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IBM PowerHA (SystemMirror, HACMP) HowTo: Step by step instructions to install and configure PowerHA cluster using the command line

How To


Summary

The System Management Interface Tool (SMIT) (smitty) steps users using menu options to install and configure a PowerHA cluster. This document provides step by step instructions to configure a PowerHA cluster from the command line. Becoming familiar with the commands used by SMIT, system administrators improve their expertise on managing HA clusters and empower them to automate (script) the procedures.

Objective

Installing and configuring a PowerHA cluster using the command line

Steps

Before configuring and installing PowerHA SystemMirror, plan its implementation for the AIX operating system.

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/powerha-aix/7.2?topic=planning

Note: In this document the primary (active) node is referred to as node1, and the secondary (passive) node will be referred to as node2 

1. Before attempting to create a cluster, confirm all shared storage disks are seen by both nodes with their respective PVIDs 

# lspv 

-This includes the shared datavg hdisks and the hdisk which is to be used as the CAA repository. 

-All shared hdisks should have a reserve_policy = no_reserve 

# lsattr –El hdiskXX 

# chdev -l hdiskXX -a reserve_policy=no_reserve 

-The hdisk to be used as the CAA repository should be new and never have previously been a member of a volume group 

2. Run ifconfig -a on both nodes and find the BOOT IP for all adapters    

   (there should be NO alias IPs on any adapter at this time)                

3. Put all the boot IPs into /etc/cluster/rhosts on both nodes. 

   One IP per line (no comments or names).                                                                  

   The rhosts file on both nodes should be identical. 

   Ensure all IPs are resolvable in the local /etc/hosts file 

   Configure  /etc/netsvc.conf to have the HA node resolve hostnames from the local /etc/hosts file before looking at any DNS server 

   hosts=local4,bind4 

4. After populating the rhosts file in each node, stop and restart clcomd on each node. 

# stopsrc -s clcomd; sleep 5; startsrc -s clcomd 

5. Test rsh communication between nodes with cl_rsh command. 

   Ensure both nodes will run both commands.                                                   

   IE: (below is an example of two test nodes before CAA cluster creation)         

   Repeat on both nodes:                                                                

# /usr/sbin/clrsh node1 hostname

Output: node1                                                                   

# /usr/sbin/clrsh node2 hostname

Output: node2                                                                                                                                 

NOTE: If either node fails either of the above cl_rsh tests there is a communication problem of some kind and a cluster cannot be created until it is resolved                                                      

6. Change Directory to the location of the intended PowerHA version 

# cd /PowerHA7.x/  

7. Install PowerHA 

# installp -acgXYd . all 

8.  Select cluster nodes:                                                  

On node1 do:                                                                

# /usr/es/sbin/cluster/utilities/clmgr add cluster <cluster_name> NODES="node1 node2"

9. Choose a repository disk: 

On node1 do:                                             

# /usr/es/sbin/cluster/utilities/clmgr add repository <Repository_Disk_PVID> DISABLE_VALIDATION=true

10. Create the CAA cluster by synchronizing the cluster configuration: 

On node1 do: 

# /usr/es/sbin/cluster/utilities/clmgr sync cluster 

11. On both nodes do: 

# lscluster -m

(on both nodes CAA should show the State of each node as ‘UP’) 

# lssrc -a | grep cthags

Output:

cthags           cthags           16187456     active                                    

With CAA UP and  cthags Active on both nodes, the CAA cluster has been created.     

12. Create a Resource Group 

# /usr/es/sbin/cluster/utilities/clmgr add resource_group <RG_Name> NODES=node1,node2

13. Create a Service IP 

# /usr/es/sbin/cluster/utilities/clmgr add service_ip <Service_IP_Label> NETWORK=<Network_Name>

14. Create a Shared Volume Group 

# /usr/es/sbin/cluster/sbin/cl_mkvg -f -n -cspoc -n'node1,node2' -r'<RG_Name>' -y '<VG_Name>' -V'<VG_Major_Number>' '-E' <hdiskx_PVID> 

15. After creating the resource group, the service IP, and the shared volume group, place all the resources INSIDE the resource group 

# /usr/es/sbin/cluster/utilities/clmgr modify resource_group '<RG_Name>' SERVICE_LABEL='<Service_IP_Label>'  

16. Synchronise the cluster 

# /usr/es/sbin/cluster/utilities/clmgr sync cluster

17. When ready, start PowerHA on the new cluster. 

# /usr/es/sbin/cluster/utilities/clmgr online cluster WHEN=now START_CAA=yes


Document Location

Worldwide


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Document Information

More support for:
PowerHA SystemMirror

Component:
PowerHA SystemMirror, PowerHA SystemMirror->Administrating PowerHA->Installation

Software version:
All Versions

Operating system(s):
AIX

Document number:
7116603

Modified date:
12 March 2025

UID

ibm17116603

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