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NEXSAN 555 St. Charles Drive, Suite 202, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 | p. 866.4.NEXSAN f. 866.418.2799 | www.nexsan.com

Version 2.1

NEXSAN MSIO for AIXInstallation Manual

COPYRIGHTCopyright © 2009–2011 by Nexsan Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

TRADEMARKSNexsan® and the Nexsan logo are registered trademarks of Nexsan Corporation.

AIX® and IBM® are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.

All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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REVISION NOTICENexsan reserves the right to make changes to this manual, as well as the equipment and software described in this manual, at any time without notice. This manual may contain links to web sites that were current at the time of publication, but have since been moved or become inactive. It may also contain links to sites owned and operated by third parties. Nexsan is not responsible for the content of any such third-party site.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENTUnauthorized use, duplication, or modification of this document, in whole or in part, without the written consent of Nexsan Corporation is strictly prohibited. By providing this document, Nexsan Corporation does not make any representations regarding the correctness or completeness of its contents and reserves the right to alter this document at any time without notice. Features listed in this document are subject to change.

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CONTACT INFORMATIONNEXSAN Worldwide Headquarters — Los Angeles, USA555 St. Charles Drive, Suite 202Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Telephone: 866-4-NEXSAN (866-463-9726), or 805-418-2700 outside of North America

Technical Services: 866-2-NEXSAN (866-263-9726), or 760-690-1111 outside of North America

Fax: 805-418-2799

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

NEXSAN San Diego, USA302 Enterprise StreetEscondido, CA 92029


Technical Services: 866-2-Nexsan (866-263-9726), or 760-690-1111 outside of North America

Fax: 760-745-3503


NEXSAN Technologies, Ltd. — European Head Office, United KingdomUnits 33–35 Parker Centre, Mansfield RoadDerby, DE21 4SZUnited Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)1332 291600

Fax: +44 (0)1332 291616

Technical Services: +44 (0)1332 291600 Europe, 760-690-1111 USA


www.nexsan.com

mailto:[email protected]






Contents

Contents

About This Manual................................................................................... viiConventions............................................................................................................... vii

Text ...................................................................................................................... viiNotes.................................................................................................................... vii

Chapter 1: Overview .................................................................................. 1IBM AIX Multiple Path I/O........................................................................................... 1Nexsan Multi-Path I/O for IBM AIX............................................................................. 2

Nexsan MSIO Multipathing Features .................................................................... 2

Chapter 2: Installation and Use ................................................................ 3Installing the MSIO Software ...................................................................................... 3Discover MSIO volumes............................................................................................. 4

Chapter 3: Advanced Functions............................................................... 5Viewing and Changing the MPIO Policy..................................................................... 5Volume Groups........................................................................................................... 6HACMP best practices ............................................................................................... 6

Chapter 4: Uninstalling MSIO ................................................................... 7To Uninstall MSIO ...................................................................................................... 7

Appendix A: References .......................................................................... 9

Nexsan MSIO for AIX Installation Manualv2.1, September 2011

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Contents

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Preface

About This Manual

This document describes the installation and setup procedures for the Nexsan MSIO for AIX. It covers the Nexsan MSIO for AIX only. For information about other Nexsan units, see the Installation Manuals that come with each product.

Conventions

Text• Cross-references, both internal and to the titles of other documents, are in italic.

• Text that refers to labels on the unit itself is in boldface.

NotesNOTE: Notes contain important information, present alternative procedures, call attention to certain items, or provide handy tips.


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About This Manual

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Chapter 1

Overview

IBM AIX Multiple Path I/OWith Multiple Path I/O (MPIO), a device can be uniquely detected through one or more physical connections, or paths.

A path-control module (PCM) provides the path management functions.

An MPIO-capable device driver can control more than one type of target device. A PCM can support one or more specific devices. Therefore, one device driver, such as the Nexsan MSIO, can be interfaced to multiple PCMs that control the I/O across the paths to each of the target devices.

