Installing Multipathing Software in a Sun StorEdge 9900 Series Storage Array
This chapter contains procedures on how to install and add multipathing software. Multipathing software enables you to define and control redundant physical paths to I/O devices such as storage arrays and networks. If the active path to a device becomes unavailable, the multipathing software can automatically switch to an alternate path to maintain availability. This capability is known as automatic failover. To maximize multipathing capabilities, your servers must be configured with redundant hardware. Redundant hardware includes redundant network interfaces or two host bus adapters that are connected to the same dual-ported storage array.
This chapter contains the following procedures.
Installing Multipathing Software
This section contains procedures on how to install multipathing software in a cluster that isnot yet installed with Sun Cluster software. Choose one of the following multipathing solutions.
How to Install Sun StorEdge 9900 Dynamic Link Manager Software
Use this procedure to install Sun StorEdge 9900 Dynamic Link Manager (Sun SDLM) software in a cluster that is not yet installed with Sun Cluster software. This procedure assumes that you installed Solaris operating environment. If your cluster is already running Sun Cluster software, see Adding Multipathing Software to add multipathing software to a running cluster.
Perform this procedure on one node at a time. This procedure defines Node N as the node on which you are installing the multipathing software.
Install the new storage array.
For instructions on how to install the storage array, see the documentation that shipped with your storage array.
Configure the storage array such that each node has two paths to the same set of LUNs. For an example configuration, see Figure 2-1.
Contact your service provider to create the desired logical volumes. These new logical volumes can be configured by using LUN Expansion (LUSE) or Virtual LVI/LUN.
Figure 2-1 Switched Configuration
On each node that is connected to the storage array, use the format(1M) command. Use this command to verify that the same set of LUNs is visible to the expected controllers.
# format
See the format command man page for more information about by using the command.
Install and configure Sun SDLM software.
For instructions on how to install and configure the Sun SDLM software, see the documentation that shipped with your storage array.
Did you perform a reconfiguration reboot when you configured Sun SDLM software?
If yes, proceed to Step 6.
If no, shut down Node N, and perform a reconfiguration reboot to create the new Solaris device files and links on Node N.
On each node connected to the storage array, use the format(1M) command. Use this command to verify that you see half the number of disks you saw in Step 3.
# format
See the format command man page for more information about by using the command.
On all remaining nodes and one node at a time, repeat Step 1 through Step 6.
Where to Go From Here
After you install multipathing software, you might want to install Sun Cluster software. For the procedures on how to install Sun Cluster software, see Sun Cluster software installation documentation.
How to Install Sun StorEdge Traffic Manager Software
Use this procedure to install Sun StorEdge Traffic Manager software in a cluster that is not yet installed with Sun Cluster software. This procedure assumes that you installed Solaris operating environment. If your cluster is already running Sun Cluster software, see Adding Multipathing Software to add multipathing software to a running cluster.
Perform this procedure on one node at a time. This procedure defines Node N as the node on which you are installing the multipathing software.
Install the new storage array.
For instructions on how to install the storage array, see the documentation that shipped with your storage array.
Configure the storage array so that each node has two paths to the same set of LUNs. For an example configuration, see Figure 2-2.
Contact your service provider to create the desired logical volumes. These new logical volumes can be configured by using LUN Expansion (LUSE) or Virtual LVI/LUN.
Figure 2-2 Switched Configuration
On each node connected to the storage array, use the format(1M) command. Use this command to verify that the same set of LUNs is visible to the expected controllers.
# format
See the format command man page for more information about by using the command.
Install any required patches or software for Sun StorEdge Traffic Manager software support on Node N.
For instructions on installing the software, see the Sun StorEdge Traffic Manager Installation and Configuration Guide at http://www.sun.com/products-n-solutions/hardware/docs/.
Edit the /kernel/drv/scsi_vhci.conf file to activate the Sun StorEdge Traffic Manager software. Set the mpxio-disable parameter to no.
mpxio-disable="no"
Boot Node N into cluster mode.
For more information on booting nodes, see Sun Cluster software installation documentation.
Did you perform a reconfiguration reboot when you configured Sun StorEdge Traffic Manager software?
If yes, proceed to Step 8.
If no, shut down Node N, and perform a reconfiguration reboot to create the new Solaris device files and links on Node N.
On each node connected to the storage array, use the format(1M) command. Use this command to verify that you see half the number of disks you saw in Step 3.
# format
See the format command man page for more information about by using the command.
On all remaining nodes and one node at a time, repeat Step 1 through Step 8.