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Solutions Enabler 6.5.2 new feature: -emcvdasd option for the inquiry tool
In the Solutions Enabler 6.5.2 release notes, I see that a new option is added:
"For AIX VIO clients hosts, the inquiry tool will now support the
-emcvdasd option, which will return inquiry data from the parent
device."
Unfortunately, this option doesn't seem to be documented anywhere. Searching for it on Powerlink only results in one hit: the 6.5.2 release notes. The 6.5.2 documentation doesn't mention "-emcvdasd".
So, hopefully someone here can explain this option.
For example, suppose you have an AIX LPAR without any HBAs. That LPAR gets its LUNs from two VIO-servers, which *do* have HBAs. The VIO-servers directly pass the LUNs to the VIO-client. Does the "-emcvdasd" option mean that I can execute syminq on the VIO-client, and see the Symmetrix device names for the virtual LUNs?
"For AIX VIO clients hosts, the inquiry tool will now support the
-emcvdasd option, which will return inquiry data from the parent
device."
Unfortunately, this option doesn't seem to be documented anywhere. Searching for it on Powerlink only results in one hit: the 6.5.2 release notes. The 6.5.2 documentation doesn't mention "-emcvdasd".
So, hopefully someone here can explain this option.
For example, suppose you have an AIX LPAR without any HBAs. That LPAR gets its LUNs from two VIO-servers, which *do* have HBAs. The VIO-servers directly pass the LUNs to the VIO-client. Does the "-emcvdasd" option mean that I can execute syminq on the VIO-client, and see the Symmetrix device names for the virtual LUNs?
Davidy8s
154 Posts
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October 30th, 2008 10:00
You posed a very interesting question and I have been able to track down some information. The added featured described in the Solutions Enabler 6.5.2 release notes is the "INQ Utility", not to be confused with SYMINQ. It took a great deal of searching but I was able to find and bookmark the web page on Powerlink for this by doing a find on the phrase "/inquiry" - quotes and all.
The utility itself is here: Home > Support > Product and Diagnostic Tools > INQ Utility -->
The Inquiry utility (INQ) is a command-line troubleshooting utility that displays information on storage devices, typically Symmetrix. By default, INQ returns the device name, Symmetrix ID, Symmetrix LUN, and capacity. This utility will operate independently of any other EMC software. Use the INQ Utility to collect system information to provide to EMC Global Services for problem troubleshooting. The latest versions for supported operating systems can be found on EMC's ftp server at
ftp://ftp.emc.com/pub/symm3000/inquiry/
-emcvdasd is an operand of the /inquiry utility and here is what my colleague had to say:
Here's some example output for symm and clarion backed devices.
Most of the inquiry tool options have additional columns displayed when the -emcvdasd option is used.
Note the vendor and product names of the devices in both cases and the new columns.
rhdisk0 is not an EMC device, so you don't see it in the second display.
./inquiry
Inquiry utility, Version X7.3-885 (Rev 2.9) (SIL Version X6.5.2.9 (Edit Level 885)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEVICE :VEND :PROD :REV :SER NUM :CAP(kb)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
/dev/rhdisk0 :AIX :VDASD :0001 :hdisk2 : 35548320
/dev/rhdisk1 :AIX :VDASD :---- :---- : 4194304
/dev/rhdisk2 :AIX :VDASD :---- :---- : 1024320
/dev/rhdisk3 :AIX :VDASD :---- :---- : 4194304
/dev/rhdisk4 :AIX :VDASD :---- :---- : 1024320
./inquiry -emcvdasd
Inquiry utility, Version X7.3-885 (Rev 2.9) (SIL Version X6.5.2.9 (Edit Level 885)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEVICE :VEND :PROD :REV :SER NUM :CAP(kb) :BACKING DEVICE :ARAY
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/dev/rhdisk1 :AIX :VDASD :0223 :---------- : 4194304 :hdiskpower16 :CLAR
/dev/rhdisk2 :AIX :VDASD :5773 :---------- : 1024320 :hdiskpower12 :SYMM
/dev/rhdisk3 :AIX :VDASD :0223 :---------- : 4194304 :hdiskpower18 :CLAR
/dev/rhdisk4 :AIX :VDASD :5773 :---------- : 1024320 :hdiskpower10 :SYMM
I Hope this helps !
Dave Yates
EMC TSE3
Benevolent Host S/W & Mainframe Forum Moderator
Davidy8s
154 Posts
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October 30th, 2008 06:00
BTW - Your observation about the lack of documentation is :
CONFIRMED
No super secret, EMC only stuff out there I can find. I've taken a quick look and will discuss w/ one of my local S.E. staff.
If that doesn't work, I'll have to see if I can conjure up Stefano
This close to Halloween, I'm trying to conserve my powers
Dave Yates
EMC TSE3
Benevolent Host S/W & Mainframe Forum Moderator
xe2sdc
2.8K Posts
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October 30th, 2008 06:00
At least not here, in my house
Jurjen_Oskam
56 Posts
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October 31st, 2008 01:00
I don't have a VIO-client here right now (I'll ask for a colleague to test), but do you also know whether it's possible to find out the actual Symmetrix device name using inq in a VIO-client?
Regards,
Jurjen
xe2sdc
2.8K Posts
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October 31st, 2008 06:00
And you are crazy like a horse ...
Davidy8s
154 Posts
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October 31st, 2008 06:00
In practice for All Hallow's Eve, I conjured up a SE developer. You have to be very careful with them, if they escape your magic spell, well... let's just say it wouldn't be good
It's exposed using the showvol keyword.
/tmp/nbh> ./inquiry -sid -showvol -dev /dev/rhdisk2
Inquiry utility, Version X7.3-885 (Rev 2.9) (SIL Version X6.5.2.9 (Edit Level 885)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEVICE :VEND :PROD :REV :SER NUM :Volume :CAP(kb) :SYMM ID
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/dev/rhdisk2 :AIX :VDASD :---- :---- : 00000: 1024320 :---
/tmp/nbh> ./inquiry -sid -showvol -emcvdasd -dev /dev/rhdisk2
Inquiry utility, Version X7.3-885 (Rev 2.9) (SIL Version X6.5.2.9 (Edit Level 885)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEVICE :VEND :PROD :REV :SER NUM :Volume :CAP(kb) :SYMM ID :BACKING DEVICE :ARAY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/dev/rhdisk2 :AIX :VDASD :5773 :---------- : 008D4: 1024320 :------------ :hdiskpower12 :SYMM
Once he provided this information, I banished him back to the depths of SE Development cubicles.
I hope this also helps!
Dave Yates
EMC TSE3
Benevolent Host S/W & Mainframe Forum Moderator
Jurjen_Oskam
56 Posts
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November 2nd, 2008 06:00
Thanks again! In the meantime, a colleague has run inq on some AIX 5.3 VIO client LPARs, and it worked beautifully. It already was a handy utility to have, and it just become even more handy.
Davidy8s
154 Posts
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November 3rd, 2008 05:00
Dave Yates
EMC TSE3
Benevolent Host S/W & Mainframe Forum Moderator