Setting up AutoRaid FC60 array

[Kerry Fay]

I am going to be installing a new HP N class
server with an AutoRaid array. I have installed
many new servers and am familiar with LVM but
don't know what "changes" when you are dealing
with an AutoRaid array, or what extra steps
if any there are. I have a 2lb book on it's
way but was wondering if someone could give me
some idea of what I am looking at? I have never
used an AutoRaid array before.

[Christopher Caldwell]

Point of protocol - I think you're either AutoRAID or FC60, but not both. That said - AutoRAID is pretty straight forward, but I'd advise you to read the manual in total.

Okay, it's a snoozer, but hey, you'll save on Sominex.

Read about LUNs. Pay particular attention to the fact that you can't make a LUN bigger without destroying all of the data on the LUN.

Think about the different approaches to provisioning the AutoRAID when you've filled it with disks and provisioning the AutoRAID when it isn't full.

Look at HOT SPARE. You'll want 'em if you want reliability.

Unlike the FC60, you don't directly control RAID 1/0 vs. RAID 5. You allocate RAID 5. The controller builds a cache of frequently accessed data in RAID 1/0 for performance. You can influence RAID 1/0 by leaving disks unassigned to LUNs.

Best thing is can see is to read the docs. With both the FC60 and the AutoRAID there are configuration gotchas that usually don't show up until it's too late. You'll want to know your options on the front-end.

[Ajith Nath.G]

Hi,
The following things i know and just sharing with you.

I don't think any product like AutoRaid FC60 Array is existing. It may be AutoRaid 12H or HP SureStore FC60 with SC10 boxes.

AutoRaid means you cannot manually configure the Raid on what RAID level it should work. It is taken care by the Firmware. When the box is having more space free we can tell that it is in RAID 3.
FC60 is not having the AutoRaid features. It is having two Raid controllers and is connected by FC cables to the Host. If you are having 2 FC controllers in the host, please connect both to the FC60 otherwise it will gives you some errors.
FC60 supports all other Raid level except RAID 0. (I faced a problem because of this)
The administration as well as the RAID configutation can be done through SAM very easily.

I hope this will help you some way.....

best of luck.

an

[Bill McNAMARA_1]

There is a new autoraid/trad raid array out called the cassini or virtual vault, using xp tools for config. It can switch between fixed disk (FC60 style) and AutoRAID (12H) style raid.

It looks like a collection of FC10 JBODs with RAID controllers.

you can find out more from http://www.storage.hp.com/disk_arrays/midrange/va7100/index.html

Hope that helps,
Bill

[Bill McNAMARA_1]

well not quite like FC10 JBODs... I believe in fact an autoraid 120 is coming out based on the FC10..

Later,
Bill

[Mark Mitchell]

Setting up a FC60 with performance in mind, I would look at how much disk you have on how many drives. Find the best number of LUN's to create. Using LVM remember that the FC60 is a 2 controler unit, so you will want to change some of the LUN's to access the 2nd controler with the 1st as a backup. Other than this, I would need more information on what you setting up.

[Kerry Fay]

Oops. Please excuse my ignorance. I will be
setting up a FC60 array. It is already on site
at the customer with the N class machine. Can
anyone point me to some good docs. to look at
before I set it up and load the data ?
Can I put the root/boot disk on the array instead of the internal drives?
Also, if anyone has any additional "gotcha"
things to look out for before I get it all
built it would be greatly appreciated. As I
have said before, I have zero experience on these arrays. Thanks.

[Don Bentz]

Personally I would not put your root VG on the same devices as your data is going to/coming from simply because you will probably suffer needless I/O contention. I have an AutoRAID with my root volume(s) and "user data" contained in it. I notice that filesystem /usr is very busy. With my "user data" going back and forth on the same SCSI channel, (and with an AutoRAID, striped across all the same spindles) we notice performance issues...

[Ed Hon]

Unfortunately I think the best documentation is indeed that 2lb doc "HP SureStore E Disk Array FC 60 Advanced User Guide". After trodding thru it and running the Array Manager program, I discovered our business partner had miscabled one of the connections to the SC10's. We are running the split bus configuration.