difference/relation between OnlineJFS and VxFS

[skt_skt]

what is the diffrence between "Online features of the VxFS File System" and "VERITAS File System"?How they are related

[Bill Hassell · Accepted solution]

OnlineJFS is a set of enhancements for VxFS (Veritas filesystem). There are two very dfferent Veritas products for HP-UX:

VxFS - a filesystem layout
VxVM - a disk partioning system

VxFS is the standard filesystem (directories and files) for HP-UX. OnlineJFS allows for online resizing a VxFS filesystem without dismounting the filesystem. OnlineJFS also provides several additional mount options (see man mount_vxfs) and the snapshot feature.

VxVM is like LVM in that it partitions one or more disks. Both VxVM and LVM are available for supported versions of HP-UX.

[Robert-Jan Goossens_1]

Hi,

All three product mentioned below are veritas products. vxfs (baseJFS) is now the standard for filesystem on HPUX. You can find a lot of information in the link I posted.

BaseJFS ---> VXFS
AdvancedJFS ---> OnlineJFS
Veritas Volume Manager ---> vxvm

http://h20338.www2.hp.com/hpux11i/cache/324830-0-0-0-121.html

Regards,
Robert-Jan

[skt_skt]

i would correct it this way

JFS ---> Base VXFS
AdvancedJFS ---> OnlineJFS
Veritas Volume Manager ---> vxvm

can we say OnlineJFS is a separte product than VxFS(=Base VxFS=JFS)as ?Do they need separate licenses?i am not sure JFS(Base-VxFS) need separate license?


I am looking at the OnlineJFS license status and got confused a little.(HP-UX 11.23; IA64).

root [/home/kumarts] vxlicense -p
vrts:vxlicense: INFO: No valid license installed

tned33n:root [/home/kumarts] /sbin/fs/vxfs/vxenablef
vxfs vxenablef: System is licensed for features:
Full_VxFS HP_DMAPI
(vxenablef will start reporting "system not licensed" after a reboot; that i what i observed with HP-UX 11.11)


:root [/home/kumarts] grep -i JFS swlist.product.07162007
JFS B.11.23 The Base VxFS File System
OnlineJFS B.11.23.0512 Online features of the VxFS File System

As per this information i have Base VxFS version 11.23 and OnlineJFS version B.11.23.0512.

But again vxlicrep confuse me as it says "Product name=VERITAS file system and version as 3.5" as mentioned below?i am struggling to relate them

root [/home/kumarts] vxlicrep

VERITAS License Manager vxlicrep utility version 3.02.006
Copyright (C) 1996-2004 VERITAS Software Corp. All Rights reserved.

Creating a report on all VERITAS products installed on this system

-----------------***********************-----------------

License Key = 3JZH-CNP6-DP3N-RP40-4HSP-ZNPP-P
Product Name = VERITAS File System
Serial Number = 1
License Type = PERMANENT
OEM ID = 4095

Features :=
HP_OnlineJFS = Enabled

CPU Count = Not Restricted
Platform = HP-UX
Version = 3.5

[skt_skt]

This is a separate question and will give 10 points to the right answer

[Matti_Kurkela]

The "Base VxFS" does not need a separate license: that is included to the price of the basic HP-UX license.

For many versions of HP-UX, there has been an option to get the "next generation" version of vxfs. The reasons to get this option have usually been to achieve the ultimate maximum of file system size, and/or performance improvements to move all those terabytes of data.

For HP-UX 11.00, the basic vxfs version was 3.1. But if necessary, you could get a more advanced version of the same filesystem, known as OnlineJFS 3.3.

In HP-UX 11.11, the version 3.3 became the new basic version, although the "Online" part was still an extra cost item. Those that require more advanced features can upgrade to version 3.5. Again, the "base" of 3.5 is freely downloadable, but the OnlineJFS 3.5 is a codeword-locked product.

When HP-UX 11.23 was released, it repeated the same pattern: the old "advanced" version 3.5 became the new basic version, and the new "advanced" version was 4.1. But in September 2006 HP made the decision to ship all new 11.23 OEs with 4.1 as standard. With it, the features of OnlineJFS became a part of the basic package.

With HP-UX 11.31, the "advanced filesystem option" seems to be the cluster filesystem.

When someone speaks about HP-UX "VERITAS File System", the important thing is the filesystem version, rather than the name.

In your case:
JFS B.11.23 The Base VxFS File System
OnlineJFS B.11.23.0512 Online features of the VxFS File System

You have the VxFS version 3.5, the original "basic" version for 11.23 and the OnlineJFS option for it.
You don't have VxFS 4.1 (the "advanced" version for 11.23) on this system.

