Recovering from disks not displaying in SMS

Learn how to recover from disks not displaying in the System Management Services (SMS) menu when trying to boot or install a client logical partition.

Occasionally, the disk that is needed to install the client logical partition cannot be located. In this situation, if the client is already installed, start the client logical partition. Ensure that you have the latest levels of the software and firmware. Then ensure that the Slot number of the virtual SCSI server adapter matches the Remote partition virtual slot number of the virtual SCSI client adapter.

Ensure that you have the latest levels of the Hardware Management Console, firmware, and Virtual I/O Server. Follow these steps:
1. To check whether you have the latest level of the HMC, see Obtaining HMC machine code updates and upgrades .
2. To check whether you have the latest firmware, see Obtaining firmware updates .
3. To check whether you have the latest level of the Virtual I/O Server, see Updating the Virtual I/O Server.
Ensure the server virtual SCSI adapter slot number is mapped correctly to the client logical partition remote slot number:
1. In the navigation area, expand Systems Management > Servers and click the server on which the Virtual I/O Server logical partition is located.
2. In the contents area, select the Virtual I/O Server logical partition.
3. Click Tasks and select Properties.
4. Click the Virtual Adapters tab.
5. Click Virtual SCSI.
6. If the values of the Remote Partition and Remote Adapter are Any Partition and Any Partition Slot, then complete the following steps:
  - Expand Virtual SCSI and click the slot number.
  - Select Only selected client partition can connect.
  - Enter the client logical partition's ID and adapter and click OK
  - Click Virtual SCSI.
7. Record values of the Remote Partition and Remote Adapter. These values represent the client logical partition and the slot number of the client's virtual SCSI adapter that can connect to the associated server adapter. For example, the values of Remote Partition, Remote Adapter, and Adapter are as follows: AIX_client, 2, 3. This means that virtual SCSI adapter 2 on the client logical partition AIX_client can connect to the Virtual I/O Server virtual SCSI adapter 3.
8. Repeat steps a through g for the client logical partition.
Ensure the server virtual SCSI adapter slot number is mapped correctly to the client logical partition remote slot number:
- Instructions for HMC version 7 or later:
  1. In the navigation area, expand Systems Management > Servers and click the server on which the Virtual I/O Server logical partition is located.
  2. In the contents area, select the Virtual I/O Server logical partition.
  3. Click Tasks and select Properties.
  4. Click the Virtual Adapters tab.
  5. Click Virtual SCSI.
  6. If the values of the Remote Partition and Remote Adapter are Any Partition and Any Partition Slot, then complete the following steps:
    - Expand Virtual SCSI and click the slot number.
    - Select Only selected client partition can connect.
    - Enter the client logical partition's ID and adapter and click OK
    - Click Virtual SCSI.
  7. Record values of the Remote Partition and Remote Adapter. These values represent the client logical partition and the slot number of the client's virtual SCSI adapter that can connect to the associated server adapter. For example, the values of Remote Partition, Remote Adapter, and Adapter are as follows: AIX_client, 2, 3. This means that virtual SCSI adapter 2 on the client logical partition AIX_client can connect to the Virtual I/O Server virtual SCSI adapter 3.
  8. Repeat steps a through g for the client logical partition.
- Instructions for HMC version 6 or earlier:
  1. Right-click the server profile, and select Properties.
  2. Click the Virtual I/O Server tab.
  3. If the Only selected remote partition and slot can connect radio button is not selected, select it.
  4. Note the Remote partition and Remote partition virtual slot number values. This shows the client logical partition name and the client logical partition virtual slot number. This is the client logical partition and slot number that can connect to the slot given in the Slot number dialog box at the top of the Virtual SCSI Adapter Properties window.
  5. Repeat items a through e in this step for the client logical partition.
Ensure the server virtual SCSI adapter slot number is mapped correctly to the client logical partition remote slot number. Follow these steps:
1. Right-click the server profile, and select Properties.
2. Click the Virtual I/O Server tab.
3. If the Only selected remote partition and slot can connect radio button is not selected, select it.
4. Note the Remote partition and Remote partition virtual slot number values. This shows the client logical partition name and the client logical partition virtual slot number. This is the client logical partition and slot number that can connect to the slot given in the Slot number dialog box at the top of the Virtual SCSI Adapter Properties window.
5. Repeat items a through e in this step for the client logical partition.
The Adapter value on the client logical partition must match the Remote Adapter on the Virtual I/O Server partition, and the Adapter value on the Virtual I/O Server partition must match the Remote Adapter on the client logical partition. If these numbers do not match, from the HMC, modify the profile properties to reflect the correct mapping.
Verify that the mappings are correct based on your HMC version:
- HMC version 7 or later: The Adapter value on the client logical partition must match the Remote Adapter on the Virtual I/O Server partition, and the Adapter value on the Virtual I/O Server partition must match the Remote Adapter on the client logical partition. If these numbers do not match, from the HMC, modify the profile properties to reflect the correct mapping.
- HMC version 6 or earlier: The Slot number value on the client logical partition must match the Remote partition virtual slot number on the Virtual I/O Server partition, and the Slot number value on the Virtual I/O Server partition must match the Remote partition virtual slot number on the client logical partition. If these numbers do not match, from the HMC, modify the profile properties to reflect the correct mapping.
The Slot number value on the client logical partition must match the Remote partition virtual slot number on the Virtual I/O Server partition, and the Slot number value on the Virtual I/O Server partition must match the Remote partition virtual slot number on the client logical partition. If these numbers do not match, from the HMC, modify the profile properties to reflect the correct mapping.
From the Virtual I/O Server command line, type cfgdev.
Shut down and reactivate the client logical partition.

From the Virtual I/O Server command line, type lsmap -all. You see results similar to the following:

SVSA            Physloc                                      Client Partition ID
--------------- -------------------------------------------- ------------------
vhost0          U9113.550.10BE8DD-V1-C3                      0x00000002

VTD                   vhdisk0
LUN                   0x8100000000000000
Backing device        hdisk5
Physloc               U787B.001.DNW025F-P1-C5-T1-W5005076300C10899-L536F000000000000

In this example, the client partition ID is 2 (0x00000002).

Note: If the client partition is not yet installed, the Client Partition ID is 0x00000000.

The slot number of the server SCSI adapter is displayed under Physloc column. The digits following the -C specify the slot number. In this case, the slot number is 3.

From the Virtual I/O Server command line, type lsdev -virtual. You see results similar to the following:

name            status     description

vhost0          Available  Virtual SCSI Server Adapter

vhdisk0         Available  Virtual Target Device - Disk