Hardware mirroring in HPUX ??

[Nostradamus222]

Hi all,

   I am new to HPUX, coming from the Windows world.

We have several HPUX 11.23 boxes, I need to check if their boot disk is mirrored.

  I have checked previous threads where the mirroring is done by HPUX, on a Logical Volume level.

  In the windows world, all modern servers rely on RAID 1 on a hardware level, that is, the OS has no idea it is running on a mirrored disk, Windows only sees 1 disk.

  Does the same apply for HPUX ??  Does the concept of a RAID 1 at hardware level exist ??

Or does it rely exclusively on software-level mirroring ??

Thank you for any input.

Regards,

[Patrick Wallek]

It really depends upon the model of server you are running.

HP-UX relied on software mirroring until the RAID cards started becoming more common in the servers.

What model servers do you have? Hint -- Run the 'model' command to find this information.

To do a cursory check of a logical volume in VG00, run the following:

# lvdisplay /dev/vg00/lvol1

Here's the output from one of the servers I have access to:

# lvdisplay /dev/vg00/lvol1
--- Logical volumes ---
LV Name /dev/vg00/lvol1
VG Name /dev/vg00
LV Permission read/write
LV Status available/syncd
Mirror copies 1
Consistency Recovery MWC
Schedule parallel
LV Size (Mbytes) 304
Current LE 38
Allocated PE 76
Stripes 0
Stripe Size (Kbytes) 0
Bad block off
Allocation strict/contiguous
IO Timeout (Seconds) default

Note the "Mirror copies" line in the output.  The "1" indicates that this logical volume is mirrored at the software level.  A value of "0" indicates that it is NOT software mirrored.  However, that does NOT necessarily mean it is mirrored at a hardware level.

To determine hardware mirroring requires more research and the method depends on the type of RAID card, if any, in a server.

[Nostradamus222]

Thank you Patrick for your reply.

The output of the model command:  ia64 hp server rx4640  .

After running lvdisplay /dev/vg00/lvol1 , I see that this particular server has Mirror copies  0 , so it is not mirrored on the OS level, right ??

  How can I know if I have a hardware disk mirror ??  How do I know if it is possible to do this on my current HW ??

[Patrick Wallek]

Please attach the output of 'ioscan -kfn'.  That will give us a start as to the types of disks your system is seeing.

[Nostradamus222]

Here is my output:

