topic Re: HPVM question in Operating System - HP-UX

HPVM question

Bijal — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:25:51 GMT

Hello,

We currently have a single node cluster (HPVM host), and are planning to add another node in the cluster.
The configuration is currently -
HPVM Host
---------
OS - 11iv2
SG - A.11.18
HPVM version- A.03.50

The new host will be -
OS - 11iv3
SG - A.11.18
HPVM version - B.04.10

The question I have is around the 2 nodes having different versions of HPVM. Is this supported? Will the guests running on the 3.5 host be able to run on the 4.1 host, and vice versa?

Any help would be appreciated?

Thanks.

Re: HPVM question

melvyn burnard — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:43:07 GMT

Well I can comment on a few things that come to mind here:
1) Serviceguard is supported in a mixed OS environment with the same specific versions of Serviceguard, and A.11.18 is one of those.
2) If you are going to use the VM as a package, is the Guest OS supported by both versions of VM?
3) There is functionality in B.04.10 that is not available with B.03.50, so you cannot use this.
4) HP-UX 11iv3 has a newer better I/O stack including built in multi-pathing, which is not there in 11iv2.
5) HP-UX 11iv3 has additional newer functionality that is not available for 11iv2.
6) With different OS and HPVM versions, you make management more difficult as there are different patches ofr the OS and HPVM versions.
7) If you end up with an issue or problems in the cluster, troubleshooting is made more difficult becuase you now have additional variable factors to consider such as the OS and HPVM versions and patches.
So my opinion is that, whether this would be supported or not, it seems to me to be better to have both hosts at the same OS version.

If you really DO want to go with this, I recommend you log a support cal with HP.

Re: HPVM question

Eric SAUBIGNAC — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:49:36 GMT

Bonjour Bijal,

I recently updated a VM cluster from Host 11iv2 / HPVM3.0 / MCSG 11.18 to Host 11iv3 / HPVM 4.10 / MCSG 11.19.

What I could see during the upgrade process, was that VM Guests (11iv2) upgraded with HPVM4.10 guests tools and latest patches were able to run in both environments.

But I guess it is not a supported configuration.

What you should do is to take advantage of the new node to migrate the old one. General guideline :

+ install the new node with latest 11iv3, HPVM4.10, patches ....

+ move VM, one bye one, from old host to new one. The key to properly move a VM is very simple : just recreate it on the target host with THE VERY SAME VIRTUAL BUS ADRESSING it has on the original node.

+ update the VM : update-ux if necessary (check release notes to see if your OS guest is supported), latest patches, guests tools)

+ Once all the VM are moved, you can do a fresh install of the old host or with an ignite image of the new one

+ Then create the HPVM cluster

Eric

Re: HPVM question

Bijal — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:11:35 GMT

Thanks both for your replies.

Re: HPVM question

Bijal — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:14:04 GMT

The replies confirmed my own opinion.

Thanks.