This illustration shows the interaction between the different components that make up the MPIO solution. In this figure, the MPIO device driver controls multiple types of target devices, each requiring a different PCM (KE=Kernel Extension, RTL=Run-Time Loadable).

Figure 1.1: MPIO Component Interactions

The AIX PCM consists of the PCM RTL configuration module, and the PCM KE kernel extension. The PCM KE supplies path-control management capabilities to any device driver that supports the MPIO interface.

The PCM KE depends on device configuration to detect paths and communicate that information to the device driver. The PCM KE can provide more than one routing algorithm, which can be selected by the user. The PCM KE also helps collect information that can be used to determine and select the best path for any I/O request. The PCM KE can select the best path based on a variety of criteria, including load balancing, connection speed, connection failure, etc.


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Chapter 1 — Overview

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The AIX PCM has a health-check capability that can be used to do the following:

• Check the paths and determine which paths are currently usable for sending I/O.

• Enable a path that was previously marked as having failed because of a temporary path fault (for example, when a cable to a device was removed and then reconnected).

• Check currently unused paths that would be used if a failover occurred (for example, when the algorithm attribute value is failover, the health check can test the alternate paths).

Nexsan Multi-Path I/O support for AIX is based on AIX standard Multi-Path driver. The only thing required for Nexsan Multi-Path support is definition of appropriate objects at AIX ODM database.

Nexsan Multi-Path I/O for IBM AIXNexsan MSIO v2.1 Multi-Path I/O support for AIX is based on the AIX standard Multi-Path driver. The only thing required for MSIO Multi-Path support is definition of appropriate objects at AIX ODM database.

Nexsan MSIO Multipathing FeaturesThe Nexsan MSIO provides the following load balancing policies:

• Failover — No load balancing is performed. The application specifies a primary path and a set of standby paths. The primary path is used for processing device requests. If the primary path fails, one of the standby paths is used. Standby paths must be listed in decreasing order of preference (the most preferred path first).

• Round-robin — Uses all available paths for I/O in a balanced, round-robin fashion.


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Chapter 2

Installation and Use

Installing the MSIO SoftwareIt is recommended to keep the entire installation set in a separate directory, so that the installation process may start with creation of this directory and copying four files:

extract perform:

# mkdir /opt/MSIO

# cd /opt/MSIO

Copy the supplied NEXSAN-MSIO_AIX6.1 into the MSIO folder. The MSIO folder should contain the following files:

1. install.sh

2. disk.fcp.nexsan.add

3. nexsan.msg

4. pcm.friend.nexsan.add

5. uninstall.sh

In order to install the Multi-Path I/O support on the AIX machine, execute the install.sh script from the MSIO folder:

# ./install.sh

This script will execute the following commands from the MSIO folder path:

# gencat nexsan.cat nexsan.msg

# cp nexsan.cat /usr/lib/methods

# odmadd disk.fcp.nexsan.add

# odmadd pcm.friend.nexsan.add

# bosboot -a

The installation process is completed.

NOTE: From now on, Multi-Path support will be provided for each MSIO volume. The default policy for the entire class of Multi-Path volumes in AIX is failover. In order to change the Multi-path policy, please refer to Chapter 3, Advanced Functions on page 5.


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Chapter 2 — Installation and Use

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Discover MSIO volumesBefore you start using Nexsan MSIO volumes on an AIX machine, execute the following:

# lsdev -c disk

You may see Nexsan MSIO volumes recognized by the AIX machine as Other FC SCSI Disk Drive. In order to verify whether these are Nexsan MSIO, execute:

# lsattr –El hdisk4 | grep lun_id

and match the printed LUN IDs with those defined by the Nexsan.

