OS Native Multipathing Software
Huawei storage firmware is classified into:
- Old storage version
OceanStor T V1, T V2, 18000 V1, V300R001, V300R002, V300R003, V300R005, and Dorado V300R001C00
- New storage version
OceanStor V500R007C00 and later, V300R006C00SPC100 and later, and Dorado V300R001C01SPC100 and later
New-Version Huawei Storage
Storage System Configuration
If you use OS native multipathing software, you must select Uses third-party multipath software for the initiator, as shown in Figure 6-5.
The Switchover Mode and Path Type depend on the actual services, as described in Table 6-5.
Server OS |
Storage Array |
OS Setting |
Third-Party Multipathing Software |
Switchover Mode |
Special Mode |
Path Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AIX 7.2 AIX 7.1 AIX 6.1 |
Dual-controller, multi-controller |
AIX |
Enabled |
Special mode |
Mode 1 |
Optimal |
AIX 5.3 |
Dual-controller, multi-controller |
AIX |
Enabled |
ALUA not used |
N/A |
Optimal |
Special mode |
Mode 1 |
Optimal |
- For details about the AIX versions, see the Huawei Storage Interoperability Navigator.
- After configuring an initiator's switchover mode, you must restart the host for the configuration to take effect.
- The preceding table provides the recommended configuration. In specific scenarios, the customer can modify the configuration based on the actual service requirements.
- To change the LUN mapping on the storage system, including but not limited to changing the host LUN ID, changing the port online, and removing and adding a LUN, follow the instructions in How Can I Change LUN Mappings When Non-Huawei Multipathing Software Is Used? to correctly change the LUN mapping. Otherwise, services may be interrupted.
- When OceanStor V5 V500R007C70SPC200 or a later version interconnects with AIX 5.3, you can set Switchover Mode to Special mode and Special Mode Type to Mode 1.
Host Configuration
Operating Environment Requirements
- In SAN Boot mode, the virtual LUN running the host's operating system must be a common virtual LUN. You can change a common virtual LUN to a HyperMetro virtual LUN only after ODM is installed on the host and the host is restarted.
- When NPIV coupled with VIOS is used, the requirements of NPIV on hardware and software must be met.
Installing and Enabling Multipathing Software
AIX native MPIO can take over Huawei storage disks only if the AIX ODM package has been installed. For details on how to install AIX ODM, see the AIX ODM for MPIO User Guide.
Run the following command to verify that MPIO has taken over the disks from Huawei storage.
Configuring Multipathing Software
- If the switchover mode for the initiator on the storage array is set to Special mode:
The default I/O policy is fail_over. I/Os can be delivered only on one path. To deliver I/Os on multiple paths on a controller, run the command in Figure 6-7 to change the I/O policy to round_robin. In AIX 6.1 TL9 and later or AIX 7.1 TL3 and later, if the disk type is not SCSI-2 reserves, use the shortest_queue path selection algorithm to maximize SAN resource usage. When the load is light, the shortest_queue algorithm is similar to the round_robin algorithm. Once a path is congested, the system automatically allocates more I/Os to other lightly loaded paths.
When AIX native MPIO is used, services must be suspended before you change the I/O policy for hdisk.
After I/Os are delivered, run the following command to check whether the path priority is correct.In the example shown in Figure 6-8, there are two preferred paths and 10 non-preferred paths.
Only AIX 6.1 TL9, AIX 7.1 TL3, and later versions support the lsmpio command. If your OS version does not support lsmpio, use the lspath command to query path information.
- If the switchover mode for the initiator on the storage array is set to ALUA not used:
See the AIX ODM for MPIO User Guide to configure MPIO. No other settings are required.
Old-Version Huawei Storage
Storage System Configuration
It is advised to disable ALUA. To enable ALUA, do as follows:
- T series V100R005, Dorado2100, Dorado5100, and Dorado2100 G2
Use the Huawei OceanStor ISM system to enable ALUA for all the host initiators, as shown in Figure 6-9.
- T series V200R002, 18000 series, V3 series, and 18000 V3 series
Use the Huawei OceanStor DeviceManager to enable ALUA for all the host initiators, as shown in Figure 6-10.
Multi-controller ALUA is not supported. When there are more than two controllers, ALUA is disabled by default and the ALUA status cannot be changed.