topic Re: Identifying a raw device file in Operating System - HP-UX

Identifying a raw device file

mjos — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:40:14 GMT

Hi,
Need help in identify a raw device file in Unix.
There is an logical volume /dev/vgdb/lvol1 which has no file-system mounted, but has many process associated with this volume when I do an fuser -u /dev/vgdb/lvol1.
How do I identify that this is a raw device file.
There are no oracle databases running on the server. There is one more logical volume - /dev/vgdb/lvora which is mounted & also shows the same process as that for /dev/vgdb/lvol1.
Thanks.

Re: Identifying a raw device file

Michael Steele_2 — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:27:47 GMT

HI

fstyp /dev/vg/rlvol (* note the 'r'lvol *)

If its not vxfs or hfs then it's raw for it hasn't been 'newfs'd

ls -ld /dev/vg/rlvol - if its not owned by root but is by an application or database

lvdisplay -v /dev/vg/lvol

from the application or database.
NoTE: This is the whole point of using raw lvols, to give control to the application or database. So why wouldn't you be able to see what you need from here?

Re: Identifying a raw device file

James R. Ferguson — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:31:45 GMT

Hi:

> How do I identify that this is a raw device file.

Do:

# ls -l filename

Something like:

crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x010001 Feb 17 15:11 /dev/vg01/rlvol1

...is a raw device file. The 'c' signifies a character (raw) device file.

Regards!

...JRF...

Re: Identifying a raw device file

mjos — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:51:17 GMT

# fstyp /dev/vgdb/rlvol1
vxfs
# ls -ld /dev/vgdb/rlvol1
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x010001 Nov 20 13:57 /dev/vgdb01/rlvol1

# cd /dev/vgdb
# ll
total 0
crw-r--r-- 1 root sys 64 0x010000 Nov 20 13:53 group
brw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x010001 Nov 20 13:57 lvol1
brw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x010001 Nov 20 13:57 lvora1
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x010001 Nov 20 13:57 rlvol1
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x010001 Nov 20 13:57 rlvora1

fuser -u /dev/vgdb01/lvol1 --> shows processes associated with this lv.
These are the same process that are also associated with /dev/vgdb01/lvora1.

/dev/vgdb01/lvol1 is not mounted & doesn't have any file-system associated with this LV.
I am unable to remove this lv as it shows "sparing operation in progress"

Re: Identifying a raw device file

S. Ney — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:31:40 GMT

what does ll /dev/vg*/group, ll /dev/vgdb, and ll /dev/vgdb01 show? Any duplicates in minor numbers?
It's strange that your ls -ld command showed your lvol mapped to a different volume group.
what is the output of vgdisplay -v /dev/vgdb01?
If you do not need vgdb01 you could consider trying a vgexport of that volume group.

this thread may be of some reference:
http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=72437