In this case, remove the device:

# rmdev -d -l <hdisk4>

and rescan the FC channels using the cfgmgr command or rebooting the AIX host:

# cfgmgr -l fcs0

# cfgmgr -l fcs1

Check your devices again using the lsdev command. You should see Nexsan volumes as NEXSAN FC SCSI Disk Drive, like this:

bash-3.00# lsdev -c disk

hdisk4 Available 07-09-01 NEXSAN FC SCSI Disk Drive




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Chapter 3

Advanced Functions

Viewing and Changing the MPIO PolicyIn order to check what the current Multi-Path policy is for Nexsan volumes, use the lsattr command, specifying the -El attributes. For example, for device hdisk7, enter the command:

# lsattr -El hdisk7|grep algorithm

algorithm fail_over PCM algorithm True

The example below shows the current MPIO policy for disk 10 that is under Round-Robin state (recommended for HACMP implementations):

bash-3.00# lsattr -El hdisk10

PCM PCM/friend/nexsanpcm Standard AIX PCM False

PR_key_value f1f2f3f4f5f6f7f8 Private reservation key True

algorithm round_robin PCM algorithm True

clr_q no Queue error clearing True

dist_err_pcnt 0 PCM error limit for failed path,percent True

dist_tw_width 50 PCM time-window, msec True

hcheck_cmd test_unit_rdy PCM health-check command True

hcheck_interval 30 PCM health-check interval True

hcheck_mode nonactive PCM health-check mode True

location Disk location, user defined True

lun_id 0x2000000000000 LUN ID False

lun_reset_spt yes N/A True

max_transfer 0x100000 Maximal transfer block size True

node_name 0x2001000402fc5509 Node name False

pvid 00057db22ae33f860000000000000000 Physical volume ID False

q_err no Queue error handling True

q_type simple Queue type True

queue_depth 255 Queue depth True

reassign_to 120 Reassign timeout, sec True

reserve_policy no_reserve Reservation policy True

rw_timeout 90 Read/Write timeout, sec True

scsi_id 0x370300 SCSI ID False

sn_location 081083 VPD location for dynamic tracking False

start_timeout 30 Start timeout, sec True


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ww_name 0x5000402301fc5509 WW Name False

bash-3.00#

In order to change Multi-Path policy for Nexsan volumes, use the chdev command, specifying the PR_key_value, reserve_policy and algorithm attributes.

For example, for device hdisk7, enter the command:

# chdev -l hdisk7 -aPR_key_value=0xf1f2f3f4f5f6f7f8 -areserve_policy=PR_exclusive -a algorithm=round_robin

Volume GroupsOnce the MPIO policy is in place, you can create an AIX volume group that will make use of the MPIO devices.

Use the mkvg command to create the volume group, as shown in the following example:

bash-3.00# mkvg -s 512 -y <my-vol-group> <hdisk10>

Once created, take the group online using the varyonvg command:

bash-3.00# varyonvg <my-vol-group>

Verify volume group creation using the lsvg command:

bash-3.00# lsvg <my-vol-group>

HACMP best practices1. MPIO Reservation Policy: When deploying the Nexsan MSIO in HACMP cluster environment, define

the no_reserve reservation policy.

2. MPIO Algorithm: When deploying the Nexsan MSIO in HACMP cluster environment, define the round_robin algorithm.

3. MPIO Health Check: When deploying the Nexsan MSIO in HACMP cluster environment, define the health check enabled.

Example:

# chdev -l hdisk7 –a hcheck_mode=enabled –a reserve_policy=no_reserve -a algorithm=round_robin


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Chapter 4

Uninstalling MSIO

To Uninstall MSIOIn order to remove Multi-Path I/O support from AIX machine, execute the uninstall.sh script from the MSIO folder:

# ./uninstall.sh

This Uninstall script will peform the following operations:

rm /usr/lib/methods/nexsan.cat

odmdelete -q uniquetype=disk/fcp/nexsan -o PdDv

odmdelete -q uniquetype=disk/fcp/nexsan -o PdAt

odmdelete -q uniquetype=disk/fcp/nexsan -o PdAtXtd

odmdelete -q uniquetype=disk/fcp/nexsan -o PdPathAt

odmdelete -q uniquetype=PCM/friend/nexsanpcm -o PdDv

odmdelete -q uniquetype=PCM/friend/nexsanpcm -o PdAt

odmdelete -q uniquetype=PCM/friend/nexsanpcm -o PdAtXtd

odmdelete -q uniquetype=PCM/friend/nexsanpcm -o PdPathAt

You may also wish to remove the directory containing the installation set.


