1. Oracle VM Server for SPARC 3.6 Administration Guide
  2. Using Virtual SCSI Host Bus Adapters
  3. Protocol Version Combinations

Protocol Version Combinations

The following statements describe the device discovery behavior based on the maximum vHBA protocol version that is compiled into each of the vhba and vsan modules:

Case 1:

Both modules use Version 1.0 of the vHBA protocol. The vHBA subsystem uses the original algorithm and does not support the replacement of a device at a previously used path.

Note:

If you install at least Oracle Solaris 11.4 SRU 39, any discovered LUNs disappear until you perform one of the corrective actions specified in Case 4.
Case 2:

Both modules use at least Version 1.2 of the vHBA protocol. The vHBA subsystem supports the replacement of a device at a previously used path.

Case 3:

vhba uses Version 1.0 and vsan uses at least Version 1.2. The vsan module adjusts to use Version 1.0.

Case 4:

vhba uses at least Version 1.2 and vsan uses Version 1.0. The vHBA subsystem cannot discover devices and writes the following message to the syslog each time the vhba module attempts to discover devices: 

WARNING: vh@0 vhba(1.2) and vsan(1.0) VIO version mismatch; Device Discovery is disabled.

In this situation, ensure that your system is configured in one of the following ways:

  • The vsan module supports at least Version 1.2 by upgrading your service domain to run at least Oracle Solaris 11.4 SRU 39. This configuration results in both the vsan and vhba modules using Version 1.2.

  • The vhba module supports Version 1.0 at runtime by adding the following entry to the /etc/system file: 

    set scsi:scsi_force_detach_enable = 0

    After updating the /etc/system file, reboot the vhba module's domain to ensure that both the vsan and vhba modules use Version 1.0.

    After updating the service domain, you can restore the vhba module's compiled-in support of Version 1.2 by removing the line from the /etc/system file and rebooting the vhba module's domain.

In addition to configuring the vHBA protocol between a vhba instance and its associated vsan instance, you must configure the vHBA protocol for all vhba instances in each guest domain.

  • To support the new device discovery behavior provided by Version 1.2, ensure that all vhba instances in a domain support at least Version 1.2. Also, ensure that all associated vsan instances support at least Version 1.2.

  • To support the original device discovery behavior provided by Version 1.0 in a domain that has multiple vhba instances, ensure that you set the scsi_force_detach_enable entry in the /etc/system file as follows: 

    set scsi:scsi_force_detach_enable = 0

    After you update the /etc/system file, reboot the domain. Also, ensure that each of vhba's associated vsan instances support Version 1.0.