POWER7 information

mkbdsp command

Purpose

Assigns storage from a storage pool, which serves as a backing device for a virtual SCSI (VSCSI) adapter.

Syntax

To create a backing device file or logical volume:

mkbdsp [-sp StoragePool] Size -bd BackingDevice

To assign an existing file or logical volume as a backing device:

mkbdsp [-sp StoragePool]-bd BackingDevice -vadapter ServerVirtualSCSIAdapter [-tn TargetDeviceName]

To create a new file or logical volume as a backing device:

mkbdsp [-sp StoragePool] Size [-bd BackingDevice] -vadapter ServerVirtualSCSIAdapter [-tn TargetDeviceName]

To create a logical unit in a shared storage pool:

mkbdsp -clustername ClusterName -sp StoragePool Size -bd LogicalUnit [-thick]

To assign a logical unit as a backing device in a shared storage pool:

mkbdsp -clustername ClusterName -sp StoragePool { -bd LogicalUnit | -luudid LUUDID } -vadapter ServerVirtualSCSIAdapter [-tn TargetDeviceName]

To create a new logical unit as a backing device in a shared storage pool:

mkbdsp -clustername ClusterName -sp StoragePool Size -bd LogicalUnit -vadapter ServerVirtualSCSIAdapter [-tn TargetDeviceName] [-thick]

Description

The mkbdsp command assigns a backing device to a VSCSI server adapter. If the -sp flag is not specified the default storage pool is used. The storage pool must be specified when working with file-backed devices and logical units. The default storage pool is still used when working with logical volumes. If the storage size is given, the mkbdsp command creates a backing device of at least the specified size and assign it as the backing device. When working with file backed devices the -bd flag must be specified. The system does not generate a name. The type of backing device created is determined by the storage pool type. The size can be given in the number of megabytes (M or m), the number of gigabytes (G or g), or the number of physical partitions. If the unit of size is not specified in megabytes (M or m) or gigabytes (G or g), it defaults to MB.

Notes:

Specifying physical partitions works only for logical volume backing devices.
The backing device specified cannot be assigned to a shared memory pool (to be used as a paging space device by a shared memory partition).

You must specify the name for the newly created backing device by using the -bd flag in combination with the size parameter. Naming the backing device is optional when working with logical volumes. You also have the option of assigning the name for the newly created virtual target device by using the -tn flag in combination with the -vadapter flag.

Flags

Flag name	Description
-bd	Specifies the backing device or logical unit name.
-clustername	Specifies the cluster name
-luudid	Specifies the logical unit (LU) UDID in case specified lu is not unique.
-sp	Specifies the storage pool to be used.
-thick	Creates the device as a thick-provisioned device. The default is a thin-provisioned device.
-tn	Specifies the name of the target device. Note: The only values accepted are alphanumeric, a dash, an underscore, or a period.
-vadapter	Specifies the VSCSI server adapter.

Exit Status

Return code	Description
23	Specified storage pool is not a valid storage pool.
26	Specified name is already used. Choose a different name.
34	Specified name is reserved. Choose a different name.

Examples

To create a virtual target device that maps a 3 GB backing device from the default storage pool the virtual SCSI server adapter vhost3, type the command as follows:
```
mkbdsp -bd bdname 3g -vadapter vhost3
```
To create an LU in a specific shared storage pool, type the command as follows:
```
mkbdsp -clustername newcluster -sp viossp 100M -bd LU 
```
The system displays the output as follows:

Lu Name:LU

Lu Udid:c960d8f854d4064d74b7d0017c4063a2
To map an LU with a specific virtual adapter, type the command as follows:
```
mkbdsp -clustername newcluster -sp viossp -bd LU -vadapter vhost0
```
The system displays the output as follows:

Assigning file "LU" as a backing device.

VTD:vtscsi0
To create a thick-provisioned LU of 5 GB in the specific storage pool, type the command as follows:
```
mkbdsp -clustername newcluster -sp viossp 5G -bd THICK_LU -thick
```
The system displays the output as follows:

Lu Name:THICK_LU

Lu Udid:7f9ce0be4d5b5c8ddeb339fc1c71e0bf
To create and map a thick-provisioned LU to the specified VSCSI server adapter, type the command as follows:
```
mkbdsp -clustername newcluster -sp viossp 2G -bd THICK_LU -vadapter vhost0 -thick
```
The system displays the output as follows:

Lu Name:THICK_LU

Lu Udid:510004e3d0e90c1d10e13be130b3cd34

Assigning file "THICK_LU" as a backing device.

VTD:vtscsi0

Related Information

The lu command.

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Last updated: Wed, June 03, 2015