You don't need a license for "The Base VxFS File System" part, but you definitely need a license for the OnlineJFS part.

It seems you have installed your OnlineJFS 3.5 using a media kit older than September 2006 (based on .0512, I'm guessing it was the media kit of December 2005).

If my guess of media kit version is correct, this host will *not* be affected by the OnlineJFS license expiration problem.

http://www.hp.com/softwarereleases/releases-media2/notices/June28_v12.pdf
According to this document, the problem was in June 2005 or older media kits, so you're just barely on the safe side.

MK

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Santhosh:

> can we say OnlineJFS is a separate product than VxFS(=Base VxFS=JFS)? Do they need separate licenses? I am not sure JFS(Base-VxFS) need separate license?

OnlineJFS features require a license which you must purchase. If you only order the Foundation OE for 11i, you don't get the license. You can purchase it as a standalone product and install it from an Application CD/DVD in that case. An OnlineJFS license is bundled with the Enterprise and Mission Critical OEs. The base JFS (VxFS) filesystem product is "free" or bundled with every operating system.

> But again vxlicrep confuse me as it says "Product name=VERITAS file system and version as 3.5" as mentioned below? I am struggling to relate them.

Veritas (now part of Symantec) has had a long partnership with HP offering the "Veritas" filesystem (the HP standard).

The filesystem is variously called a JFS (Journaled File System) or a VxFS one (standing for Veritas File System). Veritas introduced the first commercial journaling file system (hence the name "JFS"). In a journaled filesystem, metadata changes are first written to a log (or journal) and then to disk.

Most often, HP's version of LVM (Logical Volume Manager) supports the filesytem. Hoever, Veritas, as noted, also offers (for HP-UX) a Veritas Volume Manager (VxVM) that can replace LVM.

HP-UX 11iv2 ships with either JFS 3.5 or JFS 4.1. Recent (September 2006) releases have JFS 4.1 as the default product. JFS 5.0 is also available.

http://www.docs.hp.com/en/5991-5853/5991-5853.pdf

OnlineJFS license problems where the license expired on June 24, 2007 have been well-documented here:

http://www.hp.com/softwarereleases/releases-media2/notices/June28_v12.pdf

Regards!

...JRF...

[skt_skt]

As per this i am at safe side interms of OnlineJFS(as OnlineJFS became a part of the basic package 3.5).I will cross check about the media kit we used is of december 2005.

But what could be the logic behind the below messages. As i understood Base-VxFX does not need a license to be purchased separatly(as that is included to the price of the basic HP-UX license).So i suspect it to be about the OnlineJFS.

tned33n:root [/home/kumarts] vxlicense -p
vrts:vxlicense: INFO: No valid license installed

[skt_skt]

A few more details.

:root [/home/kumarts] vxlicense -p
vrts:vxlicense: INFO: No valid license installed.

Not only the OnlineJFS but the others are aslo giving error during the test.Other

:root [/home/kumarts] vxlicense -t HP_OnlineJFS
vrts:vxlicense: ERROR: Cannot read license key

tned33n:root [/home/kumarts] vxlicense -t HP_DMAPI
vrts:vxlicense: ERROR: Cannot read license key

tned33n:root [/home/kumarts] vxlicense -t Full_VxFS
vrts:vxlicense: ERROR: Message not found!!

[skt_skt]

A few more details.

:root [/home/kumarts] vxlicense -p
vrts:vxlicense: INFO: No valid license installed.

Not only the OnlineJFS but the others are aslo giving error during the test.Other

:root [/home/kumarts] vxlicense -t HP_OnlineJFS
vrts:vxlicense: ERROR: Cannot read license key

:root [/home/kumarts] vxlicense -t HP_DMAPI
vrts:vxlicense: ERROR: Cannot read license key

:root [/home/kumarts] vxlicense -t Full_VxFS
vrts:vxlicense: ERROR: Message not found!!

[Robert-Jan Goossens_1]

Hi,

vxlicense was the old ( pre version 3.5 ) license reporting tool, vxlicrep is the new reporting tool. If you have upgraded from 3.2 to 3.5 or higher, you will have both tools on your system.

---
VxVM 3.5 introduces a new licensing package, VRTSvlic, that is common to all new
VERITAS products. The VRTSvlic package replaces the functionality of the VRTSlic
package that was used in VxVM 3.2 and earlier releases. The following table lists
equivalency between licensing commands in VRTSlic and VRTSvlic.
---
You should retain the old VRTSlic package on your system if it is required by
any installed VERITAS products other than VxVM.
---
page 9
http://ftp.support.veritas.com/pub/support/products/VolumeManager_UNIX/250787.pdf

Regards,
Robert-Jan

[Robert-Jan Goossens_1]

add on, the new license tool will also be installed if you upgrade to OnlineJFS 3.5.

