0.3.1 & SMY 2.0.4.1 for App Server type and note about HACMP. AIX 5.3 TL6 and above now supported with SSY 6.0.3.1 & SMY 2.0.4.1 Included references to AIX 5.2 TL10. Minor layout and style changes. Added info about fast fail and dynamic tracking This is not longer applicable to AIX 5.3 TL6 and above to be used with SSY 6.0.3.1 and higher or SMY 2.0.4.1 and higher Reworded Application Server and Storage Server Requirements section to make things clearer, added information for AIX 6.1 and latest versions of SANsymphony and SANmelody throughout document where applicable Removed references to end of life SANsymphony and SANmelody versions. Simplified statements of what versions of AIX O/S, DataCore Support for AIX MPIO, SANsymphony and SANmelody are compatible. Added AIX MPIO high availability over iSCSI is not supported. Emphasized IBM support native AIX MPIO and this document complements native AIX MPIO. Added commands to check Fast I/O Failure and Dynamic Tracking. Changed order of Procedure to configure DataCore Disk Types to AIXs Operating System. Layout and style changes only. No new information. Note: As of this version of the document, SANsymphony-V R8 is not currently qualified. Added AIX 7.1 as qualified host version Date
February 5, 2009
March 30, 2009 April 7, 2009 June 15, 2009 July 31, 2009
COPYRIGHT Copyright 2011 by DataCore Software Corporation. All rights reserved. DataCore, the DataCore logo, SANsymphony, and SANmelody are trademarks of DataCore Software Corporation. Other DataCore product or service names or logos referenced herein are trademarks of DataCore Software Corporation. All other products, services and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. ALTHOUGH THE MATERIAL PRESENTED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS BELIEVED TO BE ACCURATE, IT IS PROVIDED AS IS AND USERS MUST TAKE ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE USE OR APPLICATION OF THE PRODUCTS DESCRIBED AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT. NEITHER DATACORE NOR ITS SUPPLIERS MAKE ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY OR ENDORSEMENT REGARDING, AND SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR, THE USE OR APPLICATION OF ANY DATACORE OR THIRD PARTY PRODUCTS OR THE OTHER INFORMATION REFERRED TO IN THIS DOCUMENT. ALL SUCH WARRANTIES (INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND AGAINST HIDDEN DEFECTS) AND LIABILITY ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. No part of this document may be copied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form without the prior written consent of DataCore Software Corporation
AIX iSCSI connections are only supported for Linear Virtual Volumes or Standard Mirrors and are not supported rd with 3 Party AP Mirrors or any other type of mirror. All AIX application servers with AIX 5.2 any version or AIX 5.3 TL5 and earlier must use the section on page 3 entitled Procedure to configure DataCore Disk Types to AIXs Operating System. Do not install DataCore Support for AIX MPIO binaries with these versions of AIX. Note: the Procedure to configure DataCore Disk Types to AIXs Operating System complements native AIX MPIO on AIX application servers and does not replace it.
All AIX application servers with AIX 5.3 TL6 and greater or AIX 6.1 and greater (including 7.1) must use DataCore Support for AIX MPIO binaries on the AIX servers which can be downloaded directly, free of charge, from the DataCore Support website FAQ 1214 (for either SANsymphony or SANmelody SANs). Do not use the information in the section entitled Procedure to configure DataCore Disk Types to AIXs Operating System on page 3 when DataCore Support for AIX MPIO is installed. Note: DataCore Support for AIX MPIO complements native AIX MPIO on AIX application servers and does NOT replace it.
Please review the Release Notes for DataCore Support for AIX MPIO which is on DataCore Support website FAQ 1214 before installing DataCore Support for AIX MPIO. If the previous (now end of life) DataCore AIX Path Failover driver is installed, see the Release Notes for DataCore Support for AIX MPIO for transitioning from this to native AIX MPIO and DataCore Support for AIX MPIO. If previously using native AIX MPIO with the Procedure to configure DataCore Disk Types to AIXs Operating System on page 3, see the Release Notes for DataCore Support for AIX MPIO for transitioning from this to native AIX MPIO and DataCore Support for AIX MPIO.
All IBM AIX commands that are used to configure and display MPIO devices on an AIX application servers are still the same and are still relevant. Please refer to IBM documentation and IBM support for any questions about configuring native AIX MPIO or MPIO devices or displaying path or device information on an AIX application server.
1. Enable Fast IO Failure and Dynamic Tracking on all FC controllers on the AIX application server, by running:
The P flag changes the device's characteristics permanently in the Customized Devices object class without actually changing the device. 2. To check Fast IO Failure and Dynamic Tracking is set correctly run:
lsattr El fscsiN
(where N is the FC controller number). Repeat the above for all fiber controllers. You should now see:
dyntrk fc_err_recov
yes fast_fail
True True
#!/bin/ksh odmadd << \! PdAt: uniquetype = "disk/fcp/mpioosdisk" attribute = "mpio_model_map" deflt = "0808DataCore" values = "041480" width = "" type = "R" generic = "" rep = "s" nls_index = 0 !
Important: If you use DataCore LUNs in an HACMP configuration with AIX 5.2 TL10 and greater you must edit
/etc/cluster/disktype.lst
and add the line:
disk/fcp/mpioosdisk
FCPARRAY
Important: Make sure there is a [TAB] space. 4. Now run the command
bosboot a
This will create a new boot image containing the DataCore MPIO definition. Important: You must now reboot your AIX server.
Technical Bulletin 6: Using MPIO With DataCore Servers 4
5. On your AIX system run cfgmgr to discover the new virtual volumes. 6. List the currently discovered hdisks. For example:
# lsdev -Cc disk hdisk0 Available hdisk1 Available hdisk2 Available hdisk3 Available
Disk Drive FC SCSI Disk Drive FC SCSI Disk Drive FC SCSI Disk Drive
7. After your hdisks are discovered use the chdev command to change and optimize the hdisk attributes:
Finally
It is very possible that after an upgrade to a new Maintenance Level (ML), Technology Level (TL) or even Program Temporary Fix (PTF), AIXs Object Data Manager (ODM) configuration may be overwritten. It is therefore important to verify that the DataCore ODM entry still exists, run this command: