Installing HP-UX on a SAN disk array

[Sheila McKenzie]

Assuming the HP-UX server, SAN array and HBA supports it, is installing HP-UX on a SAN disk as simple booting off an Ignite server/cd and then on the "Basic Tab" of Ignite under the "Root Disk" button selecting the SAN disk? Is anything else required? Do I need to change what my boot path is or will Ignite do that?

I tried this on an A500 with and EVA and during the install got an error on the "lvlnboot -A n -s /dev/vg00/lvol2" command -- something about an IODC outside of address issue. I assume this failed because I am doing this on an non-supported configuration. Thoughts?

Thanks

[Bill Hassell · Accepted solution]

SANs and HBAs for SANs and switches are not normal SCSI disks and in order to boot, the processor ROMs must have all the special codes neeeded to access these different devices. HP-UX can support these products because drivers exist, but the processor ROMs are very limited. Try updating the A500 to the latest firmware version. If the A500 is already running, you can download and install PHSS_30726 (11.11 as the host OS) or download PF_CHAW4350 to any HP-UX system and create a bootable firmware update tape.

[Fabio Ettore]

Hi,

essentially I think your problem is about two fundamental points:

- the first point is purely a technical problem. Ignite-UX is not supported on EVA3000/5000 active/passive. What kind of EVA are you talking about?

http://docs.hp.com/en/IUX/docs/IUX_release_notes.htm

Chapter 4.3 EVA GL (EVA3000/EVA5000) Disk Arrays

If you have an EVA3000/5000 active/passive you should consider to upgrade it.

- the second point is 'a point of view':

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=602789&admit=-682735245+1141394076968+28353475

That thread was opened by me, anyway you can find in ITRC forum a lot of other threads about to have bott disks in SAN.

Conclusion according to my thoughts:
The installation is failing due to the kind of disk array. Look this Ignite-UX FAQ:

http://docs.hp.com/en/IUX/faq.html

---------------------
1-16......
Further, if the boot disk resides on an EVA array, the system fails to boot and is most likely due to an LVM configuration failure panic.
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Considerations and more discussion with other ITRC people here.

HTH.

Best regards,
Fabio

[Alzhy]

Greetings S. McKenzie.

Peace and Clean Air.

SAN Boot support is specific for version of PDC/Firmware, HBA, SAN and Pathing Software.

For the EVA (3K/5K), boot support has been there IF you have SecurePath 3.0D upwards.

HtH.

If you can get hold of SecurePath 3.0D or later versions, it should be detailed there instructions on how to do this.

I doubt if the A500 at all is a supported platform for SAN boots over an EVA.

[Alzhy]

S. McKenzie,

Peace.

Please peruse the following URL.. HP's Official HP-UX SAN Boot Document.

You'll be able to check whether your server, HBAs and SAN (array) is supported.

[Sheila McKenzie]

Thanks for the prompt replies. To the first part of the question -- Assuming everything is supported and I have configured my switch/array properly, (which it doesn't sound like at this point) is installing HP-UX as simple as selecting the SAN disk from the Ignite/UX screens? Is there more involved from the HP Server side of things?

[Alzhy]

It depends on the array (multi-pathing support) AND volume manager used.

Generally, with Active/Active Arrays (i.e. VA7100, newer/upgraded EVA, Hitachi, EMC, Hitachi clones - i.e. XP12000/1024) - you need not do anything special as either VxVM or LVM as rootdisk volume managers will give you the path protecttion you need. So in this case.. it's as simple as selecting the correct LUN/disk at install time.

With older EVA3K/5K.. you need to have SecurePath installed... and there is a process for this...

[Alzhy]

BTW,

You may want to read HP's officual HP-UX SAN Boot document which lists the officially supported servers, HBAs and arrays:

javascript:openExternal('http://search.hp.com/redirect.html?type=REG&qt=SAN+Boot+Support&url=http%3A//docs.hp.com/en/7408/HPUXSANBootWP_final_v2_update.pdf%3Fjumpid%3Dreg_R1002_USEN&pos=2')


I thought I posted this earlier.. here it is..

[Mike Smith_33]

Back in September 05 I went through this ordeal using RP3440s clustered running HPux 11i v1 and going to an EVA 5K. I installed securepath version F and I was able to boot sucessfully. The problem I ran into was that you can't recover to that SAN boot disk. When booting from a make_tape_recovery tape it would not use the SAN drive as a restore drive.

If you want more info let me know and I will go back and review my case notes and emails from HP support.

[TwoProc]

I've got a 36G scsi disk laying around here if you just want to hook it up to your scsi card instead ...

:-) :-) :-)

Just a suggestion from your local friendly "awdnkuwkoaos" chapter.