topic Re: HPUX Disk Failure and Recovery Question in Operating System - HP-UX

HPUX Disk Failure and Recovery Question

CJENSEN_1 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:20:14 GMT

Hello Everyone,

We are looking at business continuity, and have a question:

1) We have a RX3600 HPUX itanium server, running HPUX 11.31. Except for the OS, all of our disks for this server are on our SAN, a HP EVA4400.

2) We do a nightly backup to tape of all production filesystems, using fbackup, as well as regular ignite backups.

What would happen if:

Let's say the RX3600 server was completely destroyed during the day, and it had to be replaced. After getting a replacement RX3600 server, and then re-igniting it, and then presenting the same EVA4400 disks to the replacement server:

1) Would it be business as usual, or, would HPUX fail during the filesystem sanity checks?

2) Would the Oracle databases be able to start up, or would their files be out of sync?

3) Or would we have to restore the filesystems from the fbackup tape?

Thanks...colin

Re: HPUX Disk Failure and Recovery Question

Patrick Wallek — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:57:28 GMT

1) If it is the same exact LUNs from EVA4400, then you should be able to reimport the VGs, activate them and mount the LVs. As a part of this, you should have a map file of all VGs included somewhere on your system. A 'vgexport -p -v -s -m /some/dir/vg##.map'

2 & 3) It depends on the type of failure. It is possible that Oracle would come up without any problems. It is also possible that you may have to do some recovery. That you would have to determine at the time of failure.

Re: HPUX Disk Failure and Recovery Question

Torsten. — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:41:58 GMT

Assuming you replace the complete server and restore your ignite image, the environment is exactly the same - except the FC HBA WWNs!

Because of this you need to adjust your switch zoning and the LUN presentation from the EVA.

If you use the same "old" FC HBAs, you are ready to go after restoring the ignite image.

Re: HPUX Disk Failure and Recovery Question

CJENSEN_1 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:53:44 GMT

Thank you both for your replies.

You are correct, the re-ignition of the server would have the old WWW Names, and that would have to be changed on the EVA configuration if the old FCD's were not used. My main concern/question is what would be the state of the non-VG00 filesystems, and if we will have to use our fbackup recovery tape.

...colin

Re: HPUX Disk Failure and Recovery Question

Patrick Wallek — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:57:26 GMT

As said above, the data on the EVA should still be available and you should be able to import VGs once zoning has been re-established.

As to the state of the Oracle DB files..... That will have to be determined when you try to restart Oracle.