topic Re: EVA_4k and Secure path in Disk Enclosures

EVA_4k and Secure path

CSP_ALGERIA — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 03:44:33 GMT

Hello,

We have installed a new Eva 4k attached to two rp7420 running under Hpux 11i.

Before, when installing Eva 3k and Eva 5k, we have to install secure path (the CD comes with the storage).

Without secure path we can see 8 paths for a LUN.

With this new installation, we have not the product secure path!

Is it necessary to install secure path product on hosts to have only one device file, or we just use LVM to use others paths with vgextend command after creating the volume group on one path for the redundancy?

Because, I herd, that with Eva 4k, the two controllers works in active mode each one. And we can work without secure path? Think that I want to understand and verify!

Please if you have any information, or any links talking about that.

Best regards

Omar

Re: EVA_4k and Secure path

Uwe Zessin — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 05:38:29 GMT

Omar,
you don't need Secure Path (for active/active controllers) on HP-UX unless you want to use dynamic load balancing. PVlinks can deal with the EVA4000 fine.

Re: EVA_4k and Secure path

CSP_ALGERIA — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 02:47:26 GMT

Hello Uwe,

First, many thanks for your feedback and for this information, but how can I verify that the controllers work in active/active and at what level of the firmware ?

best regards and many thanks again.

Omar

Re: EVA_4k and Secure path

Peter Mattei — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 03:40:48 GMT

The EVA4000 like the EVA6000 and EVA8000 always run active/active and cannot be configured active/passive!

You do have 3 possibilities to configure the EVA4k with redundant pathes and failover:

1. pvlink built into HP-UX (Active/standby LUN access)
2. SecurePath optional (various configuration possibilities like round robbin)
3. Veritas DMP optional (part of the Storage Foundation suite; various configuration possibilities like round robbin)

For most installations pvlink is OK.

For more Info also see the SAN Design reference Guide Chapter 8 on
http://www.hp.com/go/sandesign

Cheers
Peter

Re: EVA_4k and Secure path

Peter Mattei — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 03:46:06 GMT

BTW
To find out more about the differences between SecurePath (SP) for active/passive and active/active EVA support check out the following manual
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00248499/c00248499.pdf

You have to know that SP for avtive/active uses imbedded AutoPath SW that presents LUNs differently!

Cheers
Peter

Re: EVA_4k and Secure path

Fernando Boza — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:33:30 GMT

Please to correct to me if I am mistaken.

Secure Path makes failover online, with the server up.
PVlink makes failover at the following boot.

An extra question:
I can connect eva3000 and eva4000 to same host?
In this case as works secure path?
Perhaps I must install secure path active/active and secure path active/pasive in same host?

Re: EVA_4k and Secure path

Peter Mattei — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:57:19 GMT

Fernando

You are wrong!

Both Secure Path and pvlink fail over automatically and transparent without boot!

For EVA3000 and 4000 support on same HP-UX server you can install SecurePath. The bas part will support the active/passive EVA3000 and the imbedded AutoPath will support the EVA4000.

See the SAN Design Reference Guide Chapter 8 for full support info of all OSes
http://www.hp.com/go/sandesign

Cheers
Peter