EVA 5000 - single path disk shows up twice on Windows host

[OFC_EDM]

I have an EVA 5000 and for good reasons (long story) I have zoned it as a single path to a Windows 2000 server. (One HBA WWN to One EVA controller WWN).

Thus removing the need for Multi-pathing software.

I had Microsoft, HP, Dell and Veritas (we're using Veritas volume manager) on a support call and we're all in agreement that how I have the zoning setup that the disk is only presented once to the host.

The problem is that my test Virtual Disk (5GB) is showing up twice in Veritas Volume manager on the host. But only shows up once in the registry.

Anyone seen this behaviour before? Anyone know how to fix it? :)

[Ivan Ferreira]

Each controller has two FC ports, so, if you have a zone for one HBA and one controller, you are reaching the vdisk by two paths.

[OFC_EDM]

Ivan,
I should have mentioned.

In my zoning I have the bottom and top controllers to the EVA separated as follows:

Crontroller A Aliases (not real names)
a_EVA_top_even ->>> WWN
a_EVA_top_odd ->>> WWN

Controller B Aliases (not real names)
a_EVA_bottom_even ->>> WWN
a_EVA_bottom_odd ->>> WWN

So I'm zoning to the specific port on the controller.

Will what you say still apply or should my Host server now see only one path?

[Ivan Ferreira]

If in your zone you only have a_EVA_top_even + host_hba, then you should see only one path to the disk.

[OFC_EDM]

Exactly what we're thinking.

But yet it shows up twice.

We're going down the driver / Veritas version compatibility road. That's probably where the problem exists.

[Steven Clementi]

Kevin:

Can you attach a text capture of your Zoning config?


Also, are you using Port zoning? or WWID zoning? Sounds like WWID zoning where you "Add Member" based on the WWID of the device. Are you using the WWNN? or the WWPN of the device? If you use the WWNN of the device, you actually give the host access to both EVA ports on that particular fabric.

Assuming you want to only give the host access to Controller A, your WWID in the alias should end with an "8" or a "9". For Controller B, it ends with a "C" or a "D".

Check your zoning. Compatibility does not seem to be an issue.

Steven

[OFC_EDM]

The zone I have has the HBA Port WWN of the windows host and then the WWN of Port 2 of Controller B on the EVA. Which ends with a "D".

[OFC_EDM]

Meant to mention we're using WWN zoning.

[OFC_EDM]

Coud the Preferred path/mode set on the Virtual disk be a factor in why the disk is presented twice?

The options are:
No preference
Path A - failover only
Path A - failover/failback
Path B - failover only
Path B - failover/failback

[OFC_EDM]

My virtual disks have "no preference" set for the preferred path.

[Steven Clementi]

"Coud the Preferred path/mode set on the Virtual disk be a factor in why the disk is presented twice?"

No


Can you capture your zone config and post it? Modify the info if you have to, but it would help to see the zone config.

From telnet... run zoneshow

In the GUI, go to the admin page and click View Report.


Steven

[RayB_1]

To see if this is a Veritas problem then you should do the following

Go into device manager and look how many disks you have

2 disks shows 2 disks

Now under actions do a view/show hidden devices

If you still have 2 disks in device manager then your zoning is correct and its some type of Veritas problem.

If you NOW have 4 disks in device manager then you have a zoning/path problem.

Show hidden with show you how many paths you have to your luns.

/ray

[RayB_1]

Forgot to mention that you could also use SANsurfer or HBanywhere to see how many paths you have.


/ray

[OFC_EDM]

Have verified that HBAnywhere sees only 1 path.

[Steven Clementi]

Have you tried presenting anouther disk to the server? to see if it is related to just that one disk?


Also, can you attach that zone confi info? I'll stop asking if you say that your not going to attach it. ;o)


Steven

[OFC_EDM]

Zone info coming....too many meetings today :)

[RayB_1]

If HBanywhere sees only one path then I suspect the zoneing is configured correctly.

Check device manager anyways (previous note).


/ray

[OFC_EDM]

The disk shows up once in
Device manager,
HBAnywhere and the Registry.

I think it must be the driver or the Veritas Volume manager software.

The saga continues and we have a vendor consultant coming onsite to resolve this.

Will post the result.