topic Re: Missing FC Links to VA7100 disk array in Disk Enclosures

Missing FC Links to VA7100 disk array

HP-SKY — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:46:03 GMT

Hi All -
I have two HP9000/rp5430 servers connected to a VA7100 using two FC switches. Each HP server has two fibrechannel HBAs connected to the switch. When I run "ioscan -fnC fc" the output displays:
Class I H/W Path Driver S/W State H/W Type Description
=================================================================
fc 0 0/10/0/0 td CLAIMED INTERFACE HP Tachyon XL2 Fibre Channel Mass Storage Adapter
/dev/td0
fc 1 0/12/0/0 td CLAIMED INTERFACE HP Tachyon XL2 Fibre Channel Mass Storage Adapter
/dev/td1
This shows that there are two HBAs. When I run "fcmsutil /dev/td0 get remote all", then the response comes back: "No devices found".

When I run "fcmsutil /dev/td1 get remote all", then the response comes back:

Target N_Port_id is = 0x010027
Target state = DVS_READY
Symbolic Name = HP A6188A HP22
Port Type = NL_PORT
etc....

Why do I get the target returned when looking at /dev/td1 but nothing when looking at /dev/td0 ???
I have physically checked both HBAs on both servers, and they are operational with both green link lights.
Any ideas ??

Re: Missing FC Links to VA7100 disk array

Torsten. — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:43:05 GMT

How about the array ports?

What is this command telling you?

# armdsp -a

Re: Missing FC Links to VA7100 disk array

HP-SKY — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:15:20 GMT

The result from "armdsp -a VA7100" displays the complete list of all devices on the array. Here's the list for the PORTS section:
PORTS

Settings for port M/C1.H1:
Port ID:______________________________110
Behavior:_____________________________HPUX
Topology:_____________________________Private Loop
Queue Full Threshold:_________________750
Data Rate:____________________________1 GBit/sec

Settings for port M/C2.H1:
Port ID:______________________________108
Behavior:_____________________________HPUX
Topology:_____________________________Private Loop
Queue Full Threshold:_________________750
Data Rate:____________________________1 GBit/sec

Seems to look OK.
It appears that the HP server can communicate to the disk array just fine through a single FC HBA. I'm just wondering why the HP server does not use both HBA's. I would expect to see the array device through both FibreChannel HBA cards: /dev/td0 and /dev/td1.

Re: Missing FC Links to VA7100 disk array

marsh_1 — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:49:22 GMT

hi,

you got any multipathing software on this system ? which version of hp-ux is it / see this thread :-

http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?admit=109447626+1235220222428+28353475&threadId=1227457

Re: Missing FC Links to VA7100 disk array

marsh_1 — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:56:57 GMT

hi,

also on the array do you have any lun masking in place ?

Re: Missing FC Links to VA7100 disk array

HP-SKY — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:18:29 GMT

HI All -
The version of OS is HP 11i, V2. There is no extra multipathing software installed such as "SecurePath".

However, it appears from some of your answers, that I need to use PVlinks to setup a multi-path to the LUNs on the disk array. I haven't used this utility. Is there any appropriate documentation that describes how to use pvlinks to do this task?

Re: Missing FC Links to VA7100 disk array

Torsten. — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:22:39 GMT

pvlinks is very simple.

If you have a VG with a disk, let's say

c1t2d3

and an alternate path with device

c2t2d3

you just vgextend your VG with this device.

That's it.

Could you post an

# ioscan -fn

and

# armtopology

first?

Re: Missing FC Links to VA7100 disk array

HP-SKY — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:20:40 GMT

The problem is that when I run "ioscan -fnC disk" then I still only see one path to the drives in the disk array. ioscan does not pick up and recognize a 2nd path. Would that explain why I only see disks through the FC path /dev/td1, but not /dev/td0 ?

Re: Missing FC Links to VA7100 disk array

Torsten. — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:23:26 GMT

Any switch between server and array?

Re: Missing FC Links to VA7100 disk array

HP-SKY — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:31:25 GMT

Yes. There are two FC switches between the HBA and the disk array.

Re: Missing FC Links to VA7100 disk array

Torsten. — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:23:04 GMT

Check on the switch:

- if it can see both, server and array
- zoning

on the array:

- if secure manager is enabled, check settings

Re: Missing FC Links to VA7100 disk array

HP-SKY — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:04:26 GMT

All,
It turns out that the VA7100 Controlers were configured as "Private Loop" and not "Fabric". I connected to the VA7100 controller serial port and made the change. Then, I rebooted the Fibre Switches, and confirmed the connections from the switch to the VA7100 and the switch to the two HBAs in the HP Servers. At the same time, I forced the Fibre Switches to use 2GB port speed.
After rebooting the servers, the IOSCAN output displays both physical FC paths to the VA7100 LUNs.