K-Class disk config

[Prashant Zanwar_4]

Hi All,
I have real good scenario like the following.

I have a K-Class server connected to Old EMC Array having

4GBx16Disk Drives + 2GBx2Disk drives.

K-Class server has 4-GSC F/W SCSI add-on interfaces which are interfaced to EMC array and thus the drives in that.
It also has built-in F/W SCSI which is connected to 4 Internal disks.
And one more add-on F/W GSC SCSI interface which interfaces to two DLTs.

Now I want to get rid of this EMC array.
1. I want to check really what can go with GSC f/w SCSI interface (JBOD).
2. All my SCSI interfaces are used by EMC for now. Is it possible using the same configuration to connected the new JBOD and migrate the data which is there in EMC.

Or What cheaper and best solution I can go for to purchase new JBOD interface and offcourse the K-Class should be able to adopt it with all existing things.

I have checked for alternate links which are not there, otherwise I could have took those in consideration.

Please advise and let me know for any clarification needed.

Thanks and best regards
Prashant

[Sanjay_6]

Hi,

K Class is old hardware. However you have choices in what type of storage you want to go for.

1.) upgrade the scsi f/w diff with fiber cards and use storage with fiber channels.
2.) use EMC storage with scsi f/w diff channels.
3.) Use Jamaica disks (HP HASS storage)
4.) Use HP model 12H arrays and Nike Arrays. They have SCSI F/W diff interface.

To migrate from one storage to another, if you have dual path configured, you can do vgreduce to remove the alternate path to the emc, disconnect the cable between the emc and that path and connect another storage to that path, vgextend the vg on the nwly added luns and then mirror fom old emc to the new storage.

Hope this helps.

Regds

[Sean Dale]

I don't know how much room you have (physically) for new drives internally or externally in the cabinet. We have 2 K580s we don't use anymore. I know the machine is fairly old. Do you have any FC60 drive arrays internally? You could always pick them up cheap, but, of course, they are no longer supported. Is this a production box?

[Prashant Zanwar_4]

Hi,

I want to change to some solution other than EMC. In that case I can see that there are two options like Jamaica disks options & HP Model 12H arrays and Nike Arrays. I can change to Fibre channel cards provided this existing should be taken back or so.
I just need to go for 36x4GB option or likewise. I cant make the server down as it runs in production environment. So just to connect the new array is okay but not for upgrading the existing F/W SCSI.

Where can I get information on Jamica disks and HP Model 12H arrays and Nike arrays to study it first.
Please advise. Thanks a lot for quick turn around.

[Prashant Zanwar_4]

How to know if these are FC60 drives internally. Yes this is a production box.

Thanks
Prashant

[Sanjay_6]

Hi,

I don't think that hardware is availble through hp regular channel any longer. You can get those from other sources, refurbished and such. The channel would depend on your geographic location.

Hope this helps.

Regds

[Prashant Zanwar_4]

Hi,
Further I am able to see that the server has F/W differential SCSI port which is not in use.

One ohter server which is being decommisioned has a GSC F/W SCSI port which i can locate from back side. I want to figure out if this is add-on or not?

Can I use F/W differential SCSI for another array? and which array then I can think of.

Also there are HP PB 16bit F/W differential SCSI ports on decommisioned server, will they be of any use. The decommisioned server is also a K-Class.

Thanks a lot till now for replies.
Bye
Prashant

[Prashant Zanwar_4]

And also How to know what capacity I can use internally, like how many disks and of what capacity? My server is k420.

[Prashant Zanwar_4]

Does some one have any solution on above. Please reply if you know how to proceed about this.

Thanks and rgdz
Prashant

[Sean Dale]

I would agree with the reply above- use either Jamaica disks or a Nike Array. Both are old and no longer supported. You can probably get these from eBay or other sites that sell refurbished equipment. To answer your question about room for the devices and such, that depends on how many SCSI channels are available on your server. When you do an ioscan do you see that all of your scsi channels are in use?

