VxFS ver 2 ver 3 - Confusion

[SteveKirby]

System is running HP-UX 11.0

Going through SAM and found reference to 'Upgrade version 2 to version 3' under 'VxFS Maintenacne' un 'D

In looking through itrc I see that each version of the filesystem has improvements (large files and UID with version 3, dynamic inodes (I think) with ver 4).

I have also found the I must be running JFS 3.3 to use version 4 of the filelayout.

Questions:
Does selecting 'large file size' when creating my filesystems create version 3 filesystems? (I think 'No')
Are there any licensing requirements between the filelayouts (beyond licensing JFS 3.3 for ver 4)?
Do I need 'Advanced VxFS filesystems' installed to do this? Is that licensed as well?

And lastly, if you had the time would you upgrade the filesystems?

Thanks,
Steve

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Steve:

Have a look at "HP JFS 3.3 and HP OnLineJFS 3.3 VERITAS File System 3.3 System Administrator's Guide" for more information.

http://docs.hp.com/hpux/onlinedocs/B3929-90011/B3929-90011.html

You will find a chart of the differences between the free version and the licenced version yielding "Online JFS" and a discussion of the various disk layouts.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Steven E. Protter]

You can do large filesize without even going to JFS 3.3, which uses the v4 layout I believe.

newfs -F vxfs -o largefiles /dev/vgxx/rfsname

for 11.00 only, you need largefiles in the /etc/fstab file

That's it.

[SteveKirby]

Thanks, I now have a pointer to the details ...

The other questions are:
Any licensing issues? If JFS3.3 really required for Ver. 4 and do I need additional licenses for that?

And would you upgrade your filesystems?

As of right now there is NO reason I can think of NOT to upgrade. THe only possible reason would be if I wanted to revert my system to 10.20.

[Brian M Rawlings · Accepted solution]

Steve: Online JFS is handy, but not required. Basically, the VxFS is the "journaled" file system, included with HP-UX since 10.20 and before.

You can use it, with the "quick reboot" advantage, whether or not you pay the extra for Online JFS. The basic FS included with HP-UX can do large files as-is, no upgrade needed (unless you have an old server, pre-10.20, or early 10.20).

You DO have to be using the VxFS (jfs) file system to use Online JFS to do magical stuff to the FS, it won't work on the older HP HFS file system.

The three magical things Online JFS provides is 1) Online backups of a FS, 2) Online size increase of a FS, and 3) Online defragmentation of a FS.

The backup thing is sort of useful. The on-line size increase is very useful, in high-uptime environments, I've used it to good effect many times. The on-line defrag thing is worrisome... if you don't have lots of free space, it doesn't work good (I once got seriously bit by this critter, and won't use it on production again with users on the FS).

To the point, I never get a system without On-line JFS, it's right up there with Mirrordisk/UX and Glance, for me (and most people). This is why HP grouped them all together in the "Enterprise Operating Environment" for 11i, along with PRM that not a lot of people use, but is handy once you learn it.

As for upgrading the file systems, I haven't needed to, but I would consider it if I had old machines without 3.3 of the VxFS. I consider 3.3 a good, rock-solid rev, although I try to keep up on patches (after they are proven, of course).

Regards, --bmr

[SteveKirby]

Previous Post Answered all my questions.