HPUX 11.00: Restoring previous LVM information

[LG Porter]

I have a HP K570 running HPUX 11.00. Recently I had to rebuild the OS using a make-recvoery tape that was several weeks old. Between the time that the make_recovery tape was created and the present date, I had created a new volume group and safed the files in the /etc/lvmconf location to a safe location prior to restoring the OS with the make_recovery tape. Is that a way I can restore the LVM structure (that is, let's used as example vg01, /dev/vg01 and associated character/block files location) with only the /etc/lvmconf/vg01.conf file? (The disks previously used for vg01 was deactivated prior to using the make_recovery tape and the data is still on the disk. I have a copy of the /etc/fstab as well as a previous "strings /etc/lvmtab".)

[Pete Randall · Accepted solution]

The way to do this would have been to export VG01 prior to the restore using vgexport with the -p option and the -m option to create a map file - then all you would have to do is import it.

You can still import it, though:

mkdir /dev/vg01
mknod /dev/vg01/group c 64 0x010000
vgimport -s /dev/vg01
vgchange -a y /dev/vg01

This will scan the physical volumes available for LVM information to select the proper PVs (the -s option) and use default lvol names (since we were unable to export to create a map file).


Pete

[LG Porter]

Hi Pete:

I did not make a map file prior to performing the restore....can the vgcfgrestore command be used if the chacter and block file where created manaully? (that is, mknod /dev/vg01/group c 64 0x010000, mknod /dev/vg01/d01 c 64 010001, mknod /dev/vg01/rd01 b 64 0x010001....)

[Mark Grant]

I wouldn't want to disagree with Pete here so I'm probably wrong and he's probably right but I don't think you can vgimport -s if you didn't vgexport -s.

I think you might have to do a vgscan which will re-build yout /etc/lvmtab by looking at all the LVM data on the disks. Make a copy of your /etc/lvmtab file first though.

Just remember though, Pete is probably right :)

[Pete Randall]

The vgcfgrestore command restores the LVM data to a physical volume. If I understand your situation correctly, that data should still be on your "vg01" disks. All you need to do is import the disks so your OS will recognize the VG.


Pete

[Pete Randall]

Mark,

Thanks for the vote of confidence but I wouldn't be so sure.

L.G. - if the -s option won't work, you'll just have to list the paths to the physical disk in your vgimport command. Since you have that information for you "strings /etc/lvmtab", it shouldn't be too difficult in any case.


Pete

[Robert-Jan Goossens]

Hi,

Check this doc for both options with and witout the map file.

EUROPE
http://www5.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&docId=200000065011405

US
http://www2.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&docId=200000065011405

Regards,

Robert-Jan.

[LG Porter]

I have recreated the LVM character and block devices files and was able to active the volume group and mount the file systems. Thanks

[Pete Randall]

L.G.

I'm curious - how did you accomplish this?


Pete

[Mark Grant]

Pete,

I did this two weeks ago too when a colleague had attempted to import a volume group but something had gone wrong. I couldn't see anything wrong and as a long shot, I just recreated the devices with "mknod" and the volume group activated after that.