Relocate HBA's within Server

[Chris Knowling]

Hi all! :)

I have a need to move HBA's around in a pair of rp4440 servers. Presently there are 2 AB465's (fibre/nic) and an A6961(scsi).
The AB465's are in PCI slots 6 & 7. The A6961 is in slot 8.
I need to get the AB465's into slots 7 & 8 and the A6961 into slot 5.

My biggest concern here is the SAN that is attached to the fibre HBA ports.

Background on the servers:
rp4440's with 4 CPU's and 32Gb RAM
direct attached Clariion CX3-20's mirrored by LVM
HPUX 11v1 with MC ServiceGuard


Can I please have some input on how feasible this is and on what problems I might encounter. I'm fairly confident but this is a very important production system so I've got to plan everything in minute detail.

All comments are welcome :)

[Torsten. · Accepted solution]

Hi Chris,

slots 7 and 8 are 133MHz, the others are shared slots at 66MHz - I guess this is the reason for the "move".

But the cards will work in this slots too

http://docs.hp.com/en/FCN-SM/FCN-SM.htm

11: "...
Maximum supported number of AB465A adapters is limited by the number of available PCI / PCI-X slots in any listed system..."

The H/W path will change from
0/5/2 (slot 6)
to
0/6/1 (slot 8)
so you will get new device files.

Consider to vgexport the LUNs, rmsf the associated device files, shutdown and swap the HBAs, boot and vgimport the devices.

Check your cluster config and adjust the config as needed.

[Torsten.]

see also

http://docs.hp.com/en/6848/AB465Awhitepaperbook.pdf

[Chris Knowling]

Thanks Torsten,

Your point about the 133mhz slots does answer the why question- I wasn't concerned by that as I get no choice in whether I do this or not, just how it gets done.

I was already thinking along the lines of your suggested work plan.
Would you expect any issues with the c/t/d #'s of the card currently in slot 7 colliding with c/t/d #'s of the card that will be moved into that slot?

[Torsten.]

There system will ensure unique device files, but I would suggest to use "rmsf" to remove them prior you swap the cards.

[OFC_EDM]

Don't forget your SAN zoning.

If you're using soft (WWN) zoning then it won't be an issue.

But if using hard (port) zoning then you need to ensure you keep the same cables running to the cards...and don't move their connection on the switches.

[Chris Knowling]

That was already on my list Kevin, we do use hard zoning.

Thanks for your insights, both of you. I'm going to close this one out for now while I get on with writing up my implementation plan.

[Chris Knowling]

I've got enough guidance from Torsten and Kevin to continue my planning.

[Torsten.]

You are welcome.
Keep in mind there are LAN devices on the cards ... you need to check them too.