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AIX Best Practices For SAN: Neil Youshak FTSS - South Florida (954) 346-8566

This document discusses best practices for setting up storage area networks (SAN) using AIX. It covers topics like multipath drivers, zoning, storage options like Fibre Channel, iSCSI and NAS, disk arrays, and tips. Multipath drivers provide redundancy and high availability. Zoning partitions the Fibre Channel fabric to restrict interference and simplify management. Factors like performance, cost and support determine whether to use Fibre Channel, iSCSI or NAS. Disk arrays from vendors like IBM, HP, EMC differ in disk types, speeds, capacities and RAID levels. Following documentation, keeping firmware current and zoning best practices help ensure a reliable SAN.

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Praveen Kumar Vasari
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124 views17 pages

AIX Best Practices For SAN: Neil Youshak FTSS - South Florida (954) 346-8566

This document discusses best practices for setting up storage area networks (SAN) using AIX. It covers topics like multipath drivers, zoning, storage options like Fibre Channel, iSCSI and NAS, disk arrays, and tips. Multipath drivers provide redundancy and high availability. Zoning partitions the Fibre Channel fabric to restrict interference and simplify management. Factors like performance, cost and support determine whether to use Fibre Channel, iSCSI or NAS. Disk arrays from vendors like IBM, HP, EMC differ in disk types, speeds, capacities and RAID levels. Following documentation, keeping firmware current and zoning best practices help ensure a reliable SAN.

Uploaded by

Praveen Kumar Vasari
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AIX Best Practices for SAN

Neil Youshak
FTSS – South Florida
(954) 346-8566
[email protected]  
Introduction

Intelligent discussion of Storage for AIX

No sales pitch
Not another one sided skew of a vendor selling storage
Not a marketing scheme

Neil Youshak
FTSS – South Florida
(954) 346-8566 [email protected]  
Topics

• Multipath Drivers
• Zoning
• Storage Options: Fiber Channel, iSCSI or NAS
• The Disk Array
• Tips
MultiPath Drivers
• Redundancy + High Availability
• IBM = RDAC + SDD p5

• HP = Secure Path
• EMC = PowerPath
• MPIO

SAN SAN
Switch 1 Switch 2
HBA High Level Installation Steps
• Install the HBA and correct drivers Firmware upgrade maybe needed
• Run cfgmgr to install the HBA
• Ensure the HBA is available by running 'lsdev -C | grep fcs‘
• # lscfg –vl fcs0 ROS  displays firmware level of HBA
• Find the WWN of the HBA with 'lscfg -vl fcs0'.
• # lscfg –vpl fsc0 |grep Net  display WWN
• Ensure the child fscsi devices have been created with 'lscfg | grep fscsi'
• #lsdev –C |grep fcs  list the adpaters in the host
• Install the FC SCSI array drivers:
• devices.fcp.disk.array.rte
• devices.fcp.disk.array.diag
• devices.fcp.disk.rte
• devices.scsi.scarray.rte
• Run cfgmgr -v to detect the disk arrays – FLOGI
• # lslpp –ah devices.fcp.disk.array.rte  verify your multipath driver
• Display your SAN disks lsdev –Ccdisk

• Possible Problems:
• If you see several other FC SCSI Disk Drive lines, then the array drivers are not installed
correctly
• Remove each FC SCSI device (with rmdev -d -l ) & check the driver installation.
• Your host switch connection shows NL or L
• # lsattr –El fscsi 0  this will show if the connection is Switch (sw) or Loop (al)
• Try running cfgmgr again
• Use SMITTY to change the connection type
MultiPath Best Practice
• Rule 1
• Always check the vendor site
• Rule 2
• Read & follow recommendations
• Critical setting for HBA adapters.….this is only if two
or more adapters are present. (Thanks Inshan)
• Use this to change default of HBA on VIO servers.
• padmin # chdev -dev fscsi0 -attr fc_err_recov=fast_fail dyntrk=yes
-perm
• For Dedicated or standalone servers
• root # chdev -l fscsi0 -a fc_err_recov=fast_fail -P
• # chdev -l -a dyntrk=yes -P
HBA Tools
• Use them
Zoning
• Zoning = partitioning the Fibre
Channel fabric into smaller pieces
to restrict OS interference,
add security, and simplify
management.

• There are 2 methods of zoning


• Soft zoning - Hard zoning

• Zoning is not the same as LUN


masking, but serves the same goal.
LUN masking is usually performed
on disk array controllers.

• VSANs  multiple logical SANs over a common physical infrastructure.


Each port can be a member of multiple zones, but only one VSAN.
Different than Zoning
How to Zone Correctly
• Soft Zoning
• Use Alias not WWN – choose Port WWN
• Have a naming convention
• hostname_fcs0
How to Zone Correctly
• Zone Set or Quick Loop
• Single Initiator zoning
• Zone Naming convention
• hostname_zone
How to Zone Correctly
• Create your Zone Set/Configuration
• Add Zones
• Zone Config Naming convention
• company_date
• One Active Zone Set
• Backup the switch configuration
• Backup the zone configuration
Zoning Best Practices
• Dual Fabric
• Soft Zoning
• Single Initiator zoning
• Naming Conventions
• Core Edge Fabric Design
• Configuration Backups
• Maintenance Window
• Firmware Upgrades
Fibre Channel – iSCSI – NAS
• Differences
– Fiber Channel
• Wide vendor acceptance & More expensive
– iSCSI
• Less expensive & Shorter learning curve/implementation cycle

• When to use each

ISCSI Reference Links


http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/systems/index.jsp?topic=/iphcd/fc5714ussmitc.htm
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/systems/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.aix.baseadmn/doc/baseadmndita/config_iscsi_adapter_aix.htm
iSCSI or Fibre Channel
– Fiber Channel
• Wide vendor acceptance
• More expensive
• Complex installs and maintenance
– iSCSI
• Less expensive
• Shorter learning curve/implementation cycle
• New technology/lack of legacy vendor
support
Disk Array
• IBM – DS8000, DS6000, DS5000, DS4000,
DS3000, NSeries, SVC
• HP – XP, EVA, MSA
• EMC – Symmetrix, Clariion, Celerra
• HDS – USP, AMS, SMS, WMS, BlueArc
• XYZ – enterprise, SMB, NAS

• Disk is disk……. ??????


Are All Disk Arrays Created Equal?
• Disk
• FC – SATA – SAS
• Speed
• Spindle Count
• Segment Size - Stripe Size
• Read your vendor’s custom options
• RAID
• RAID5 or RAID10 …. RAID50, RAID1
Tips
• Always read the documentation
• Use vendor resources
• Disk Magic - Capacity Magic
• Network groups for support
• Try to have a lab/test system … or play time
• Continuing education

• Zoning is where most problems occur


• Always check interop matrix
• Keep firmware current
• Baseline your SAN performance

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