topic Re: Multiple Non-Initialized disks Visible on Each Cluster Node in MSA Storage

Multiple Non-Initialized disks Visible on Each Cluster Node

john Della Pietra — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 11:52:57 GMT

Hello

I am new to the MSA1000 but not to SANs as a whole.

We have a 2 node exchange cluster which accesses our MSA.

We have 3 LUNS for the cluster, but on both nodes they see 6 Drives each.

The offline node sees all 6 as not initialized and the online node sees 3 working and 3 as non-initialized.

Each node has 1 QL2340.

The MSA has 2 controllers.

There is no path software installed.

I know that the offline node should see 3 drives for the cluster as in http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=PSD_EM030521_CW01.

Thanks
John

Re: Multiple Non-Initialized disks Visible on Each Cluster Node

Uwe Zessin — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 04:03:45 GMT

> There is no path software installed.

You have an invalid configuration -
honestly, what do you expect?

Re: Multiple Non-Initialized disks Visible on Each Cluster Node

john Della Pietra — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 12:41:21 GMT

Hello

The HP MPIO pathing software is only to be installed on servers with 2 HBAs in it, any less and it looks like it is not supported or suitqble for this task.

Thanks
John

Re: Multiple Non-Initialized disks Visible on Each Cluster Node

Uwe Zessin — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 12:45:55 GMT

> The MSA has 2 controllers.

Does the adapter have access to both controllers?

If yes, that gives you two paths, but even with a multipath solution is this an invalid configuration!

One adapter is allowed to access only one MSA controller.

Re: Multiple Non-Initialized disks Visible on Each Cluster Node

john Della Pietra — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 05:16:39 GMT

Hi

The controllers are not both running active at the same time, they are in active/ passive mode.

My worry is that the passive controller will not successfully take over in the event of the active card failing, unless there is an additional HBA per server, and pathing software, but...

The HP best practice doc says....

""Attachment of single-path servers to a dual-controller MSA1000 configured with Secure Path and dual HBA servers is supported with the following operating systems:
MS Windows
Novell Netware
However if the active controller fails, single path servers lose access to data on the MSA1000.""

This seems to say that it does not matter whether you have a passive card installed, it will not failover with only one path, you have to have 2 paths, ie. 2 HBAs. Is this right??

Thanks
John

Re: Multiple Non-Initialized disks Visible on Each Cluster Node

DanDelcroix — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 08:21:01 GMT

Hi,

As Uwe stated before, one HBA is allowed to access only one MSA controller.
You need 2 HBA's in each server, each HBA connected to one MSA controller throught isolated fabrics (one active and one passive), then install the path software.
Regards.

Re: Multiple Non-Initialized disks Visible on Each Cluster Node

john Della Pietra — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 15:11:17 GMT

Drat!

Better get the cheque book out again.

Thanks
John.

Re: Multiple Non-Initialized disks Visible on Each Cluster Node

Uwe Zessin — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 15:24:28 GMT

If you are talking about an "exchange cluster", I assume this is based on Windows. You should be able to use the Windows basic MPIO for MSA:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?prodNameId=421495〈=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=18964&prodSeriesId=421492&taskId=135

Re: Multiple Non-Initialized disks Visible on Each Cluster Node

Uwe Zessin — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 15:28:52 GMT

Sigh, I should have followed the links :-(
at least some of them go into a vacuum.

Try this one instead:
http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/22184.html