HP StorageWorks 2/16V HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 5.X Procedures User Guide (AA- - Page 143

Troubleshooting, Most common problem areas, Table 23 Common troubleshooting problems and tools

Page 143 highlights

10 Troubleshooting Troubleshooting should begin at the center of the SAN-the fabric. Because switches are located between the hosts and storage devices and have visibility into both sides of the storage network, starting with them can help narrow the search path. After eliminating the possibility of a fault within the fabric, determine whether the problem is on the storage side or the host side, and continue a more detailed diagnosis from there. Using this approach can quickly pinpoint and isolate problems. For example, if a host cannot detect a storage device, run a switch command (such as switchShow) to find out whether the storage device is logically connected to the switch. If not, focus first on the switch directly connecting to the storage device. Use your vendor-supplied storage diagnostic tools to better understand why the storage device is not visible to the switch. If the storage device can be detected by the switch, and the host still cannot detect the storage device, there is still a problem between the host and switch. This chapter provides information on troubleshooting and the most common procedures used to diagnose and repair issues. It also includes specific troubleshooting scenarios as examples. Most common problem areas See Table 23 for a list of the most common problem areas that arise within SANs and a list of tools that can be used to resolve them. Table 23 Common troubleshooting problems and tools Problem area Items to investigate Tools Fabric • Missing devices • Marginal links (unstable connections) • Incorrect zoning configurations • Incorrect switch configurations • Switch LEDs • Switch commands (for example, switchShow or nsAllShow) for diagnostics • Web or GUI-based monitoring and management software tools Storage Devices Hosts Storage management applications • Physical issues between switch and devices • Incorrect storage software configurations • Incorrect host bus adapter installation • Incorrect device driver installation • Incorrect device driver configuration Incorrect installation and configuration of the storage devices that the software references. For example, if using a volume-management application, check for: • Incorrect volume installation • Incorrect volume configuration • Device LEDs • Storage diagnostic tools • Switch commands (for example, switchShow or nsAllShow) for diagnostics • Host adaptor LEDs • Host operating system diagnostic tools • Device driver diagnostic tools • Switch commands (for example, switchShow or nsAllShow) for diagnostics Application-specific tools and resources Fabric OS 5.x administrator guide 143

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Fabric OS 5.x administrator guide
143
10
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting should begin at the center of the SAN—the fabric. Because switches are located between
the hosts and storage devices and have visibility into both sides of the storage network, starting with them
can help narrow the search path. After eliminating the possibility of a fault within the fabric, determine
whether the problem is on the storage side or the host side, and continue a more detailed diagnosis from
there. Using this approach can quickly pinpoint and isolate problems.
For example, if a host cannot detect a storage device, run a switch command (such as
switchShow
) to
find out whether the storage device is logically connected to the switch. If not, focus first on the switch
directly connecting to the storage device. Use your vendor-supplied storage diagnostic tools to better
understand why the storage device is not visible to the switch. If the storage device can be detected by the
switch, and the host still cannot detect the storage device, there is still a problem between the host and
switch.
This chapter provides information on troubleshooting and the most common procedures used to diagnose
and repair issues. It also includes specific troubleshooting scenarios as examples.
Most common problem areas
See
Table 23
for a list of the most common problem areas that arise within SANs and a list of tools that
can be used to resolve them.
Table 23
Common troubleshooting problems and tools
Problem area
Items to investigate
Tools
Fabric
Missing devices
Marginal links (unstable
connections)
Incorrect zoning
configurations
Incorrect switch
configurations
Switch LEDs
Switch commands (for example,
switchShow
or
nsAllShow
)
for diagnostics
Web or GUI-based monitoring
and management software tools
Storage Devices
Physical issues between
switch and devices
Incorrect storage software
configurations
Device LEDs
Storage diagnostic tools
Switch commands (for example,
switchShow
or
nsAllShow
)
for diagnostics
Hosts
Incorrect host bus adapter
installation
Incorrect device driver
installation
Incorrect device driver
configuration
Host adaptor LEDs
Host operating system
diagnostic tools
Device driver diagnostic tools
Switch commands (for example,
switchShow
or
nsAllShow
)
for diagnostics
Storage management
applications
Incorrect installation and
configuration of the storage devices
that the software references.
For example, if using a
volume-management application,
check for:
Incorrect volume installation
Incorrect volume
configuration
Application-specific tools and resources