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Dell PowerVault MD3260i Error
Hi All,
We have recently purchased a Dell PowerVault 3260i and ive been tasked to configure the device. This is the first time I’m configuring a iSCSI SAN device so am not sure if I have configured the device right or not. The aim was to configure the SAN unit so that the multiple servers that we have, got one central storage area that they can hit and users etc can store data onto.
Set up that ive done:
Static IP address have been to all of the SAN NIC’s as per the Image:
The SAN is connected up to a switch.
I have setup a iSNS server on one our windows box to act as the main point of contact for iSCSI client/hosts configuration.
On the SAN itself I have split the actual HD space into 5 sections with various different RAID configurations and given them names Datastore1 to 5 . They have been grouped with the same name as well.
I have created 2 Hosts names (servers) using the Dell Powervault Modular Disk Storage Manager software so that both hosts can use those 5 datastores as shared space. I have set up the iSCSI Initiator on the actual host boxes so they can connect to the SAN.
On the iSCSI initiator, I have used the iSNS server name so they can create a session to the iSCSI SAN unit. I have then created 2 sessions so that each host has access to both of the Nic controllers on the SAN to create a failback path. I have done that for both of my hosts.
Server1 session ip 192.168.10.10 to SAN 192.168.10.41
Server1 session ip 192.168.10.10 to SAN 192.168.10.45
Server2 session ip 192.168.10.11 to SAN 192.168.10.41
Server2 session ip 192.168.10.11 to SAN 192.168.10.45
Now I get the below error appearing on the Dell Powervault Modular Disk Storage Manager.
Error:
“Virtual Disk Not On Preferred Path“
Details:
Storage array: MyDatastore
Preferred owner: RAID Controller Module in slot 0
Current owner: RAID Controller Module in slot 1
Affected disk group: Datastore3
Virtual Disk: Datastore3
Affected disk group: Datastore5
Virtual Disk: Datastore5
Could anyone shed some light on the issue/above error message? Also would appreciate if someone with more experience in setting up these units before give me any tips if I have not configured the device correctly.
Thanks!
DELL-Sam L
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July 25th, 2013 12:00
Hello D2013,
Your setup is close to the correct setup but you are missing a few steps. Here is our deployment guide for your MD3260i. ftp.dell.com/.../powervault-md3260i_deployment%20guide_en-us.pdf
“Virtual Disk Not On Preferred Path“
The error is not a critical error. Here is what you will need to do to resolve the issue. The alert on the system is due to a virtual disk not being on the preferred path. When virtual disks are created, they are assigned to one of the two controllers as a preferred communication path. If that path is not available – due to a network issue, controller reset, etc. – the array will communicate via the alternate controller. In some cases the communication does not shift back to the primary path when it becomes available again. To correct this you just need to manually redistribute the virtual disks back to their preferred paths.
To redistribute virtual disks:
1. Open Modular Disk Storage Manager (MDSM)
2. Click on the Support tab
3. Select Manage Raid Controller Modules
4. Click on Redistribute Virtual Disks
You will get an alert telling you that this will disrupt communications if you do not have the multipath drivers installed. You can ignore this message and proceed. If you still have access to the virtual disk that is not on preferred path, you have multipath drivers installed
Please let us know if you have any other questions.
D2013
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July 26th, 2013 03:00
Thanks for the reply Sam, i have redistribute virtual disks before using the same steps you mentioned, but after few days the same error message appears. Any reason why that happens?
Also the ftp link you provided does not seem to be fully complete.
D2013
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July 31st, 2013 07:00
Ok after doing the recommended step and recreating the iSCSI connections from both of my hosts, i am not longer getting the “Virtual Disk Not On Preferred Path“ message.
As both of my hosts share the same HD space (e.g datastore1) i have noticed that when i put some dummy data from server 1 onto the shared space on datastore 1 for example i cant see those files from my server 2 even though its connected to the same space.
I gather this is to do with the data clustering? And either the MD3260i not aware that both my hosts share the space.
Has anyone setup data clustering on these units before? Or do i need to set that up on my windows hosts?
D2013
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July 31st, 2013 09:00
ok having read up bit more about the issue i am facing i know its not best practice to have multiple hosts connecting to to the same NTFS partition. Does anyone know a fix or another way i get mutiple hosts connecting to the same shared space?
Josuecarrero
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November 22nd, 2013 10:00
To fix the "preffered path" issue:
Go to iSCSI Initiator
in the "Targets" tab go to Properties
Then go to devices
and in every virtual disk go to MPIO
change Load Balance Policy to "Round Robin with subset"
Do this for every virtual disk and in every host
This will solved the problem, I had the same issue so I know it works
Greetings