Monitoring fiber paths to MSA2000 with HP_fibreutils binaries

[compiler]

Hi.

I have a working system with a dual port HBA connected to an HP MSA2000 storage solution. Both HBA ports are connected to the MSA2000.

I need to write a script to monitor that both fiber paths are ready and no path has been lost.

I have the following binary available:

[root@fe04 hp_fibreutils]# ./adapter_info
/proc/scsi/qla2xxx/1: STATE=READY WWNN=5001438003b0f997 WWPN=5001438003b0f996
/proc/scsi/qla2xxx/0: STATE=READY WWNN=5001438003b0f995 WWPN=5001438003b0f994

The above "STATE=READY" can be used to monitor both data paths? Or they just refer to the status of the hba-port itself?

If a fiber cable is removed from one of the HBA port's, the above command would reflect it? What would be the value of STATE= in that case?

If not, how can I monitor it? Maybe a /proc entry? The best "alternative" I've found is the following:

[root@fe04 hp_fibreutils]# grep -i state /proc/scsi/qla2xxx/*
/proc/scsi/qla2xxx/0:Host adapter:loop state = , flags = 0x1a13
/proc/scsi/qla2xxx/1:Host adapter:loop state = , flags = 0x1a13

Thanks a lot.

[Bharath_Pingali]

Hello Compiler,

adapter_info will display HBA port status only.

As you are using both ports and OS is linux, i guess that you are using multipathing software (Device-Mapper).

Which linux version are you running?

multipath -ll | egrep -i "failed|faulty" should display if any paths fail or you can always grep for "failing" on "/var/log/messages".



Hope this helps.

-Thank You
Bharath

[compiler]

> As you are using both ports and OS
> is linux, i guess that you are using
> multipathing software (Device-Mapper).

Multipathing software, AFAIK, is not needed with the QLA drivers shipped with HP Proliant Support Pack.

You just configure the controllers as active-pasive failover:

[root@fe04 ~]# cat /etc/modprobe.conf.hba
options qla2xxx ql2xmaxqdepth=16 qlport_down_retry=30 ql2xloginretrycount=30 ql2xfailover=1 ql2xl
bType=0 ql2xautorestore=0xa ConfigRequired=0
remove qla2xxx /sbin/modprobe -r --first-time --ignore-remove qla2xxx && { /sbin/modprobe -r --ign
ore-remove qla2xxx_conf; }


So I can't use multipathing software binaries to determine link's status ...

Any other idea?

[skt_skt]

Follwoign has been helpful for me

cat /proc/scsi/qla2300/1|grep -i dropped
Commands retried with dropped frame(s) = 0

[Bharath_Pingali]

Hello Compiler,

Check with your HP rep, MSA 2000 is not supported by Qlogic Failover.

You have to use device Mapper.

hope this helps.

-Thank You
Bharath

[compiler]

> Check with your HP rep, MSA 2000 is not
> supported by Qlogic Failover.
>
> You have to use device Mapper.

How is that possible?

I remember, when we installed the machine, to do a failover test while writing to the MSA, and after 20-30 seconds, the O.S. continued writing to the "alternate" path :-?

[Uwe Zessin]

"Unsupported" does not mean: "nothing works".

I know one should not compare computers and cars, but think about this:

Driving on a motorway in the wrong direction is "unsupported". But sometimes people can make it over quite a distance without something bad happens.


In the computer world "Unsupported" often means:

- the vendor did not test a certain combination and cannot guarantee that it (MSA2000 with QLogic failover driver) works properly

- the vendor tested a certain configuration, found some problems and decided that he does not want to fix it, so he declares it "Unsupported"

[Dan Pyper]

One general comment on the best way to check if your current storage configuration is support by HP - go to the HP SPOCK website

http://h20272.www2.hp.com/

SPOCK is the primary portal used to obtain detailed information about supported HP StorageWorks product configurations. An HP Passport account is required to enter the SPOCK website.

SPOCK will allow you to look up supported configurations as follows:

»View by Array/OS
»View by Array
»View by OS
»View by Switch
»View by Router
»View by HBA