APA on SG cluster

[Srinikalyan]

Hi,

We are in the process of configuring the link aggregation on both the servers and switches with 802.1ad (LACP) trunking. Currently we are using the Serviceguard version A.11.17.00. I have somewhere read that the option of LACP_AUTO will not work on the Serviceguard cluster environment with A.11.17.00. Is that true? Explanation please.

Thanks,
Srini

[Stephen Doud · Accepted solution]

The Features and Compatibility Matrix at http://docs.hp.com/en/5971/SG-SGeRAC-SMS-EMSSupport.pdf contains a list of feature improvements that are associated with each version of Serviceguard.

SG A.11.17 for HP-UX 11i v2 Update 2 and A.11.17.01 for HP-UX 11i v3 are the first releases to support the LACP_AUTO mode of Auto Port Aggregation.

See the Release Notes for those versions for details.

[Michael Steele_2]

Hi

You are correct. You must have A.11.17.01 or higher.

"...To use HP Serviceguard with HP APA, you must use HP Serviceguard version A.11.17.01 or later..."

page 17.

http://docs.hp.com/en/J4240-90045/J4240-90045.pdf

And, APA must be configured before MC/SG.

[Srinikalyan]

Thanks Stephen and Michael.

We have 4 NIC's on each cluster nodes (2 node cluster) on the public network (only data no heartbeat n/w). 2 connects in switch1 and the other 2 in switch2.
1. Can we bond all the 4 NIC's as one APA LAN900 with APA mode LACP_AUTO?
2. Will there be any problem if any one of the switch fails or will that be handled automatically by LACP_AUTO mode APA?
3. If thats the case is it enough just to put one interface lan900 in the cluster ascii file?

Regards,
Srini

[Michael Steele_2]

Hi

This is my understanding. Each NIC with it's aggregates should be on its own switch.

In your setup, two NICS with aggregates are on two different switches.

NIC A with its aggregate fails over to NIC B. For the failover to happen the aggregates must be on the same VLAN.

Review this thread, which refers to using LAN_MONITOR instead of LACP_AUTO :

http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1161140

And this MC/SG doc which discusses configuring MC/SG with VLAn.

[Srinikalyan]

Michael,
I have seen somewhere that LAN_MONITOR mode will not work under Serviceguard. Even if the respective patch installed, APA aggregates created with Lan Monitor mode can be used as Serviceguard Primary LAN interfaces, but not as Serviceguard Standby LAN interfaces. What happens if the primary APA aggregate (Switch1 NIC's) or Switch1 fail?

Regards,
Srini

[Srinikalyan]

If we setup APA like
lan900 (LACP_AUTO) = lan2 + lan3 (Switch1)
lan901 (LACP_AUTO) = lan10 + lan11 (Switch2)
lan902 (LAN_MONITOR) = lan900 + lan901

and set up Serviceguard with primary LAN interface of lan902 and no standby. Will that work fine?

Note: I have read in one of the document saying that "Beginning with HP-UX 11i v2 September 2007 APA Lan Monitor mode can be used on nodes with Serviceguard A.11.17 or later installed. Serviceguard A.11.17 requires the patch, PHSS_35427 or later to be installed to support APA Lan Monitor aggregates. APA aggregates created with Lan Monitor mode can be used as Serviceguard Primary LAN interfaces, but not as Serviceguard Standby LAN interfaces."

Regards,
Srini

[Michael Steele_2]

Hi

What is your status on upgrading both that patch and MC/SG to newer or newest version? A very simple procedure that would overcome you APA problem with a current and workable solution.

[Stephen Doud]

This section of the Online Documents http://docs.hp.com/en/netcom.html#Auto%20Port%20Aggregation%20%28APA%29 contains manuals on Auto Port Aggregation.

Serviceguard A.11.17 for hpux 11iv2 was released Feb 2007, so you should look at the 2007 edition of APA manuals for a discussion of the effects of configuring a pair of NICS for LAN MONITOR mode.
Page 7 of http://docs.hp.com/en/J4240-90040/J4240-90040.pdf states:

Failover Group
HP APA supports the creation of failover groups (link aggregates in LAN_MONITOR mode),
providing a failover capability for links. In the event of a link failure, LANMonitor automatically
migrates traffic to an available, standby link (port or link aggregate) in the failover group. Failover
groups do not support HP Serviceguard. <--

Do not list NICs configured in LAN MONITOR mode in the cluster configuration file.

[Srinikalyan]

Michael,
With the current Serviceguard version (A.11.17) and HP-UX 11iv2, we planned to install patches PHSS_35427 and PHNE_34774 which will overcome this issue of using lacp_auto and lan_monitor mode of APA.

But not sure how to configure this setup in the SG configuration file.
lan900 (LACP_AUTO) = lan2 + lan3
lan901 (LACP_AUTO) = lan10 + lan11
lan902 (LAN_MONITOR) = lan900 + lan901

Current conf file looks like:
NODE_NAME node1

NETWORK_INTERFACE lan2

HEARTBEAT_IP 10.189.39.13

NETWORK_INTERFACE lan10

NETWORK_INTERFACE lan3

NETWORK_INTERFACE lan11


Is it just enough to give
NODE_NAME node1

NETWORK_INTERFACE lan900

HEARTBEAT_IP 10.189.39.13 (included this info in netconf file)

Please confirm.

Note: I dont have any environment to test this up. It's in design phase.

Stephen,

In the document link you have mentioned, it clearly says failover group(lan_monitor) will works in HP-UX 11iv2.

Excerpt:
2 HP APA Overview for HP-UX 11i v2
This chapter provides information about the HP-UX 11i v2 (B.11.23.40) December 2007 release
of HP Auto Port Aggregation (APA) and LAN Monitor software.
This release of HP APA now supports HP Serviceguard version A.11.15 or later. HP Serviceguard
can use both link aggregates and failover groups (LAN_MONITOR mode).

[Michael Steele_2]

Hi

You may have a doc that says its ok, but it may not be. A lot of similar retractions by HP, or changes.

Best to get the latest or most current on the subject, and especially, not rely on another utility like OV as a reference guide to the utility that you're working on, like APA.

[Stephen Doud]

PHNE_36403 -
s700_800 11.23 APA B.11.23.[00-20] cumulative patch provides this enhancement:
Coexistence of LAN_MONITOR FOG with SG.
Issue:
LAN_MONITOR failover groups and Service Guard (SG) cannot co-exist in the same system.
When Service Guard (SG) is present, APA LM cannot create any failover groups -- even using only those ports not acquired by SG.

Resolution: Support LAN_MONITOR failover groups co-existing with SG.