[Prashant Zanwar_4]

I have created a file like following.
I have ioscan output as follows. In my openion all the SCSI channels are in use.
Please advise. Also PVlinks is not used

Thanks and rgdz
Prashant

[Prashant Zanwar_4]

And also the below file for your reference.

Thanks
Prashant

[Prashant Zanwar_4]

And also the below file for your reference.
Can some tell please if I still have any space for additional HSC fast wide SCSI card or likewise.

Thanks
Prashant

[Sean Dale]

I'm printing your ioscan results now to look at it.

[Sean Dale]

It does look like your scsi chains are full. However, if you removed the EMC SAN, you would free up room. I don't see any fiber channel cards. If you wanted to add Jamaica disks in an FC60 array, you would need a fiber card.

You should either replace the EMC array with a larger SAN, or, add a fiber card and connect a fiber channel array of SCSI disks. The SAN we use is dual connected fiber. If you have the money, I would suggest removing the EMC and replacing it with a newer and larger SAN and dual connect it using fiber. That would give you more storage, faster access and it would be supported.

Worst case, you could get a fiber card (used) and an FC60 200gig array (used) and use that to replace your current EMC set up.

[Sanjay_6]

Hi,

You do not have room for any additional HSC cards since only one HSC expansion io board (which accomodates 4 scsi add on cards) can go into the box and you have 4 scsi cards at that path 8/0, 8/4, 8/8 & 8/12.

You can add additional SCSI F/W diff cards. PART CODE 28696A. Look below,

http://partsurfer.hp.com/cgi-bin/spi/main?sel_flg=partlist&model=K420&HP_model=&modname=9000+Server+-+K420&template=main&plist_sval=Interface+%28Product%29&plist_styp=subcat&dealer_id=&callingsite=&strsrch=&keysel=Interface+%28Product%29&catsel=%3F&pictype=I&picture=%3F&uniqpic

I think there is a PAL that is required on the backplane to support these additional cards that uses the HP-PB buses on the system.

Hope this helps.

regds

[Sean Dale]

Why do you want to get rid of the EMC array? Couldn't you replace the drives in the array with larger drives? just a thought...

[Prashant Zanwar_4]

Hi,
Thanks about the reply. YOu havent printed anything below.


Thanks and regards
Prashant

[Prashant Zanwar_4]

We(Client) are having a problem with EMC contract. They want to remover all EMC stuff around. They are not pleased with service of EMC.

Thanks and regards
Prashant

[Sean Dale]

You may want to consider adding a card and connecting an HP drive array like an FC-60 then. I don't know what other arrays are available that are compatible with the K420s. We've replaced our K580s with rp7410s and I am not that familiar with the 420s. Since the machine is 'old', their aren't that many options- I don't think any of the HP mass storage options that will work with that server are supported anymore. Sorry, I don't know what else to tell you.

[Prashant Zanwar_4]

How do you come to know that all SCSI chains are fully occupied or likewise?
I am not sure yet how to go about it?
Sanjay you have mentioend about adding one Fast Wide differential SCSI card, how to know if server has that capacity?
Sean its gr8 help of yours also. I appreciate your interest and time.
Please reply

[Sean Dale]

Hopefully, I was able to help. Don't forget to assign points. :)

Good luck with your project.

[Sanjay_6 · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Somehow this thread has got messed up.

Take a look at this doc.

http://docs.hp.com/hpux/pdf/A2375-90027.pdf

Hope this helps.

Regds

[Prashant Zanwar_4]

Further to this:
How to know if I can add additional disks on my SCSI chain?
2. If my SCSI interface capacity is full or I can add some add-on card or not.
Is there any specific way to know this?
And about differential SCSI, how to know if I can add a additional card to it or attach an array to existing port?
Please reply.
Thanks a lot.
Prashant

[Sanjay_6]

Hi,

On a F/W diff scsi bus you can have upto 16 scsi devices. your scsi controller is counted as one scsi device. So that means you can add 15 hard disks / luns / scsi devices / nodes on that bus.

Do a google search on scsi addressing and you could get a lot of useful info on how scsi addressing is done.

Hope this helps.

Regds