Problem connecting MSL6060 on server ML370 G3 via Fibre channel

[RistagnoL]

I have a tape libray MSL6060 with 4 tape drives. The 2 Network Storage Router E1200 are connected to a ML370 G3 via 2 Fibre channel patch panel (each node - library and server- are connected to a patch panel)

From the library side, configuration settings for the 2 NSR are the same but link status of one of them is down.

FC configuration settings on NSR:
Port mode: Auto_sense
Used Hard AL_PA: disabled
discovery mode: Auto discovery on reboot
Performance mode: 2 Gigabits

From the server side (O.S. W2K3), I only see the 2 fibre channel card (Qlogic QLA2340). I don't see neither the NSR E1200 nor tape library
Thank in advance if someone can guide me in the configuration of my library

Regards,

[Steven Clementi]

When you say Fibre Channel Patch Panel, do you mean SAN Switch?

If so, which model switch?


Steven

[Mark Poeschl_2]

The specs for your NSR at:

http://h18006.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/11397_div/11397_div.html

list "switched fabric" as the only supported topology. You cannot connect direct to your HBAs via a patch panel. A fibre channel switch is required.

[RistagnoL]

Hi,
It's just fibre patch panel, no SAN switch. Server and library are in different buildings and linked via 2 F.C. patch panel

Mark, seems that the spec. is not for the NSR used by MSL6060.
The feature for the NSR indicates point-to-point configurations. Please see Fibre Channel features page 11 on the link
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00637161/c00637161.pdf
Base on the document, can we say that the topology is correct

Thank you in advance for your help

[Torsten.]

Did you configure the mapping? Without doing that, you won't see the NSRs and the drives.

[RistagnoL]

Nothing for that. I let the default settings. I don't know how to configure mapping. I try to understand how it works. Here're the actual settings in attachment
Regards,

[Torsten.]

The default result in hidden devices. You have to adjust the mapping to make the devices visible. Have a look:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/UCR/SupportManual/TPM_289157-003_poster/TPM_289157-003_poster.pdf

[RistagnoL]

For each NSR, I've defined a new host, go to Edit/view and select "Port 0 Device Map" as Map Name (Should I modify something in the host information like WWN,...)?
In the "select Map", I go to "Edit/view" and select "Fill map". I've then selected "Activate Mapiing and Save"

For FC port configurations:
Port Mode: Auto sense
Used Hard AL_PA: Enabled
I've selected"Set AL_PA (should I leave Node number index to 0?
What "default Map" must I indicate?

Something must be done from my server FC card Qla2340 (I'm thinking about QFast Util)?

Link status is still down and the OS doesn't see anything

Regards,

[Curtis Ballard]

You've already been pointed to setting up the right maps.

More important than that is the patch panel. People sell them but patch panels should never be used with 2Gb fibre channel, especially with tape devices. Every connection causes a significant increase in the bit error rate and patch panels almost always result in failed backups and lots of time wasted blaming drive or servers. Disk devices tend to get away with patch panels because they are random access devices and able to retry writes/reads that fail so there is a performance loss but usually not hard failures. Tape isn't random access and is dependant on the ISV application for any recovery.