#ioscan -kfn

Class        I  H/W Path        Driver       S/W State   H/W Type     Description
==================================================================================
root         0                  root         CLAIMED     BUS_NEXUS
ioa          0  0               sba          CLAIMED     BUS_NEXUS    System Bus Adapter (1229)
ba           0  0/0             lba          CLAIMED     BUS_NEXUS    Local PCI-X Bus Adapter (122e)
tty          0  0/0/1/0         asio0        CLAIMED     INTERFACE    PCI SimpleComm (103c1290)
                               /dev/diag/mux0  /dev/mux0       /dev/tty0p0
tty          1  0/0/1/1         asio0        CLAIMED     INTERFACE    PCI Serial (103c1048)
                               /dev/GSPdiag1   /dev/mux1       /dev/tty1p2
                               /dev/diag/mux1  /dev/tty1p0     /dev/tty1p4
OO           0  0/0/2/0         UsbOhci      CLAIMED     INTERFACE    USB OHCI Interface
OO           1  0/0/2/1         UsbOhci      CLAIMED     INTERFACE    USB OHCI Interface
OO           2  0/0/2/2         UsbEhci      CLAIMED     INTERFACE    USB EHCI Interface
sideba       0  0/0/3/0         side_multi   CLAIMED     INTERFACE    CMD IDE controller
ext_bus      0  0/0/3/0.0       side         CLAIMED     INTERFACE    IDE Primary Channel
target       0  0/0/3/0.0.0     tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
disk         0  0/0/3/0.0.0.0   sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       TEAC    DV-28E-N
                               /dev/dsk/c0t0d0   /dev/rdsk/c0t0d0
target       1  0/0/3/0.0.7     tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
ctl          0  0/0/3/0.0.7.0   sctl         CLAIMED     DEVICE       Initiator
                               /dev/rscsi/c0t7d0
ext_bus      1  0/0/3/0.1       side         CLAIMED     INTERFACE    IDE Secondary Channel
target       2  0/0/3/0.1.7     tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
ctl          1  0/0/3/0.1.7.0   sctl         CLAIMED     DEVICE       Initiator
                               /dev/rscsi/c1t7d0
graphics     0  0/0/4/0         gvid_core    CLAIMED     INTERFACE    PCI Display (10025159)
ba           1  0/1             lba          CLAIMED     BUS_NEXUS    Local PCI-X Bus Adapter (122e)
ext_bus      2  0/1/1/0         mpt          CLAIMED     INTERFACE    SCSI Ultra320 A6961-60011
                               /dev/mpt2
target       3  0/1/1/0.0       tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
disk         1  0/1/1/0.0.0     sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       HP 146 GST3146707LC
                               /dev/dsk/c2t0d0     /dev/rdsk/c2t0d0
                               /dev/dsk/c2t0d0s1   /dev/rdsk/c2t0d0s1
                               /dev/dsk/c2t0d0s2   /dev/rdsk/c2t0d0s2
                               /dev/dsk/c2t0d0s3   /dev/rdsk/c2t0d0s3
target       4  0/1/1/0.1       tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
disk         2  0/1/1/0.1.0     sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       HP 146 GST3146707LC
                               /dev/dsk/c2t1d0     /dev/rdsk/c2t1d0
                               /dev/dsk/c2t1d0s1   /dev/rdsk/c2t1d0s1
                               /dev/dsk/c2t1d0s2   /dev/rdsk/c2t1d0s2
                               /dev/dsk/c2t1d0s3   /dev/rdsk/c2t1d0s3
target       5  0/1/1/0.7       tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
ctl          2  0/1/1/0.7.0     sctl         CLAIMED     DEVICE       Initiator
                               /dev/rscsi/c2t7d0
ext_bus      3  0/1/1/1         mpt          CLAIMED     INTERFACE    SCSI Ultra320 A6961-60011
                               /dev/mpt3
target      12  0/1/1/1.7       tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
ctl          3  0/1/1/1.7.0     sctl         CLAIMED     DEVICE       Initiator
                               /dev/rscsi/c3t7d0
lan          0  0/1/2/0         iether       CLAIMED     INTERFACE    HP AB352-60001 PCI/PCI-X 1000Base-T Dual-port Core
lan          1  0/1/2/1         iether       CLAIMED     INTERFACE    HP AB352-60001 PCI/PCI-X 1000Base-T Dual-port Core
ba           2  0/2             lba          CLAIMED     BUS_NEXUS    Local PCI-X Bus Adapter (122e)
lan          2  0/2/1/0         igelan       CLAIMED     INTERFACE    HP A6847-60101 PCI 1000Base-SX Adapter
ba           3  0/3             lba          CLAIMED     BUS_NEXUS    Local PCI-X Bus Adapter (122e)
fc           0  0/3/2/0         td           CLAIMED     INTERFACE    HP Tachyon XL2 Fibre Channel Mass Storage Adapter
                               /dev/td0
fcp          3  0/3/2/0.2       fcp          CLAIMED     INTERFACE    FCP Domain
ext_bus     48  0/3/2/0.2.19.0.0        fcparray     CLAIMED     INTERFACE    FCP Array Interface
target       7  0/3/2/0.2.19.0.0.0      tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
disk        64  0/3/2/0.2.19.0.0.0.0    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       DGC     VNX5300WDR5
                               /dev/dsk/c48t0d0   /dev/rdsk/c48t0d0
disk        68  0/3/2/0.2.19.0.0.0.1    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       DGC     VNX5300WDR5
                               /dev/dsk/c48t0d1   /dev/rdsk/c48t0d1
ext_bus     44  0/3/2/0.2.19.255.0      fcpdev       CLAIMED     INTERFACE    FCP Device Interface
target       6  0/3/2/0.2.19.255.0.0    tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
ctl         24  0/3/2/0.2.19.255.0.0.0  sctl         CLAIMED     DEVICE       DGC     VNX5300
                               /dev/rscsi/c44t0d0
ext_bus     49  0/3/2/0.2.23.0.0        fcparray     CLAIMED     INTERFACE    FCP Array Interface
target       9  0/3/2/0.2.23.0.0.0      tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
disk        63  0/3/2/0.2.23.0.0.0.0    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       DGC     VNX5300WDR5
                               /dev/dsk/c49t0d0   /dev/rdsk/c49t0d0
disk        67  0/3/2/0.2.23.0.0.0.1    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       DGC     VNX5300WDR5
                               /dev/dsk/c49t0d1   /dev/rdsk/c49t0d1
ext_bus     45  0/3/2/0.2.23.255.0      fcpdev       CLAIMED     INTERFACE    FCP Device Interface
