HPUX 11.0: EMC Optimizer

[LG Porter]

I have a three node MCSG cluster running HPUX 11.00 using a EMC Symmetrix 8730 Array with a EMC product call Optimizer(as a solution to resolve I/O problems). Is there a installation guide or available documentation available describing how to setup Optimizer? What is perferred, EMC Optimzer or EMC PowerPath? What is the adavnces and disadvantages between both products?

[Ross Zubritski · Accepted solution]

Hi,
Optimizer and PowerPath are two totally different products. Optimizer runs on your Symm's service processor (laptop) and basically finds a hotspot in the symm and balances the load with special symm devices called DRV devices. PowerPath runs on your host and provides both redundant path and "double the throughput" from your host to the Symm. powerlink.emc.com is the resource for EMC docs.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

RZ

[Mark Greene_1]

Powerpath is not supported on HP systems, you have to use the PVLinks functionality of vgcreate to specify alternate paths if your system has dual HBAs. PVLinks is a part of On-Line JFS, so if you have that, then you also have the PVLinks functions. If not, be aware that On-KLine JFS is a codeword protected product, and you have to purchase a license from HP for it.

Also, I don't know if active/active configuration is supported for HP with Symmetrix (it is not with the Clariion). You can go to EMC's Powerlink web site (requires registration) and look at the support matrix to find out.

HTH
mark

[Ross Zubritski]

Mark,

I beg to diifer, however, PowerPath certainly is supported on HP-UX

[Jordan Bean]

Since all of my HP-UX systems are using PowerPath, I can say with absolute confidence that PowerPath is supported on HP-UX.

PV links are NOT required for load balancing or path failover in PowerPath.

PV links are only required by LVM for redundant boot paths, and path failover without PowerPath.

Symmetrix Optimizer is an internal product used to reduce spindle contention on the backend. If any two or more hypers become concurrently and excessive active on the same spindle for an extended period of time, then they will be dynamically moved to other separate spindles by swapping them with inactive hypers through intermediate DRV devices.

[Mark Greene_1]

My mistake. It appears that PowerPath is not supported with Clariion, but it is supported with Symmetrix.

EMC has a knowledge base and installation manuals available on their web site:

http://powerlink.emc.com

It requires registration with a vailid site ID.

mark

[Jordan Bean]

PowerPath 3.0.2 introduces support for CLARiiON.

[Animesh Chakraborty]

If you are using BCV and optimizer then there will be a problem.
Optimizer dynamically moves the busy spindles by swapping them with inactive hypers through intermediate DRV devices .
If swaping is done during sync time, then bcv sync will fail.

So far no soluton from EMC on this.
Thanks
Animesh

[Sunil Sharma_1]

Hi,

Optimzer and Power path are 2 different product and Optimizer has to be run on Service processor to collect sysmetrix internal performence info and fine tune it.
Power path is used for load sharing/balancing, high availibility for HBA's.

Sunil