HPUX 11i v3 support EVA5000 HSV110

[Muthupandi]

Hi,
I would like to upgrade the OS from 11i v2 to 11i v3. The rx3600 server is connected with EVA5000 HSV110,
The following software installed:
1) CPQswsp A.3.0F.02F.02F - secure path device driver for active passive disk array.
2) ServiceGuard A.11.17.00 &
3) Service guard extention for Oracle Rac,
4) Oracle Rac10gr2 is running.
all the disks are configured in ASM.

My question : HP-UX Supported Mass Storage Devices Matrix says:
:::http://docs.hp.com/en/9529/hpux_io_devices.htm :::: that hpux v3 does not support active passive disk array(eva 5000).

Not supported means, Will I not be able to use all the path only or the disk itself?

If any one has experience in upgrading please advice.

Thanks,
Muthu.

[Duncan Edmonstone · Accepted solution]

It means not supported at all.

But don't despair - there is a way out of this...

You'll need to get the firmware on your EVA5000 upgraded from VCS 3.x to VCS4.x. This will turn the EVA5000 from an active-passive array to an active-active array (and from a HSV110 to a HSV11). This is then supported with 11iv3.

The firmware upgrade can be non-trivial. The level of complexity in this upgrade is largely determined by how many hosts of different sorts you have attached to your EVA. To get a feel for the complexity you would do well to read the following doc:

http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00627710/c00627710.pdf

If you aren't really confident about what you are doing with the EVA and the attached hosts I'd seriously consider getting HP or an approved partner to run the whole EVA upgrade process for you.

HTH

Duncan

[Muthupandi]

Thanks Duncan,
http://h18006.www1.hp.com/storage/hpuxconnectivitymatrix.html

HP-UX 11iv3 storage connectivity support matrix Says to update V4.007.
We are planning to upgrade the EVA 5000 firmware version V4.007 and make active/active disk array.
-----------------------------------
What will be action point for the upgrading the OS from V2 to V3 in each Node?

Here I have some of the points.
Please suggest If I miss anything ?

Upgrade Procedure from V2 to V3 in 2 node cluster with lock disk:

Let say nodeA & nodeB in a cluster.

A) Backup:

1) Take ignite backup
Take a note of lun & wwid id
backup /etc/fstab , cmcluster ,
lvmtab,lvmpvg,lvmconf, group,
passwd,hosts,crontabs,ipfilter config

2) ioscan , vgdisplay , pvdisplay , lvdisplay all verbose output.

3) vgexport -p -s -m of all volumes


B) set AUTOSTART_CMCLD=0 in /etc/rc.config.d/cmcluster

1) bring the node B down
cmhaltnode -f nodeB

2) remove the nodeB info from cluster
In node A :
cmdeleteconf -n nodeB

The activation mode must be switched to "exclusive" on the node where the volume group is active
vgchange -a e "Shared VG"

run cluster in single node(nodeA)


C) Install v3 on Node B( cold install | update-ux)

install service guard on Node B

D) Now halt the old cluster

in NodeB:
1) import the shared VG wiht -s option

2) Now setup your package configurations, Check and appy config

3) change the ASM parameter to reflect the new persisitant DSF

4) start the cluster in nodeB

E) Install V3 on the other nodeA
Install Service Guard in nodeA
add this node to the cluster

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

In general your procedure looks goo.

An OS upgrade from 11.23 to 11.31 is not recommended by experienced sysadmins, nor is that process supported by Oracle.

One node at a time, I recommend a cold install of 11.31 OS.

Then All necessary applications, then the Oracle RAC products, if possible same version as before.

Then schedule a down time cutover.

This will maximize chances of success and minimize downtime.

SEP

[Raj D.]

Muthu,

Also make sure the scsi firmware meet the 11iv3 requirements , msv2v3check script should be run and HP can analyse the report and can tell if scsi firmware need to be upgraded prior to 11iv3 cold install.



Verify firmware level, storage, drivers and I/O card support

HP invests in supporting our customersâ  existing storage, as well as supporting new devices as quickly as possible, with HP-UX 11i v3.

-If your system is running HP-UX 11i v2, retrieve the msv2v3check script from the HP Software Depot.

Run the msv2v3check script to validate whether the firmware, drivers, mass storage I/O cards, and mass storage devices installed on your HP-UX 11i v2 system are supported on 11i v3. This script will report if any unsupported drivers, mass storage I/O cards, and mass storage devices are found on your system.
This script also checks the minimum firmware versions required for cards or devices on your system to run properly on HP-UX 11i v3.
For more details on the msv2v3check script, refer to HP-UX 11i v2 to 11i v3 Mass Storage Stack Update Guide.


Hth,
Raj.

[Raj D.]

You can use the msv2v3check utility available from:
h20392.www2.hp.com/portal/swdepot/...?productNumber=MSV2V3Check



Hth,
Raj.

[Armin Kunaschik]

The problem is that HP-UX 11.31 will not be able to separate the active from the standby paths. This results in a complete hang if you try to access an EVA disk with symmetric multipathing.
If you don't care about availability you can present just the active paths to HP-UX. I tried this in my environment and it's proved to be working. The (important) drawback: If the storage box decides to switch from active to standby path, you'll lose everything.
So, in general, it's not a good idea to connect an active/passive EVA5000 to HP-UX 11.31. The one solution was described: Update to an active/active firmware! But take care that the box doesn't get overloaded. It is easy to crash such an old EVA with too much load :-)

My 2 cents,
Armin

[Muthupandi]

Thanks,
I will check the firmware level of all the hardware.

--Muthu.

[Muthupandi]

Like Steven Said, I am going to do the cold install and do the vgimport of data volumes.

Same I have done in one of my server. But I faced problem duirng the vgimport of IR Volumes disks. I have restored from backup.

But I am little bit confused about Upgrade in a cluster environment. Like when to change the cluster configuration LOCK DISK INFO & when to import shared VG etc..?

If any one has experience in upgrading the OS in a Service guard cluster environment please suggest.

Thanks,
Muthu.

[Muthupandi]

We have upgraded the EVA5000 firmware. Now it has become active/active. All the disk path got changed.

-- Muthu.