target       8  0/3/2/0.2.23.255.0.0    tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
ctl         25  0/3/2/0.2.23.255.0.0.0  sctl         CLAIMED     DEVICE       DGC     VNX5300
                               /dev/rscsi/c45t0d0
ext_bus     40  0/3/2/0.2.39.0.0        fcparray     CLAIMED     INTERFACE    FCP Array Interface
target      11  0/3/2/0.2.39.0.0.0      tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
disk        58  0/3/2/0.2.39.0.0.0.0    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       EMC     SYMMETRIX
                               /dev/dsk/c40t0d0   /dev/rdsk/c40t0d0
disk        59  0/3/2/0.2.39.0.0.0.1    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       EMC     SYMMETRIX
                               /dev/dsk/c40t0d1   /dev/rdsk/c40t0d1
disk        60  0/3/2/0.2.39.0.0.0.2    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       EMC     SYMMETRIX
                               /dev/dsk/c40t0d2   /dev/rdsk/c40t0d2
disk        61  0/3/2/0.2.39.0.0.0.3    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       EMC     SYMMETRIX
                               /dev/dsk/c40t0d3   /dev/rdsk/c40t0d3
disk        62  0/3/2/0.2.39.0.0.0.4    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       EMC     SYMMETRIX
                               /dev/dsk/c40t0d4   /dev/rdsk/c40t0d4
ext_bus     41  0/3/2/0.2.39.255.0      fcpdev       CLAIMED     INTERFACE    FCP Device Interface
target      10  0/3/2/0.2.39.255.0.0    tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
ctl         23  0/3/2/0.2.39.255.0.0.0  sctl         CLAIMED     DEVICE       EMC     SYMMETRIX
                               /dev/rscsi/c41t0d0
ba           4  0/4             lba          CLAIMED     BUS_NEXUS    Local PCI-X Bus Adapter (122e)
fc           1  0/4/2/0         td           CLAIMED     INTERFACE    HP Tachyon XL2 Fibre Channel Mass Storage Adapter
                               /dev/td1
fcp          2  0/4/2/0.3       fcp          CLAIMED     INTERFACE    FCP Domain
ext_bus     36  0/4/2/0.3.22.0.0        fcparray     CLAIMED     INTERFACE    FCP Array Interface
target      18  0/4/2/0.3.22.0.0.0      tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
disk        49  0/4/2/0.3.22.0.0.0.0    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       EMC     SYMMETRIX
                               /dev/dsk/c36t0d0   /dev/rdsk/c36t0d0
disk        50  0/4/2/0.3.22.0.0.0.1    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       EMC     SYMMETRIX
                               /dev/dsk/c36t0d1   /dev/rdsk/c36t0d1
disk        51  0/4/2/0.3.22.0.0.0.2    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       EMC     SYMMETRIX
                               /dev/dsk/c36t0d2   /dev/rdsk/c36t0d2
disk        52  0/4/2/0.3.22.0.0.0.3    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       EMC     SYMMETRIX
                               /dev/dsk/c36t0d3   /dev/rdsk/c36t0d3
disk        53  0/4/2/0.3.22.0.0.0.4    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       EMC     SYMMETRIX
                               /dev/dsk/c36t0d4   /dev/rdsk/c36t0d4
ext_bus     37  0/4/2/0.3.22.255.0      fcpdev       CLAIMED     INTERFACE    FCP Device Interface
target      17  0/4/2/0.3.22.255.0.0    tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
ctl         20  0/4/2/0.3.22.255.0.0.0  sctl         CLAIMED     DEVICE       EMC     SYMMETRIX
                               /dev/rscsi/c37t0d0
ext_bus     50  0/4/2/0.3.68.0.0        fcparray     CLAIMED     INTERFACE    FCP Array Interface
target      14  0/4/2/0.3.68.0.0.0      tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
disk        66  0/4/2/0.3.68.0.0.0.0    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       DGC     VNX5300WDR5
                               /dev/dsk/c50t0d0   /dev/rdsk/c50t0d0
disk        70  0/4/2/0.3.68.0.0.0.1    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       DGC     VNX5300WDR5
                               /dev/dsk/c50t0d1   /dev/rdsk/c50t0d1
ext_bus     46  0/4/2/0.3.68.255.0      fcpdev       CLAIMED     INTERFACE    FCP Device Interface
target      13  0/4/2/0.3.68.255.0.0    tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
ctl         27  0/4/2/0.3.68.255.0.0.0  sctl         CLAIMED     DEVICE       DGC     VNX5300
                               /dev/rscsi/c46t0d0
ext_bus     51  0/4/2/0.3.69.0.0        fcparray     CLAIMED     INTERFACE    FCP Array Interface
target      15  0/4/2/0.3.69.0.0.0      tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
disk        65  0/4/2/0.3.69.0.0.0.0    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       DGC     VNX5300WDR5
                               /dev/dsk/c51t0d0   /dev/rdsk/c51t0d0
disk        69  0/4/2/0.3.69.0.0.0.1    sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       DGC     VNX5300WDR5
                               /dev/dsk/c51t0d1   /dev/rdsk/c51t0d1
ext_bus     47  0/4/2/0.3.69.255.0      fcpdev       CLAIMED     INTERFACE    FCP Device Interface
target      16  0/4/2/0.3.69.255.0.0    tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE
ctl         26  0/4/2/0.3.69.255.0.0.0  sctl         CLAIMED     DEVICE       DGC     VNX5300
                               /dev/rscsi/c47t0d0
ba           5  0/5             lba          CLAIMED     BUS_NEXUS    Local PCI-X Bus Adapter (122e)
lan          3  0/5/1/0         igelan       CLAIMED     INTERFACE    HP A6847-60101 PCI 1000Base-SX Adapter
processor    0  120             processor    CLAIMED     PROCESSOR    Processor
processor    1  121             processor    CLAIMED     PROCESSOR    Processor
processor    2  122             processor    CLAIMED     PROCESSOR    Processor
processor    3  123             processor    CLAIMED     PROCESSOR    Processor
ba           6  250             pdh          CLAIMED     BUS_NEXUS    Core I/O Adapter
ipmi         0  250/0           ipmi         CLAIMED     INTERFACE    IPMI Controller
                               /dev/ipmi
acpi_node    0  250/1           acpi_node    CLAIMED     INTERFACE    Acpi Hardware
usbmsvbus    0  255/1           mass_storage CLAIMED     VIRTBUS      USB Mass Storage
vroot_rdsk   0  255/2           rdsk_root    CLAIMED     VIRTBUS

