Server can not see Vdisks of EVA3000 after longtime shutdown

[Hoang Minh Tuan]

Hi All,

I have a EVA3000 and created Vdisks, installed SecurePath and configured it to run RAC MC/ServiceGuard cluster.
After longtime of shutting down EVA, now I turn on but in front panel, the led show low battery. I take it run about 3 days but the led still show low battery and when I use ioscan disk, server does not show Vdisks. In console display "Apr 6 02:39:07 hpsrv1 syslog: OCR initialization failed accessing OCR device: PROC-26: Error while accessing the physical storage Operating System error [No such device or address] [6]".

Unfortunately, my SMA had been failed so that I can not manage EVA and its Vdisk. I used restore disk to restore and reinstall SMA and command view but it can not initialize to manage EVA3000.
Do you have any ways, such as replugging battery of EVA controller or must be waiting until battery is in full charge in case of not monitor and manage from SMA (Storage Manage Applicance).

Thanks and highly need many help of yours,
HMT

[Bostjan Kosi]

Hi, first of all shame on you not shuting down eva correctly...you drained your batteries and quite possible, they will never come alive again. If you think batteries are still ok, HP Services have ways on telling to the EVa that they are ok, but this can not be done by users. Even so, you ahould still be able to manage EVa from SMA. Batteries are use for write cache only. Depending on your firmware level, you should upgrade CommandView, because the installation which comes on a CD with SMA is an old version, probably to old to manage your system. Check http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericSoftwareDownloadIndex?lc=en&cc=us&softwareitem=co-29083-3 for an CV V3.3.3 update (latest). If you'll still have problems accessing, first check using installed emulex utility (like HBAanywhere) if your SMA can se eva ports. Each SMA HBA should see 2 connections with an WWN of 5xxx-1fe1-something...If you dont, check on the front of EVA's HSV controller how many leds are on...in your case you should see one steady green, one flashing green and an amber one (batteries). Check also from the back of the controllers, if leds next to host ports (connected to the FC switch) are green. If they are not (none of them) again call HP for service.

BR
B.

[Hoang Minh Tuan]

Thanks Bostjan,

I experienced about new version of CV so that it can initialize and configure EVA.
My case now is I restored SMA by restore disk then install all Storage Area Manage and CV3.3 but now when I click to SAM icon, the browser do not automatically go to this page and it give out the error and of course I can not use CV to configure EVA.
How do you have step by step way to restore, install to SMA of that it will work properly and can see EVA.
I used emulex util and check all ports of EVA and SAM, everything is normal except still red flashing of low battery LED.

[Andrzej Kowalik]

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=781453

from my experience, you don't have to buy new batteries, but have to wait until they will full charge.
regards,
Andrzej

[Stephen Kebbell]

Hi,

you don't need to install SAM manage the EVA. But you do need command view EVA 3.2 or 3.3. To restore the SMA properly, use the QuickRestore CD 2.1 as you already did, and then install Command View. Insert the Command View CD in the CDROM drive, go to the SMA web interface, Maintenance -> Install Software. Follow the steps to install command view EVA. Do not run setup.exe directly from the CD. I don't think that installs it properly.
Then you will also need to apply the Windows patches listed as needed for SMA 2.1. See this PDF:
ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/products/sanworks/softwaredrivers/managementappliance/bulletins-sma-02-11-2005.pdf

If the batteries in the EVA are shown as bad or failed, then the EVA will not allow hosts to access their LUNs.

Regards,
Stephen

[Bostjan Kosi]

