AIX VCS LVMVG SG Creation

This example shows the steps to allow the DMP to use as multipathing software for VCS LVMVG SG on AIX.

Step 1: Ensure Enclosure Based Name (EBN) name is used and dmp_native_support is ON
vxddladm get namingscheme
vxddladm set namingscheme=ebn [persistence={yes|no}] [use_avid=yes|no] [lowercase=yes|no]
vxdmpadm gettune |grep dmp_native_support
vxdmpadm settune dmp_native_support=on

Step 2: Remove device from from VxVm and create LVM VG on node1
vxdisk rm emc0_25
chpv -C emc0_25 (clear PVID if any)
mkvg -f -y vmaxlvmvg emc0_25
mklv -t jfs2log vmaxlvmvg 1
mkfs -o log=/dev/loglv01 -V jfs2 /dev/vmax_lvm
mklv -t jfs2 -y vmaxlvmlv vmaxlvmvg 1G
crfs -v jfs -m <mount point> -d <logical volume>
lspv |grep vmaxlvmvg (identify PVID)

Step3:  set physical volume (pv) to the other node2
chdev -l emc1_25 -a pv=yes
lsattr -El emc1_25

Step 4: Export/Import VG on both cluster node
exportvg vmaxlvmvg (node1)
lvlstmajor
varyoffvg vmaxlvmvg
importvg -V major_number -y vmaxlvmvg emc0_25
varyoffvg vmaxlvmvg

lvlstmajor (node 2)
importvg -V major_number -y vmaxlvmvg emc1_25
varyoffvg vmaxlvmvg

If there's any problem bring online under VCS, refer to http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH70949 for troubeshooting.

Note: If third party driver (TDPmode) eg. PowerPath is used for multipathing. Step 1 can be skipped and PP pseudo name is normally used for VG creation, ie mkvg -y vmaxlvmvg hdiskpower25. Refer to http://sfdoccentral.symantec.com/sf/5.1SP1PR1/aix/pdf/dmp_admin_51sp1pr1_aix.pdf page 154 for more details.

VCS SG Linux LVM failure due to all paths disabled

There is a limitation on VCS LVMVolumeGroup agent and Linux LVM causing SG LVM SG cannot failover to other node when there's all path disabled on the active node. It is a known issue which is documented.

Refer to VCS release notes https://sort.symantec.com/public/documents/sfha/5.1sp1pr2/linux/productguides/pdf/vcs_notes_51sp1pr2_lin.pdf page 43 for more details.

Oracle RAC 11gR2 Issues

This post is some of the oracle articles I found in the Oracle support knowledge base website during my Oracle RAC 11gR2 installation. You might find them useful if you encounter similar issue. Take note a login account is required to access the website.

Article ID
CLUVFY Fails with TCP Check PRVF-7617 Due to Case of Node Names [ID 1286394.1]
Troubleshooting 11.2 Grid Infastructure Installation Root.sh Issues [ID 1053970.1]
CRS Does not Start after Node Reboot in 11gR2 Grid Infrastructure [ID 1215893.1]
Grid Infrastructure Installation: root.sh Stalls Due to Improper localhost Setting [ID 1155903.1]
Recommendation for the Real Application Cluster Interconnect and Jumbo Frames [ID 341788.1]

Oracle Cluster Verification Utility

Oracle provides Cluster node verification prior to installation. It is very helpful for Oracle RAC pre-installation to check the nodes meeting the system minimum requirement, the network interfaces availability, the patches update and etc.

Oracle Grid pre-installation
To verify whether your system meets all of the criteria for an Oracle Clusterware installation:
Window:

cluvfy stage -pre crsinst -n node1,node2,node3

Unix:

runcluvfy.sh stage -pre crsinst -n node1,node2,node3

After you have completed phase one, verify that Oracle Clusterware is functioning properly before proceeding with phase two of your Oracle RAC installation:
Window:

cluvfy stage -post crsinst -n node1,node2,node3 -v

Unix:

runcluvfy.sh stage -post crsinst -n node1,node2,node3 -v

To verify whether your system meets all of the criteria for an Oracle RAC installation:
Window:

cluvfy stage -pre dbinst -n node1,node2,node3 -v 

Unix:

Oracle Database pre-installation

To verify whether your system meets all of the criteria for creating a database or for making a database configuration change:

Window:

cluvfy stage -pre dbcfg -n -n node1,node2,node3 -d oracle_home -v

Unix:

runcluvfy.sh stage -pre dbcfg -n -n node1,node2,node3 -d oracle_home -v

Refer to Cluster Verification Utility Reference for more detail explanation.

runcluvfy.sh stage -pre dbinst -n node1,node2,node3 -v 

Veritas DMP HP-UX native LVM configuration

HP-UX native LVM is supported with Veritas DMP for multipathing. dmp_native_support parameter must be turned on and Enclosure Base Name (EBN) scheming must be used in order for DMP to manage LVM.

#vxddladm get namingscheme
#vxddladm set namingscheme=ebn persistence=yes

#vxdmpadm gettune
#vxdmpadm settune dmp_native_support=on

On HP-UX 11.31 1003IC, the pvcreate Utility fails to create Physical

volumes with DMP devices. As a work around, use corresponding native multipathing (nMP metanode/OS path) to create physical volume using pvcreate Utility.

Instead of "pvcreate -f /dev/vx/dmp/emc_clariion0_1", "pvcreate -f /dev/rdisk/disk110" should be used.