[Torsten. · Accepted solution]

An smartarray controller (same as in Proliant servers) was optional for your server.

You don't have one.

Both internal disks are connected to a plain SCSI controller:

ext_bus      2  0/1/1/0         mpt          CLAIMED     INTERFACE    SCSI Ultra320 A6961-60011
                               /dev/mpt2

so you can only use LVM mirroring.

[Patrick Wallek]

Another indicator that you probably aren't mirrored via hardware mirroring is that the disk drives are showing up in ioscan as regular disk drives.

From your output:

disk         1  0/1/1/0.0.0     sdisk        CLAIMED     DEVICE       HP 146 GST3146707LC

The "HP 146 GST..." is the type of drive.  If this were a RAID volume configured via a RAID controller then you would likely see it as "HP Logical Volume", or something similar.

[Torsten.]

The smartarray sa6402 or sa6404 was the optional controller for this rx4640.

It would look like this:

ext_bus     2  0/1/1/0/4/0     ciss         CLAIMED     INTERFACE    PCI-X SmartArray 6402 RAID Controller
                              /dev/ciss2
target      3  0/1/1/0/4/0.0   tgt          CLAIMED     DEVICE       
disk        1  0/1/1/0/4/0.0.0   sdisk      CLAIMED     DEVICE    HP LOGICAL VOLUME
                              /dev/dsk/c2t0d0     /dev/rdsk/c2t0d0  
                              /dev/dsk/c2t0d0s1   /dev/rdsk/c2t0d0s1
                              /dev/dsk/c2t0d0s2   /dev/rdsk/c2t0d0s2
                              /dev/dsk/c2t0d0s3   /dev/rdsk/c2t0d0s3