Hi, As I already explained. IF the baterry LED is AMBER, they are charging and will eventualy fill up. If the led is RED batteries (at least one) has failed and needs replacement. As much as I can remember spare part contains two of them so... For corectly installing SMA insert quick restore and reboot. than wait for about 1.5 hour, until restore proces is finished. Apply patches (SP1 and SP2:not MS) for SMA available from HP web site. Also download latest CV from the link I have provided. You need to download a file called xxxxxxxxSMA_ON. This will download a file .SWP, you copy this file to SWPINSTALLKITS folder on the root of the SMA's c drive. Than access you management appliance from the web browser and go to settings - install software. Select "local disk on management appliance" and it'll show a list of possible options. Select CommandView... and click next.
If your SAN is small, there is probably no need to install SAM (Storage Area Manager) since it is more like a monitoring/reporting tool, and is not used for management. But it does provide links to management sw like CV. All eva "management" is (correctly) done by remotely connecting to SMAXXXXXXX with a web browser, then selecting devices - command view eva...and so on. You can save the CV link as a web browser favorite, but be aware, that default password for directly accessing CV is not Administrator/adminXXXXXX but administrator/administrator. And do not install any updated management agents (7.20) because you will not be able to access CV any more.
Command View should (must) always be installed either from SWP file located localy on management appliance or by inserting the CV CD into SMA. Again for installation the only supported option is going to web based gui of SMA. Running Setup from a cd starts an so called off_SMA installation, intended for installations to a standalone management server with normal windows os, not the SMA.

BR
B.

[Hoang Minh Tuan]

Thanks to all,

I restore SMA and install CV3.3, and it's OK. I have been using CV to initalize and configurate EVA (create Vdisk, add host and so on..) but Server still can not see Vdisks (indicated by H/W path) and show attention on Cache Battery Function is failed and it is charging).

My wonder now is I turn on EVA for more 3 days but it still show Low Battery. Should I wait, more wait... or do ST to accelerate the procedure of battery charging ...?

Need recommendation!

HMT

[Bostjan Kosi]

Wait for a day or two...of course you can also try restarting controllers...you now...maybe...:-)
If it still does not work call HP service.

One more thing...always shutdown eva from CV or by accesing HSV front panel and select shutdown...If you just power off, the batteries (when working) will provide constant power to the cache and again eventualy drain out (aprox 4 days). If you use CV for powering down whole EVA, this will also shutdown Disk enclousures, and the only way to get them up again is either to reaplay power to the whole rack or by removing and replacing single power cords from Disk enclousures. If you have other servers in the same rack, taking down the power could (will) also shut down you servers.

BR
B.

[Andrzej Kowalik]

I not heard about faster battery charge procedure (even officialy not supported :)).
You have to wait...

[Uwe Zessin]

You can replace empty ones with already-charged ones. That goes quite fast ;-)

But now the question is how fast you can get two charged batteries...

[Hoang Minh Tuan]

To Uwe,

You have a good idea by replacing a new charged one.
I have another EVA and it work well, how can I replace good battery for the charging battery (still indicating Low battery) in case 2 EVAs work normally.

[Uwe Zessin]

Honestly, I would not do that. You risk screwing up your working EVA.

I haven't seen it myself, but I have read that it is possible for a bad battery to 'copy' the bad state to the other battery in the EVA under certain circumstances. I don't recally any details or whether this was a problem limited to early EVA-5000 models, but as I said: I would not risk the other EVA for that.

It looks like the batteries in your non-working EVA have been damaged due to the long power-off period. I would get them replaced.

[Bostjan Kosi]

Also a battery once marked BAD in an EVA system will be always bad for that system meaning even if you do some magic to correct the battery, it will still be rejected by EVA.
As I sad earlyer...replace...it is still warranty :-)

[Stephen Kebbell]

Yes, I had a case once where an EVA had a defective battery. The HP Tech came and replaced both batteries, and he said you have to that, or it will not accept the new one (it will mark that bad, too).
So I will repeat what everyone else has said - get HP service to replace your batteries for you.

Stephen

[Hoang Minh Tuan]

Thanks again,

If I have to replace a new one, what is the exact part-nameber of bettery. I has also known a website to find part-number (partsurfer.hp.com) but it show a very complicated parts with symbols. How is your part-number with your experiences of replacing the defective battery.

HMT

[Uwe Zessin]

When I encountered bad batteries, I didn't deal with the part number - I just told HP that there was a problem with the batteries and they sent new ones.

[Bostjan Kosi]

Battery, 2 VOLT, 15 AMP (eva3000 and eva5000) 235870-001

BR
B.