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Chapter 4 — Uninstalling MSIO

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Appendix A

References

1. ODM and Install Requirements for IHV to Enable New Fibre Channel or iSCSI Device in AIX, version 1.0, August 26, 2005 (released under MPIO agreement only)

2. HACMP AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR AVAILABILITY, April 2004http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/resources/systems_p_software_whitepapers_hacmp_newtech.pdf

3. IBM AIX 6.1 “High Availability Cluster Multi-Processing for AIX” administrative guide for further information on HACMP testing & toolshttp://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/pseries/library/hacmp_docs.html


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http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/resources/systems_p_software_whitepapers_hacmp_newtech.pdf

http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/pseries/library/hacmp_docs.html

Appendix A — References

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Common Terms and Abbreviations


failoverThe capability of a system to switch over automatically to a redundant or standby system upon the failure or abnormal termination of the previously active system.

Fibre ChannelA gigabit-speed network technology primarily used for storage networking and the current standard connection type for storage area networks (SANs). Despite its name, Fibre Channel signaling can run on both twisted-pair copper wire and fiber-optic cables.

HACMPHigh-Availability Cluster Multi-Pathing. IBM’s multipathing solution for high-availability clusters.

high-availability clusterGroups of computers that provide failover for server applications which must be reliably utilized with a minimum of down-time. They operate by harnessing redundant computers in groups (“clusters”) that provide continued service when system components fail.

hostA computer, server, or other device which accesses the volumes in a Nexsan storage system.

I/OInput/Output. The communication between an information processing system (such as a computer or a Nexsan storage system), and the outside world (either an operator or another information processing system). Inputs are the signals or data received by the system, and outputs are the signals or data sent from it.

LUNLogical Unit Number. An identification scheme for storage disks that supports a small number of logical units. On Nexsan storage systems, LUNs are assigned to volumes and are addressed as LUN 0 through 254.

MPIOSee multipathing.

multipathingA means of presenting volumes to a particular host or hosts via redundant data paths. The intent is to maintain I/O in the event of a path failure. Multipathing may also be used to increase performance.

ODMObject Data Manager. A data manager intended for the storage of system data.

pathThe route through a file system to a specific file. In a network environment, the route between any two nodes.

PCMPath Control Module. A hardware or software device that provides path management fuctions.

SCSISmall Computer System Interface. A collection of standards and proposed standards for input/output (I/O) communication, primarily intended for connecting storage subsystems or devices to hosts.


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volumeAn area of usable storage that is addressed as a single unit as if it were a separate, physical disk drive. Volumes can exist on a single disk drive or on an array that spans multiple disk drives.


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NEXSAN Worldwide Headquarters — Los Angeles, USA555 St. Charles Drive, Suite 202Thousand Oaks, CA 91360


Technical Services: 866-2-NEXSAN (866-263-9726), or 760-690-1111 outside of North America

Fax: 805-418-2799


NEXSAN San Diego, USA302 Enterprise StreetEscondido, CA 92029


Technical Services: 866-2-Nexsan (866-263-9726), or 760-690-1111 outside of North America

Fax: 760-745-3503


NEXSAN Technologies, Ltd. — European Head Office, UKUnits 33–35 Parker Centre, Mansfield RoadDerby, DE21 4SZUnited Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)1332 291600

Fax: +44 (0)1332 291616

Technical Services: +44 (0)1332 291600 Europe, 760-690-1111 USA


Copyright © 2009–2011 Nexsan Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Nexsan® and the Nexsan logo are registered trademarks of Nexsan Corporation.

AIX® and IBM® are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.

All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Version 2.1Release Date: September 2011

nexsan msio for aix installation manual - support · hacmp best practices ... nexsan msio for aix...

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