This post is more than 5 years old
2 Posts
0
439
AIX + Symmetrix - migration to a new fibre switch
We are planning to move the fibre switch between the AIX (no dynamic tracking enabled) and Symmetrix. FCID will change but the HBA stays the same. According to some tech forums and support tech at EMC, the only thing I have to do is shut down the server, change the switch, boot the server and run emc_cfgmgr and powermt config after.
But, some say that this won't work because FCID will change, so I have to umount file systems, vary off VGs, rmdev -Rdl fcs0,shut down, swap switches, boot and do cfgmgr + emc_cfgmgr + powermt config. (*)
Obviously, the first way is much simpler and faster. Any thoughts on this are highly appreciated.
(*) Two months ago we swaped the fibre switch for the tape drives on the same server. AIX reported time-outs when accessing the tape drives, so I had to rmdev -Rdl fcs3. Since AIX is using powerpath for EMC hard drives, does it mean that I won't have to bother with rmdev again?
THANKS!
But, some say that this won't work because FCID will change, so I have to umount file systems, vary off VGs, rmdev -Rdl fcs0,shut down, swap switches, boot and do cfgmgr + emc_cfgmgr + powermt config. (*)
Obviously, the first way is much simpler and faster. Any thoughts on this are highly appreciated.
(*) Two months ago we swaped the fibre switch for the tape drives on the same server. AIX reported time-outs when accessing the tape drives, so I had to rmdev -Rdl fcs3. Since AIX is using powerpath for EMC hard drives, does it mean that I won't have to bother with rmdev again?
THANKS!
bodnarg
385 Posts
0
June 11th, 2008 05:00
One quick suggestion which depends on how many AIX servers you are looking to migrate. For most newer switches you could consider copying the FCID (persistent FCID is the term) from the old switch port to the new port to avoid the path from changing. Obviously the amount of work this will require will vary depending on if you are talking about 1 AIX server or 100 AIX servers.
I believe the first option will work with the caveat being that you may have some old hdisk devices dangling which you will want to clean with rmdev. This assumes you have used the emcpower device in your VG references.
We did online migrations (without persistent FCID because we were merging many smaller switches into one large chassis and it because prohibitive to do so because the domain ID must remain the same as well) and the AIX admins basically just cleared a single path at a time and rescanned the HBA and powerpath to rebuild the definitions.