MPIO support for RHEL4U4 IA64 with EVA6000

[Sanstorage]

I would like to verify that MPIO is supported for RHEL4U4 IA64 Kernel with EVA6000 array. Where can I find the configuration guide for the same. Also, we will be installing Oracle 10G R2 RAC on Integrity Rx6600 servers and would like to know whether to use the native MPIO or HP Secure Path for path management functions. Any reason to use one or the other?

Your feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

[Uwe Zessin]

Most Secure Path software except for the latest HP-UX version does not work with the EVA4000/6000/8000.

You could use the QLogic Multipath or Emulex 'Multipulse' failover driver or, if this is not a production environment, play with the device mapper.

[Sanstorage]

Thanks for your feedback. I'm set on the Emulex driver for the servers but was looking for Path Management software recommendation. As per your comment, my choice would be to use MPIO that is bundled with the RHEL4U4 IA64 Kernel.

[Uwe Zessin]

That would be the device mapper. But, last time I checked, it was not supported in a production environment by HP.

[Sanstorage]

That will be bad. Since MPIO is supported by the Linux kernel natively, HP should support it with the EVA6000 array. Is there a certification matirx that HP publishes? Thanks.

[Rob Leadbeater]

Hi,

The certification matrix in the SAN Design Guide here:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00403562/c00403562.pdf

Page 151, shows that your OS and storage combination is supported, although there are no details as to what HBAs and Multipathing software you need...

Cheers,

Rob

[Sanstorage]

Thanks for the PDF. We've two HBA's (HPQ AD167A/FC2143 - Emulex LP1150) and would like to use multipathing using MPIO with the EVA6000 array. There is no mention of that in the PDF. Page 154 mentions Linux multipathing coexistence support but no mention of MPIO. Any help is appreciated.

[Basil Vizgin]

For your config FC2143/FC2243 supported with Emulex Multipulse 2.2.20/HBAnyware 3.2a7 for management.
Driver version 8.0.16.32 or 8.0.16.27. FW 2.70a5.

[Sanstorage]

We are all set from the Emulex driver standpoint. Since we've 2 HBA's in a dual fabric configuration we would like to use a path management software like MPIO. The question is around MPIO support with the EVA array. Thanks.

[Basil Vizgin · Accepted solution]

Emulex Multipulse is MPIO Emulex software. HBAnyware used for management of Multipulse: set preferred path, etc.