C H A P T E R 4 |
Data Hosts, HBAs, and Other Software |
This chapter describes how to install data host software, HBAs, and other software on different host platforms. It contains the following sections:
The data host software contains tools that manage the data path I/O connections between the data host and the array. This includes drivers and utilities that enable array management hosts to connect to, monitor, and transfer data in a storage area network (SAN).
Note - Some management hosts can also be used as data hosts. |
Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) are storage adapters that manage all data I/O on your data host. The specific HBAs you need depend on the data host server platform, operating system, and data transfer rates used in your storage area network. HBAs must be ordered separately, from Sun or their respective manufacturers. Sun HBAs can be ordered from:
www.sun.com/storagetek/storage_networking/hba/
The required versions of HBA drivers must be installed on the data host before you can set up a data host. The Release Notes for Sun Storage 6580 and 6780 Arrays lists the data host requirements for HBAs and drivers. Refer to the specific vendor HBA documentation for instructions on installing HBA drivers.
Data host software controls the data path between the data host and the array. Since there can be more than one path between the host and the array for redundancy, this function is called multipathing.
You must install data host software (including multipathing) on each data host that communicates with the Sun Storage 6580 and 6780 Arrays. For Solaris OS 8 and 9 data hosts, the multipathing software is part of the Sun StorEdge SAN 4.4 software. Multipathing is included in Solaris OS 10.
For multipathing support on data host platforms running non-Solaris operating systems such as Windows, Linux, Novell Netware, IBM AIX, or others, you can use the Sun StorageTek RDAC Driver software or other multipathing software as listed in the Sun Storage 6580 and 6780 Arrays Release Notes.
The Sun Storage 6580 and 6780 Arrays provide data path support for data hosts running Solaris, Windows Server 2003, Red Hat Linux, HP-UX, NetWare, and IBM AIX operating systems. This section applies to hosts running Solaris OS 8, 9, and 10.
See the Release Notes for Sun Storage 6580 and 6780 Arrays for the latest supported operating system versions.
Note - To install data host software on systems that are not running the Solaris OS, see Installing Data Host Software for Operating Systems Other Than Solaris. |
You must install data host software (including multipathing) on each data host that communicates with the Sun Storage 6580 and 6780 Arrays. Multipathing is included in the Solaris OS 10. For Solaris OS 8 and 9 data hosts, you need the Sun StorEdge SAN Foundation Kit software (which includes the multipathing software).
To install data host software on Solaris OSs, see the following sections:
Obtain Sun Solaris OS 8 and 9 data host software as follows:
1. Go to the Sun Microsystems web page (sun.com).
The Sun home page is displayed.
2. Select Downloads from the home page navigation bar.
The Sun Downloads page is displayed.
3. On the View by Category tab, select System Administration > Storage Management.
The Storage Management page is displayed, showing a list of downloadable storage-related products.
4. Select the StorageTek SAN 4.4 product.
5. Login using your Sun account ID.
The SAN 4.4.x Download page is displayed.
6. Accept the License Agreement and select the SAN 4.4 version required for your operating system.
The data host software version you need depends on your operating system. See the Sun Storage 6580 and 6780 Arrays Release Notes for the current data host software requirements. Download the SAN 4.4.x Base Kit (if you do not already have it installed), and the latest patch version as recommended in the release notes.
There is a README file available on the SAN 4.4.x Download page with instructions for unpacking and installing the download file on your data host computer.
To launch the host software installer:
1. Log in to the host as root.
2. Change to the SAN_4.4.xx_install_it directory in which the compressed installation file was unpacked:
cd <user-specified location>/SAN_4.4..xx_install_it
where xx is the software version number of the installed files.
3. Start the host software installer by typing the following command:
When the installation is complete, the root prompt returns.
4. Enable the Sun multipathing software (see Enabling Multipathing Software).
To install data host software for operating systems other than Solaris, see the following sections:
The following data host software is available for operating systems other than the Solaris OS:
See the Release Notes for Sun Storage 6580 and 6780 Arrays for a list of supported operating systems, patches, and HBAs.
1. To download the latest Sun version of RDAC software (support for Windows and Linux multipathing), go to:
http://www.sun.com/download/index.jsp
2. On the View by Category tab, select Hardware Drivers > Storage.
3. Select the StorageTek RDAC Driver link for the Windows or Linux.
An RDAC Driver download page is displayed.
4. Select the data host platform that you want to install.
5. Read the software license agreement, click the checkbox, and click Continue.
6. Follow the download information and files instructions to select and download the appropriate files.
7. To install the software, refer to the platform-specific guide:
1. Go to the Veritas AIX ASL page:
http://support.veritas.com/docs/279730
A page displays with the ASL installation instructions.
2. Read the instructions and click Download Now.
3. Follow the instructions to uncompress and install the ASL.
Sun StorageTek SAN Foundation software includes the Sun StorEdge Traffic Manager multipathing software.
The procedure you use to enable multipathing software depends on the version of Solaris OS running on the host:
To enable the multipathing software on hosts running Solaris OS 8 or 9:
1. Open the /kernel/drv/scsi_vhci.conf file with a text editor.
2. Set mpxio-disabling”; in the file.
3. Set load-balance=”round-robin”; in the file.
4. Set auto-failback=”enable”; in the file.
7. Use the cfgadm command to configure HBA paths.
How you configure paths depends on how you are using your arrays in a SAN or direct attach environment. See the Sun StorageTek SAN Foundation Software 4.4 Configuration Guide for information about configuring paths.
To enable multipathing software for all Fibre Channel (FC) ports on hosts running Solaris OS 10:
1. Type the following command:
Note - See the stmsboot(1M) manpage for complete details. |
You are prompted to confirm the command:
WARNING: This operation will require a reboot.
Do you want to continue ? [y/n] (default: y)
2. Press the Return key to reboot the host.
Veritas Volume Manager provides support for the Sun Storage 6580 and 6780 Arrays in the form of the Array Support Library (ASL). If you are using the Veritas Volume Manager on your array (recommended), you will need the ASL. There are ASL software packages for the Solaris 8, 9, and 10 OSs, and for the IBM AIX 5.1 and 5.2 OSs. The ASL must be installed on the same host system as the Volume Manager software to enable it to recognize the Sun Storage 6580 and 6780 Arrays trays.
1. Log in as superuser on the Sun server to be connected to the array.
2. Go to the Sun Downloads page:
3. On the Downloads A-Z tab, select V, and then VERITAS Volume Manager Array Support Libraries (ASLs).
VERITAS Volume Manager ASL page is displayed.
4. Select the data host platform that you want to install.
5. Read the software license agreement, and click the checkbox.
6. Log in (if you are already registered) or click Register Now.
7. Follow the download information and files instructions to select and download the appropriate files for your array.
8. Refer to the README file for instructions on installing the Veritas Volume Manager ASL.
After you have installed and enabled multipathing on the data hosts, configure IP addressing on the array controllers as described in Chapter 5.
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