VRTSvlic-VERITAS products licensing facility

Installing VERITAS File System 3.5 (HP OnlineJFS/JFS 3.5)

http://docs.hp.com/en/5187-1878/ch01s07.html#d0e1918

[skt_skt]

U r very correct. Vxlicense is not the right tool here. That casued all this confusion. But it is very good lesson learned for me and who ever is going to read this pags.

:root [/sbin/fs/vxfs] vxlictest -n "VERITAS File System" -l
HP_OnlineJFS
:root [/sbin/fs/vxfs] vxlictest -k 3JZH-CNP6-DP3N-RP40-4HSP-ZNPP-P -f HP_OnlineJFS
HP_OnlineJFS feature is licensed

I am already on 3.5 with VRTSvlic installed.


THANKS TO ALL who ever gave a chance to give 9-10 points; so to everybody

[dipesh_2]

JFS is the HP-UX version of the Veritas journaled File System (VxFS). This file
system exhibits fast recovery features. HP OnLineJFS (Advanced JFS) is an
extension to the base JFS and can be managed online (without unmounting). For
example, you can extend or shrink the file system without unmounting it.
Advanced JFS can also be defragmented and reorganized while it is in use. HP
OnlineJFS is not included with the standard HP-UX distribution and must be
purchased separately. A disadvantage of JFS is that the HP-UX kernel can't
reside on it.
Like HFS, JFS also maintains multiple copies of the superblock, but these are not
stored in any file. JFS keeps a record of these copies automatically. JFS keeps a
record of all transactions to the file system metadata area in an intent log. The
intent log is used for system recovery in case of a system crash. If a file system
update is completed successfully, a "done record" is written to the intent log
showing that this update request was successful. In case of a system crash, the
intent log is consulted and the file system brought to the stable state by removing
all unsuccessful transactions with the help of the intent log.
Another big advantage of JFS over HFS is that it creates inodes dynamically. So
if the inode table is full but there is still space on the file system, JFS can create
new inodes automatically.
Like HFS, JFS also divides the file system in JFS blocks. By default, the size of
each block is 1 KByte. JFS allocates a group of blocks when you create a new
file. This group of blocks is called an extent. If the file size grows, JFS tries to
allocate contiguous blocks to the file, thus increasing the size of the file extent.
However, if the contiguous blocks are not available, JFS creates a new extent
and allocates it to the file.

[Dennis Handly]

>dipesh: A disadvantage of JFS is that the HP-UX kernel can't reside on it.

I believe this isn't true for IPF, /stand/ is vxfs.

[skt_skt]

"HP OnlineJFS is not included with the standard HP-UX distribution and must be
purchased separately." -NOT true always.

"Another big advantage of JFS over HFS is that it creates inodes dynamically. So
if the inode table is full but there is still space on the file system, JFS can create new inodes automatically."- still limited to ninode param

"Like HFS, JFS also divides the file system in JFS blocks. By default, the size of
each block is 1 KByte. JFS allocates a group of blocks when you create a new
file. This group of blocks is called an extent." - is that PE(Physical extent)?

"If the file size grows, JFS tries to
allocate contiguous blocks to the file, thus increasing the size of the file extent.
However, if the contiguous blocks are not available, JFS creates a new extent
and allocates it to the file."-what is this file extent?

[skt_skt]

what is this IPF or /stand/is?

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi:

> what is this IPF or /stand/is?

IPF = Itanium Processor Family (as opposed to HP's proprietary PA-RISC series)

The punctuation mislead you. The '/stand' mountpoint is an HFS filesystem on PA-RISC but can be a VxFS one on Itanium processors beginning at 11.23.

Itanium processors are also referred to as "IA64 - Itanium Architecture. 64-bit.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Dennis Handly]

>what is this IPF or /stand/ is?

Integrity servers. And /stand/ is /stand/. :-)

[Bill Hassell]

> "HP OnlineJFS is not included with the standard HP-UX distribution and must be
purchased separately."
-NOT true always.

This can be confusing. HP's OnlineJFS is *always* a purchased product. The 'standard' distribution does not include the OnlineJFS product. However, HP marketing has decided to bundle certain extra-cost products into operating environments so an Enterprise or Mission Critical Operating Environment is really a single product containing the core HP-UX plus extra-cost products like OnlineJFS. So you still have to pay for OnlineJFS, the difference being whether it is a separate purchase or included in a (higher priced) special bundle.

[skt_skt]

what i have for 11.23 is MCOE cd bundle where OnlineJFS is part of.

[skt_skt]

it was very good discussion. Thanks to all