Which MPIO is correct from MSA1500cs and Win2k3

[Sgul]

Hi
For our Win2003 servers connecting to MSA1500cs, I found two MPIO software, which one is the correct one?

1.HP MPIO Basic Failover for MSA 1000/MSA1500 for Windows 1.1
http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/22184.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

2.HP MPIO Basic DSM (Device Specific Module) for Windows for MSA1000/1500 Active-Passive Disk Arrays 1.3
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=18964&prodSeriesId=421492&swItem=co-43170-1&prodNameId=421495&swEnvOID=1005&swLang=13&taskId=135&mode=4&idx=0

Whats the difference in the two ?
Thanks.

[John Kufrovich · Accepted solution]

Shahid,

To determine which MPIO to use for your MSA1500. You need to determine your MSA FW.

MSA1500 FW = 5.10, Active/Passive FW, You the latest Basic MPIO. The latest Basic MPIO version is 1.3 it replaced, version 1.1.

MSA1500 FW = 6.86, Active/Active FW, You will need Full Featured MPIO and the MSA FF DSM.

jk

[Sgul]

Thanks John,
Our MSA1500cs FW is 5.10, Active/Passive.
So the MPIO Basic DSM 1.3 is the one for us.

The DSM (Drive Specific Module) is something HP added to the name of this software? What does that imply ?

cheers

[Peter Mattei]

No, no, DSM is defined in the MPIO stack by Microsoft.
Microsoft just provides the multipathing capability with MPIO. The actual device implementation has to be don by the storage vendor with the DSM.

Read more in the Microsoft paper on: http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/0/4/304083f1-11e7-44d9-92b9-2f3cdbf01048/mpio.doc

and see the attached architecture drawing.

Cheers
Pete

[Sgul]

Thanks Peter,
Good info.

[Peter Mattei]

Great, what about some points? :-)

Pete