IT24930: EMPTY PV IN VOLUME GROUP MAY CAUSE FILE RESTORE TO FAIL

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• When a volume group contains an empty physical volume (a PV that
  contains no extents) and file level restore is in use and an
  attempt to restore any file from that node will fail.
  
  Apr 18 14:00:26 2018[10.214.1.40] Output: ['Found duplicate PV
  
  cmitZt2lr81GmBqxEebV0e3fzOkXqFVB: using /dev/sdb2 not
  /dev/sda2',
  
  'Using duplicate PV /dev/sdb2 without holders, replacing
  /dev/sda2',
  
  'Found duplicate PV rffImPmyOR3exNZ2zsqu9JO2KuhgNwE3: using
  /dev/sdb3
  
  not /dev/sda3', 'Using duplicate PV /dev/sdb3 which is last
  seen,
  
  replacing /dev/sda3', 'Volume group "vgname" not found', 'Cannot
  
  process volume group vg_root_Vxb']
  
  Apr 18 14:00:26 2018[10.214.1.40] Could not deactivate volume
  group
  
  vg_root_Vxb
  
  Apr 18 14:00:26 2018[10.214.1.40] Removed disk sdb
  
  Apr 18 14:00:26 2018[10.214.1.40] Completed unmount operation in
  6s
  
  Apr 18 14:00:27 2018Dismount disks: Completed (1 objects)
  
  Apr 18 14:00:27 2018Acquiring lock for VM (vmname).
  
  Apr 18 14:00:27 2018Unmount VM disks: Dismounting VM (vmname)
  
  disks
  
  
  
  The problem is caused by an uncatalogued empty PV that is
  required by LVM when mounting the volume group during the
  restore.
  

Local fix

• It is not possible to update the catalog for an existing backup,
   but removal of the empty PV will allow future backup to be
  restorable.   Also, this only effects file level restores.  Full
   VM and VMDK restores are unaffected.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * IBM Spectrum Protect Plus levels 10.1.1 and 10.1.2           *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * See Error Description                                        *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  * Apply fixing level when available. This problem is currently *
  * projected to be fixed in level 10.1.3. Note that this is     *
  * subject to change at the discretion of IBM.                  *
  ****************************************************************
  

Problem conclusion

• During file indexing, IBM Spectrum Protect Plus used a technique
  of discovering LVM (Logical Volume Manager) VG (Volume Group)
  information which only detected PVs (Physical Volumes)
  containing allocated LV (Logical Volume) extents. Physical
  volumes that did not contain allocated extents  were missed.
  This resulted in failures during file restore because the VG
  could not be imported due to missing PVs. The problem has been
  resolved by updating the LVM discovery logic to ensure that it
  detects all PVs that comprise a VG, including unused ones.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  SP PLUS

• Fixed component ID

  5737SPLUS

Applicable component levels