HP StorageWorks 2/16V HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 5.X Procedures User Guide (AA- - Page 217

Fabric OS versions, that bind by WWN

Page 217 highlights

1. Collect device, software, hardware, and configuration data. The following is a non-comprehensive list of information to collect: • HBA driver versions • Fabric OS versions • RAID array microcode versions • SCSI bridge code versions • JBOD drive firmware versions • Multipathing software versions • HBA timeout values • Multipathing software timeout values • Kernel timeout values • Configuration of switch 2. Make a list of manually configurable PID drivers. Some device drivers do not bind by PID, but allow the operator to manually create a PID binding. For example, persistent binding of PIDs to logical drives might be done in many HBA drivers. Make a list of all devices that are configured this way. If manual PID binding is in use, consider changing to WWN binding. The following are some of the device types that might be manually configured to bind by PID: • HBA drivers (persistent binding) • RAID arrays (LUN access control) • SCSI bridges (LUN mapping) 3. Analyze data. After you have determined the code versions of each device on the fabric, the devices must be evaluated to find out whether any bind by PID. It might be easiest to work with the support providers of these devices to get this information. If this is not possible, you might need to perform empirical testing. Binding by PID can create management difficulties in a number of scenarios. HP recommends that you not use drivers that bind by PID. If the current drivers do bind by PID, upgrade to WWN-binding drivers if possible. The drivers shipping by default with HP/UX and AIX at the time of this writing still bind by PID, and so detailed procedures are provided for these operating systems in this chapter. Similar procedures can be developed for other operating systems that run HBA drivers that bind by PID. There is no inherent PID binding problem with either AIX or HP/UX. It is the HBA drivers shipping with these operating systems that bind by PID. Both operating systems are expected to release HBA drivers that bind by WWN, and these drivers might already be available through some support channels. Work with the appropriate support provider to find out about driver availability. It is also important to understand how multipathing software reacts when one of the two fabrics is taken offline. If the time-outs are set correctly, the failover between fabrics should be transparent to the users. Use the multipathing software to manually fail a path before starting maintenance on that fabric. 4. Perform empirical testing. Empirical testing might be required for some devices, to determine whether they bind by PID. If you are not sure about a device, work with the support provider to create a test environment. Create as close a match as practical between the test environment and the production environment, and perform an update using the procedure in "Online update" on page 218. Devices that bind by PID are unable to adapt to the new format, and one of three approaches must be taken with them: • A plan can be created for working around the device driver's limitations in such a way as to allow an online update. See the detailed procedures section for examples of how this could be done. • The device can be upgraded to drivers that do not bind by PID. • Downtime can be scheduled to reset the device during the core PID update process, which generally allows the mapping to be rebuilt. Fabric OS 5.x administrator guide 217

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Fabric OS 5.x administrator guide
217
1.
Collect device, software, hardware, and configuration data.
The following is a non-comprehensive list of information to collect:
HBA driver versions
Fabric OS versions
RAID array microcode versions
SCSI bridge code versions
JBOD drive firmware versions
Multipathing software versions
HBA timeout values
Multipathing software timeout values
Kernel timeout values
Configuration of switch
2.
Make a list of manually configurable PID drivers.
Some device drivers do not bind by PID, but allow the operator to manually create a PID binding. For
example, persistent binding of PIDs to logical drives might be done in many HBA drivers. Make a list
of all devices that are configured this way. If manual PID binding is in use, consider changing to
WWN binding.
The following are some of the device types that might be manually configured to bind by PID:
HBA drivers (persistent binding)
RAID arrays (LUN access control)
SCSI bridges (LUN mapping)
3.
Analyze data.
After you have determined the code versions of each device on the fabric, the devices must be
evaluated to find out whether any bind by PID. It might be easiest to work with the support providers of
these devices to get this information. If this is not possible, you might need to perform empirical testing.
Binding by PID can create management difficulties in a number of scenarios. HP recommends that you
not use drivers that bind by PID. If the current drivers do bind by PID, upgrade to WWN-binding
drivers if possible.
The drivers shipping by default with HP/UX and AIX at the time of this writing still bind by PID, and so
detailed procedures are provided for these operating systems in this chapter. Similar procedures can
be developed for other operating systems that run HBA drivers that bind by PID.
There is no inherent PID binding problem with either AIX or HP/UX. It is the HBA drivers shipping with
these operating systems that bind by PID. Both operating systems are expected to release HBA drivers
that bind by WWN, and these drivers might already be available through some support channels.
Work with the appropriate support provider to find out about driver availability.
It is also important to understand how multipathing software reacts when one of the two fabrics is
taken offline. If the time-outs are set correctly, the failover between fabrics should be transparent to the
users.
Use the multipathing software to manually fail a path before starting maintenance on that fabric.
4.
Perform empirical testing.
Empirical testing might be required for some devices, to determine whether they bind by PID. If you
are not sure about a device, work with the support provider to create a test environment.
Create as close a match as practical between the test environment and the production environment,
and perform an update using the procedure in ”
Online update
” on page 218.
Devices that bind by PID are unable to adapt to the new format, and one of three approaches must be
taken with them:
A plan can be created for working around the device driver’s limitations in such a way as to allow
an online update. See the detailed procedures section for examples of how this could be done.
The device can be upgraded to drivers that do not bind by PID.
Downtime can be scheduled to reset the device during the core PID update process, which
generally allows the mapping to be rebuilt.