EVA 5000 - Presentation problem

[Suhas Dingare]

Hello,

The EVA5000 was powered on and was able to communicate with the Storage Management Appliance using the Command View. I have configured the Disk Groups, Virtual Disks etc.

There are two switches (HP Storage Works SAN Switch 2/16V) with FP1 of Controller A and FP2 of Controller B connected to the Top Switch and FP1 of Controller B and FP2 of Controller A connected to the Bottom Switch. The VCS of the Controllers is 3.025. Also I have not configured the zoning yet (it is disabled) on the switches.

For test purpose, I have connected the server to the Top switch (Single Path implementation). The server is a Windows 2003 server with a single HBA card. I have installed the StorPort driver for the HBA card (FCA2214 – Qlogic chipset) on the server and it also detected both the controllers.

I have also added the Host (the mentioned Windows 2003 server) with the IP address and the WWID (which was available in the drop down list). I have also verified the WWID of the HBA in the server is the same that was selected. After that I have presented the created Virtual Disk to this Server.

Still the host (the above server) attached cannot see or access any of the presented vdisks.

Also when I run the SAN Surfer utility (QLogic) on the Server it sees both the HSV110 Controllers and picks the Device Port of the Controllers, which is 50-00-1F-E1-50-04-8A-E9 (FP1 Controller A) and 50-00-1F-E1-50-04-8A-EC (FP2 Controller B), as they are connected to the top switch where the server is connected.

But the server still does not pick up the presented Virtual Disks. The Disk Management on the server does not show the presented disks. I would be thankful if anyone could assist me in solving this problem.

With Regards,

Suhas

[Stephen Kebbell]

Hi,

have you either performed a rescan in device manager or rebooted the server?
Is MPIO or SecurePath installed on the server? The way you have it set up now, it is NOT single-path. You would need to set up zoning so that the host sees only one EVA controller port. Right now, your server should see 2 instances of the presented Vdisk.

Also, are your EVA cache batteries OK? If not, you won't be able to see any Vdisks.

Regards,
Stephen

[Steven Clementi]

Suhas:

Did you actually "present" the disk the the new host?

In the Virtual Disks folder in COmmand view, expand the Virtual disk you want to present, click the "ACTIVE" entry. In the right side of the browser, there is a presentation tab click it. At the top of the right side there is a "Present" button, click it. A list of "defined hosts" appear. Select the host that you want the disk presented to and click ok (or present or finish or whatever the button says).

Before you do this, you should have a multipath driver installed. Even though you only have a single hba connected, you still have 2 paths to the virtual disk (Controller A and Controller B are connected to switch A and switch B (2 paths per switch).


Steven

[Steven Clementi]

This is what I get for not reading EVERYTHING...

Obviuosly you have done what I suggested...

" After that I have presented the created Virtual Disk to this Server. "


Try rebooting the server if you haven't already. This will effectively take care of the "rescan".


Steven

[Suhas Dingare]

Hi All,

I am sorry I had forgotten to mention about the faulty Cache Batteries in the Controllers (Thanks to Mr. Stephen Kebbell for checking on the earlier thread on Mar 10, 2006 where I had asked about this issue). In fact the 2 batteries in each Controller are still bad, and I have already ordered for a replacement for them. But as Mr. Stephen Kebbell mentioned, if the Cache Batteries are bad, I will not be able to see the presented Vdisks on the Server. If that is the case then I will have to wait for the Cache Batteries to arrive. Please can you reconfirm that it is a Battery issue that is preventing the Vdisks to present them to the server?

I have not setup zoning, as there is only one Operating System - Windows Server 2003.

About whether I had rebooted the server (asked by Mr. Stephen Clementi), I had done it several times, but I did not get any success.

Also I have not installed MPIO or SecurePath. I will try installing it.

With Best Regards,

Suhas

[Stephen Kebbell]

Hi Suhas,

Yes, it is the battery problem that is preventing you seeing your Vdisks. Here are some other threads with similar problems:

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=925011
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=850896
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=925011

Regards,
Stephen

[Suhas Dingare]

Hi Stephen,

Thanks for the links. In the meantime, is there any provision by which I can temporary disable the Cache policies (till the good batteries arrive) and be successful in presenting the disks.

With Regards,

Suhas

[Stephen Kebbell]

Hi,

I just realised I posted the same link twice. I meant to put this one in, instead:
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=781453

I don't think it's possible to disable any cache function. I think you have to wait for your replacement batteries. (unless anyone else out there knows a way)

Regards,
Stephen

[SAKET_5]

Suhas,

Long story short....Replace your dead cache batteries - no point in disabling it! You wont have any luck in doing what you intend to do in your current state of the EVAs. To say the least, it is currently in an unsupported mode anyhow.

Yes, you still need MPIO of some form as you have 2 paths to the Vdisks.

As far as zoning is concerned, I hear what you say - you only have Windows - so why bother - but as a best practice thing and to future proof your environment, I would recommend getting into the habit of creating a zone per initiator/host. Who knows - future might bring Linux or *nixes of some form in your organisation. That just sounds so real, doesnt it?:)

Good luck.

[gurdeep_2]

Suhas,

Make sure the "Write Protect" is set to NO in the Virtual Disk, General Tab.

[Suhas Dingare]

Hi All,

After replacing the batteries, the outstanding "presentation" problem finally got solved.

After that, as stated by Mr. Stephen Kebbell, I was seeing 2 instances of the presented disks. As recommended by Mr. Stephen and Mr. Saket, I installed the MPIO (I downloaded and installed the "HPMpioBasicEvav1.01.zip" from the HP site) and I can now see the single instance of the presented disk.

I thank you all for assisting me in solving the "Presentation" problem.

With Best Regards,

Suhas