topic Re: QLogic or Emulex with SAN/XP12000, given the choice? in Operating System - Linux

QLogic or Emulex with SAN/XP12000, given the choice?

Simon Hargrave — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:10:10 GMT

Hi, we have Cisco SAN connecting 9000 and Integrity HPUX servers to XP12000 array. We now need to add a few Linux servers into the SAN. I'd like to know whether Qlogic (with QLogic failover driver) or Emulex (MultiPulse driver) is preferred in this configuration, and why? I know they're both supported, just looking for opinion from anyone who's used either or preferably both.

We do have some qlogic cards currently, but that's in a separate environment using SecurePath and Active/Passive MSA.

Thanks, Simon

Re: QLogic or Emulex with SAN/XP12000, given the choice?

skt_skt — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:32:08 GMT

I would recommend the qlogic driver as you posted in a Linux forum since managing the lpfc/emulex driver is difficult than qlogic one atleast in Linux.

Re: QLogic or Emulex with SAN/XP12000, given the choice?

Steven E. Protter — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:33:24 GMT

Shalom Simon,

Qlogic drivers are built into the Linux kernel, making the overall installation administration process somewhat easier.

Mostly though I end up replacing the drivers with the latest from Qlogic.

Emulex drivers may require you build a new initrd ram disk manually. Not difficult if you have the right drivers.

SEP

Re: QLogic or Emulex with SAN/XP12000, given the choice?

skt_skt — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:15:13 GMT

SEP ,

could check these steps

Here is the plan for handling the lpfc module.

â ¢ Boot in single user mode or comment the fstab for the SAN volumes and come up with new kernel.

â ¢ reinstall the lpfc rpm

â ¢ Copy the old /lib/modules/2.4.21-47.ELsmp/kernel/drivers/scsi/lpfcdd.o to the corresponding new kernel location(/lib/modules/2.4.21-53.ELsmp/kernel/drivers/scsi/lpfcdd.o)

â ¢ Take a backup and Edit the /etc/modules.conf and comment the entries for lpfc
# grep lpfc /etc/modules.conf
alias scsi_hostadapter1 lpfcdd
alias scsi_hostadapter2 lpfcdd

â ¢ Take a backup of the existing initrd image and create a new one.
mkinitrd /boot/initrd-2.4.21-53.ELsmp.img 2.4.21-53.ELsmp

â ¢ Revert the changes on /etc/modules.conf

â ¢ Reboot to check everything works fine with the 3rd party kernel module (lpfc).

Re: QLogic or Emulex with SAN/XP12000, given the choice?

dirk dierickx — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:02:35 GMT

qlogic, best driver, works great. also on the SAN site i think qlogic is prefered.

Re: QLogic or Emulex with SAN/XP12000, given the choice?

Simon Hargrave — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:39:42 GMT

Thanks all, Qlogic it is then :D