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FS7300 with HA Option (SA2), I can't find the mdisks

  • 1.  FS7300 with HA Option (SA2), I can't find the mdisks

    Posted Fri March 07, 2025 01:42 PM

    I am testing an FS5300 (V8.7.2.1) with HA option, i.e. with 2 x SVC nodes. I have a few questions:

    1. With lsfabric I can already see the SVC nodes in the inactive status, why? I haven't created any zoning yet.

    2. The FS5300 controllers are found on the SVC, why?

    3. How do I configure the host for the SVC on the FS5300?

    If I let the SVC nodes install automatically, I get errors because the name is wrong.

    Manually with CLI works, but I don't see any mdisk on the SVC.

    Thanks in advance
    Falko



    ------------------------------
    Falko Huetter
    Consultant
    PROFI Engineering Systems AG
    Darmstadt
    0049 6151 82900
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  • 2.  RE: FS7300 with HA Option (SA2), I can't find the mdisks

    Posted Mon March 17, 2025 07:06 AM
    Edited by Evelyn Perez Mon March 17, 2025 07:10 AM

    Are you attempting to virtualize a FlashSystem behind and SVC or create an HA pair between the SVC and the FlashSystem? (please note you cannot do both!).

    If you are attempting to virtualize the FlashSystem behind the SVC, you should use the wizard provided in the 5300 to configure the system as backend for an SVC.  I recommend resetting the 5300 and going through the start up wizard as this is the cleanest path to configure it properly.  This will set the layer, and configure the array/volumes as best practice for use with SVC and configure the SVC as a host.  Additionally, make sure you are using NPIV on both systems and that the SVC is using the 'physical' WWPNs to speak to the 'virtual' WWPNs on the 5300 it is virtualizing.  Please note, the SVC/5200 are only initiators on their physical WWPNs, and targets on their virtual WWPNs, so you have to line those up properly.  More info on this can be found in the NPIV Hot spare node redbook.


    If you are attempting to set up an HA partnership between an SVC and a FlashSystem they will both need to be set tot he replication layer (this is default on 8.7.2 IIRC), and you will need to create a partnership between the two systems - go to each UI for each system in term and go to settings-> Partnerships int he GUI.  You will be lead through the appropriate wizard.  The SVC will need to have storage that it is virtualizing that is not part of the HA partnership systems, to link the pools for the Replication set up.  You can find more details on that here: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/flashsystem-5x00/8.7.x_cd?topic=r-high-availability



    ------------------------------
    Evelyn Perez
    IBM Senior Technical Staff Member
    IBM Storage Virtualize Software Architect for SVC and FlashSystem
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