Can I upgrade a Single Bus MSA30 to Dual Bus? How?

[cam9269]

Hi Guys,

Can anybody tell me if it is possible to add another controller on an MSA30 Single Bus Storage? And if so, can you point me to the proper steps to take in order to achieve a dual bus configuration

Thanks heaps!

[Niels Vejrup Pedersen]

Hello,

The only difference on the Single Bus and Dual bus model is the IO Module and the supplied cables (1 cable for single, 2 for dual)

I'm not sure if data on disks in the enclosure will be intact when changing the IO module - please check elsewhere.

This is the Dual Bus IO Module: 287483-B21

Regards

[Rob Leadbeater]

Hi,

Just to avoid any confusion, the MSA30 does not have any controllers - it is just a disk shelf. It has different I/O modules, that allow it to be Single Bus or Dual Bus.

To move from a single to dual bus configuration you change the I/O module, however you are very likely to need to change the configuration on whatever controllers the MSA30 is connected to.

Please give us the full hardware configuration if you need more info...

Cheers,

Rob

[cam9269]

Thanks for the information Rob.

The configuration is as follows:

1 x MSA30 SB with 9 x 146GB 15KRPM SCSI HDD
This is connected to an rp4440 with an SA6402 (256 Cache Mem)

Disk Configuration

LUN1: c4t0d0
RAID: 1+0
#Disks: 6

LUN2: c4t0d0
RAID: 0
#Disks: 2

The remaining disk is a spare disk


Regards,
Chris

[ManojK_1]

Hi Cam,

I have achived your requirement by replacing the controller in MSA30 with a Multi Initaiator Card (MIC).

So we were connected our clustered DB Server (2 Numbers) to MSA30 and it is working fine.Maximum 2 Servers are possible.

Please go through the below link.

http://www.it-einkauf.de/images/PDF/943FWN3.pdf

Thanks and Regards,
Manoj K

[Rob Leadbeater]

OK. The other question I meant to ask, was what you are hoping to achieve by moving to a dual bus setup...?

Also, where in the MSA30 are the current drives located ? When moving to a dual bus, the SCSI IDs will change, which could have an impact on the existing configuration.

Cheers,

Rob

[cam9269]

Hi Rob, my goal is to add more IO grunt to the server, if this is achievable in my adding a second IO module.

The drives are all located at the leftmost part of the storage when looking at the front. If SCSI IDs will change, then I would need to do a backup/restore on my VGs, now would I?

Thanks!

[Uwe Zessin]

It looks like the MSA30 is connected to a SmartArray 6402 RAID controller. I'm very sure this card supports 'drive roaming':
- shut down the system
- replace I/O module, connect second bus
- move disks to new positions
- power on the system
- SmartArray controller will recognize changes

This is transparent for HP-UX, which is using the SA6402's logical disks.

[cam9269]

Hi Uwe,

Thanks for the info. Just when you say "move disks to new positions", how do you propose I do the movement, cause, as I've mentioned, they're all at the left most part of the storage. Should I divide them up, five at the leftmost then 4 to start at the middle?

Regards,
Chris

[Uwe Zessin · Accepted solution]

Chris,
for best performance you should divide the RAID-10 and the RAID-0 arrays across both busses.

The first 7 bays make up one bus and the remaining 7 bays the other one.

[cam9269]

very much appreciate your inputs Uwe. Thanks! Now all I need to do is wait for approvals :)