Very Computer

All,

I currently have 2 SSA RAID arrays consisting of an PCI "SSA Enhanced
RAID adapter" (FC: 6215) and 32 drives in 2 7133-020 drawers (each
drawer is configured as an array) attached to an RS/6000.  I'd like to
move the adapter and drives to another RS/6000.  Is it possible to do
this while preserving the RAID arrays and the data on the arrays, and
if so, how?  With non-RAID drives, one simply does exportvg on one
system and importvg on the other.  Can something similar be done with
RAID arrays, or will I have to back everything up, move the adapter
and disks, rebuilt the array, and finally restore everything?

John

Hi John,
I would be very certain you can move it, as long as:
(I will assume you have one adapter and two loops, each array in a loop)
1. the adapter(s) in the new box are the same or newer, check the MC,
if you move the adapter things should be ok
2. you keep the loops the same. ie. all disks in loop A1-A2 now better
be in a the same loop after you move it.
3. I would varyoffvg on the old system
4. exportvg on the old system
5. move the ssa cables
6. cfgmgr
7. look for 32 pdisks and 2 hdisks (lscfg and lspv)
8. run smitty ssaraid and list the raid arrays
9. if things look good run importvg

Miles Purdy

Quote:> All,

> I currently have 2 SSA RAID arrays consisting of an PCI "SSA Enhanced
> RAID adapter" (FC: 6215) and 32 drives in 2 7133-020 drawers (each
> drawer is configured as an array) attached to an RS/6000.  I'd like to
> move the adapter and drives to another RS/6000.  Is it possible to do
> this while preserving the RAID arrays and the data on the arrays, and
> if so, how?  With non-RAID drives, one simply does exportvg on one
> system and importvg on the other.  Can something similar be done with
> RAID arrays, or will I have to back everything up, move the adapter
> and disks, rebuilt the array, and finally restore everything?

> John

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

I've done this. The scenario I had, we switched from Microchannel to PCI, so
we couldn't move the adapters, but the RAID information is stored on the SSA
drives in some similar kind of fashion the VG information is stored on
disks. You just have to make sure that all of the disks in a RAID LUN are in
the same loop.

Urban

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CEO - Urban Technology, Inc.
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Phone: (952) 595-8810    Fax: (952) 595-8710

Web: http://www.urbantechnology.com

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Yes, that is how they are configured.

Quote:>> 1. the adapter(s) in the new box are the same or newer, check the MC,
>> if you move the adapter things should be ok
>> 2. you keep the loops the same. ie. all disks in loop A1-A2 now better
>> be in a the same loop after you move it.
>> 3. I would varyoffvg on the old system
>> 4. exportvg on the old system
>> 5. move the ssa cables
>> 6. cfgmgr
>> 7. look for 32 pdisks and 2 hdisks (lscfg and lspv)
>> 8. run smitty ssaraid and list the raid arrays
>> 9. if things look good run importvg

Excellent.

Quote:>I've done this.

That's reassuring to know, thanks.

Quote:>the RAID information is stored on the SSA
>drives in some similar kind of fashion the VG information is stored on
>disks.

OK.  I was wondering whether it was stored on the drives, in the
adapter, and/or in the ODM.

Quote:>You just have to make sure that all of the disks in a RAID LUN are in
>the same loop.

I won't be changing the loop configuration at all, so it sounds like I
shouldn't have any problems.

Thanks for the replies.

John