Setup Question

[Kathleen]

We are trying to create a disaster recovery system on an old E55 for one of our databases that is on a K460. My question is, can I change the name/size of the volume groups that are on the existing E55 to match what is on the K460 for what we would need to restore to...in case of disaster? Does that make sense? I want my E55 to look like my K460 layout....but it is an old server that had a completely different layout with another app we use to run on it. Is this possible?

[harry d brown jr · Accepted solution]

Kathleen,

REBUILD the E55 from scratch, because it's the safest way to insure you know exactly what is where and how it got there.

PLUS it's about 100 times faster!!!


live free or die
harry

[Rodney Hills]

With LVM, that should be no problem. Just rebuild your E55 from a cold start and define away.

Even though your E55 does have a different bus structure then the K460, LVM will hide that.

-- Rod Hills

[PIYUSH D. PATEL]

Hi,

First you need to check out the performance of the application which you are running on K class on E55. Check whether ur application is running properly. Then the disaster recovery makes sense.

Rebuild E55 again from scratch ....check your application.

Piyush

[Duncan Edmonstone]

... of course you need to be sure you have enough disk space on the E55 to store the entire operating system and database as it is on the K460. And also sufficient memory on the E55 to run the database.

HTH

Duncan

[Sanjay_6]

Hi,

What you need is the same directory structure. mount points with the same filesystem spaces.

Hope this helps.

Regds

[S.K. Chan]

Since you said "changing name/size" of VG I would agree with the rest a rebuild is the cleanest way. If you just want to change a VG name then this is how you would do it ..
Rename existing VG name (eg change vg02 to vg04)
# vgdisplay -v vg02
==> take note of all PV-paths.
==> assumming it's c2t1d0 & c2t2d0
# vgchange -a n /dev/vg02
# vgexport -m mapfile /dev/vg02
==> remove VG entry fr lvmtab and all its devices files
# mkdir /dev/vg04
# mknod /dev/vg04/group c 64 0x040000
==> make sure minor number (0x040000) doesn't clash
# vgimport -m mapfile /dev/vg04 /dev/dsk/c2t1d0 /dev/dsk/c2t2d0
# vgchange -a y /dev/vg04
# vgcfgbackup /dev/vg04

[Helen French]

It is possible to create the same LVM structure in both systems. All you have to do is reconfigure the VGs, LVs and file systems. I would take a better chance of a cold install and configure/install everything new.

[Kathleen]

Ok then.....are there steps to rebuild out there somewhere. Makes sense that that would be the quickest way.

We are adding additional disk (replacing drives) to accommodate the database.

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Kathleen:

I agree that a cold-install of an OS on the old E55 is a clean setup.

Build your patch level to match as best it will (i.e. same SupportPlus Quality pack; same applications from Applications CDs).

As for your LVM layout, don't worry to much about exactness. LVM is designed to hide the physical layer. Simply create (via SAM, if you like) volume groups, logical volumes, and filesystems that are sized for your needs. Now, be ready with good backups to recover you non-vg00 data should the need arise.

Remember that in a disaster you can sacrifice some performance for *having* a platform on which you can run. The most important thing is backups and the integrity of the data thereon.

Regards!

...JRF...

LVM is designed to hide the physical layer.

[Bill Hassell]

One note about the E55 vs the K460...there is a very large difference in both CPU as well as disk performance. If the K460 is chugging along pretty heavily, then the E55 will be unbearably slow, especially if the K460 has multiple processors.

[Rodney Hills]

One thing you didn't mention is the version of HPUX you are running. E55 is not sanctioned to run HPUX11.

-- Rod Hills

[Kathleen]

Really? It can't run 11.0? We are trying the same thing for another database to be on a G30 for drecovery. Is that an issue with the G30 also? The database we are working with is on an 11.0 system.

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi (again) Kathleen:

Your E55 will run a 32-bit 11.0 but that's it's limit:

http://devresource.hp.com/STK/serversupport.html

Regards!

...JRF...

[Rodney Hills]

When I say sanction, I mean HP does not support it.

Your E55 may be able to run HPUX 11, but it is not supported by HP.

-- Rod Hills

[Sanjay_6]

Hi,

E55 should support 32 bit 11.0. Same with G30,

http://devresource.hp.com/STK/serversupport.html

If you have 64 Bit 11.0 on K class, you should look at another server for DR.

Hope this helps.

Regds

[Kathleen]

Are there steps for rebuilding though? Do I just do the system install....patches....and then just create the pv and lv setup again? Does the system install remove what is currently on the system (I am guessing it does).

[Pete Randall]

Kathleen,

Yes, you need to go through the install, either from CD or via ignite, install patches, applications, build your lvm structures, and restore any user data you require.

HTH,
Pete

[S.K. Chan]

Cold install removes previous config. Some online doc for your reference .. (this is for 11.0)

http://docs.hp.com/cgi-bin/fsearch/framedisplay?top=/hpux/onlinedocs/B3782-90785/B3782-90785_top.html&con=/hpux/onlinedocs/B3782-90785/00/00/8-con.html&toc=/hpux/onlinedocs/B3782-90785/00/00/8-toc.html&searchterms=installing%7c11.0&queryid=20020613-102150

[Kathleen]

How do I tell if it is 32 or 64 bit?

[S.K. Chan]

On an existing 11.x system run this ..
# getconf KERNEL_BITS
and it'll return either 32 or 64

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Kathleen:

If you do a cold-install (which is virtually guaranteed to work!) instead of an upgrade, then, yes, your boot (vg00) is wiped clean and a new OS loaded from the Core OS CDROM.

If you have non-vg00 disks, leave them alone. Instead, before the cold install, 'vgexport' the volume groups representing any data you want preserved. After the installation completes, 'vgimport' them and you will have your data.

There are a great number of post discussing cold-installation and the 'vgexport/vgimport' process. Here are a couple of links to get you started:

http://forums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0xe6053d853cd9d5118ff40090279cd0f9,00.html

http://forums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0xab86b47b9a27d6118ff40090279cd0f9,00.html

Regards!

...JRF...

[Sanjay_6]

hi,

To check if the OS is 32/64 Bits,

getconf KERNEL_BITS

32 --> if OS is 32 Bits
64 --> if OS is 64 Bits.

Hope this helps.

Regds