Install Serviceguard with MSA500

[SnIphe]

Hi all,

I need to install another Serviceguar with an MSA500 with one scsi per node. No HA for scsi.
The SO is Red Hat Linux 4 u4

My question is:
I need to do something like: mdadm –create /dev/md0 --level=multipath --raid-devices=2 /dev/sdf1 dev/sdh1
And later with this /dev/md0 I need to make fdisk, later make the pvcreate, vgcreate, lvcreate and mke2fs...

Three months ago, I have installed another cluster with MSA500 and finally all works but I would like to ensure about this point of MDs and LVM, because I`m a bit confuse.

So, thanks a lot, and if you know something more than the manual and reference guide about installing a Serviceguard cluster with MSA500 over RH Linux... thank a lot.

See you,

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

If the MSA500 is older make sure its firmware is up to date before you start any work.

You need to do fdisk partitioning before you do any mdadm work.

SEP

[SnIphe]

Thanks a lot for the reply, some question about it.

Where can I found the correct firmware level for the MSA500 with RedHat 4 u4 and Serviceguard 11.16??

If the firware requieres an update. I need to ask for a hardware person in HP.
I'm from HP, but only for software support.

Ok, first of all: fdisk /dev/sda and create a partition type Linux (83)
Then create md
Then create pv in this /dev/md0
Then vgcreate, lvcreate
Thats it?

Thank

[Serviceguard for Linux]

DO NOT use MD RAID with MSA500. The MSA500 provides protection against disk failure so using MD will not help.

Look for the manuals:
http://docs.hp.com/en/ha.html#Serviceguard%20for%20Linux

Here is a link for a SW/FW for packaged cluster with MSA500. Don't see any MSA500 FW updates, just for SmartArray HBAs.

You can ask on thw Microsoft Cluster forum (if it exists) about MSA500 FW Someone there may know.

If you areally are talking MSA500 and not teh MSA500G2 realize that this only works in 32bit mode (no x86-64 support).

Cheers

[SnIphe]

Ok, thanks. I miss to tell you, the MSA500 is G2.
So if I understand you:

I dont have to make any MDs so the MSA500G2 take the control of the disk access. Is it?

I'm useing the ServiceGuard guide, and in the page 79 of the manual says to make the MDs.

[Serviceguard for Linux]

I don't have the 11.16 manual in front of me, but I know there is a section on using MD multipath with the MSA500G2. This provides an extra level of HA but requires a second Smart Array HBA in each server as well as special configuration for the MSA500G2. This is suggested but not required.

If you do not use this extra hardware, then you should use the disk monitor function. Also make sure you are using the latest version of the documentation.

There is a FW update posted for the MSA500 G2. Follow this link:

http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/family/model/6012.html?submit.y=0&submit.x=0〈=en&cc=us&y=0&x=0

[SnIphe]

Now I understand you. Thanks for all, thats wright.

I have only one SCSI channel... because the customer only buy one SCSI adapter for each DL380 G4.

So in that case, I don`t need to do MDs, because the MSA500 G2 controls the concurrent acces. Wright?

The monday I will go to install RHEL in the customer.
Then I will tell you.

Thanks

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

Almost every MSA type storage unit shipped by HP is behind on firmware within 30-60 days of being shipped.

There were some problems with MSA storage units and HP-UX that made firmware updates very important as multiple HP-UX systems could not connect without a firmware update.

Similar problems may have happened with Linux but I've not experienced them. Part of working with this storage is keeping up to date on firmware for the MSA and fiber channel adapters if you are using this type of adapter.

sEP