Question & Answer
Question
How to Enable NPIV LUN or disk level validation on Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) for Partition Mobility Environment
Cause
Partition mobility operation for an N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) client completed successfully, but the client lost disk I/O to the SAN storage immediately after the migration completed. This commonly occurs when the SAN zoning is correct, but the storage is not provisioned to the mobile partition's inactive World Wide Port Name(s), which are used by the mobility operation.
Answer
"vioslpm0" is a pseudo-device (with no physical device) on the Virtual I/O Server that is used by Partition Mobility to get all user settable attribute for the migration operation.
To list the attributes, log in to the Virtual I/O Server, as padmin user, and run:
$ lsdev -dev vioslpm0 -attr
The sample output below shows the default values from a Virtual I/O Server version 2.2.6.41
- The src_lun_val attribute is used to enable and disable LUN level validation of NPIV devices. This attribute has two possible values, on and off. When the attribute is set to off, LUN level validation is not performed on the source VIOS, and when the attribute is set to on, LUN level validation is performed.
- Note 1: Disk level validation is only done during the validation phase. It is not done during an actual migration. The migration phase of a partition mobility operation validates only up to the port level.
- The dest_lun_val attribute is used to disable LUN level validation of NPIV devices for different operations and is relevant only when src_lun_val has the value on in the source VIOS. This attribute affects only the destination VIOS that is hosting the NPIV storage for remote restart and partition mobility operations. There are four allowed values for this attribute, on, off, restart_off, and lpm_off. By default the attribute is set to restart_off. This value disables LUN level validation for remote restart but allows it for partition mobility operations. Setting the attribute to lpm_off allows LUN level validation for remote restart operations but disables it for partition mobility operations. A value on allows LUN level validation for both partition mobility and remote restart and a value off disables LUN level validation for all operations.
The src_lun_val attribute is used when the VIOS is acting as a source VIOS, whereas dest_lun_val is only used when a VIOS is acting as the destination VIOS. Since a VIOS may act as the source VIOS for one mobility operation, but the destination VIOS for another migration operation, it is recommended to set both attributes' value to "on", so that LUN validation will always be performed.
Note 2: These attributes may be changed dynamically.
It is recommended to see NPIV LUN or disk level validation for more information before making any changes.
To enable src and dest disk level validation, log in as padmin, and run:
$ chdev -dev vioslpm0 -attr src_lun_val=on
$ chdev -dev vioslpm0 -attr dest_lun_val=on
$ chdev -dev vioslpm0 -attr dest_lun_val=on
Once disk validation is enabled, issue a Partition Mobility validation to verify if the storage is provisioned through the inactive WWPNs. If the validation fails to see the storage through the inactive WWPNs, take note of the inactive WWPN(s) and contact your local Storage Support Representative. Be ready to provide them with the specific inactive WWPNs for which the validation failed and request to verify the storage is provisioned to those inactive WWPNs in the same manner they are for the active WWPNs.
Known Issues
1. IJ24885 Using NPIV with VIOS 3.1.1 can cause a crash.
Applies to VIOS 3.1.1.0-3.1.1.21.
The APAR is included starting in VIOS 3.1.1.25, which is available for download on Fix Central.
Applies to VIOS 3.1.1.0-3.1.1.21.
The APAR is included starting in VIOS 3.1.1.25, which is available for download on Fix Central.
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Document Information
Modified date:
11 August 2020
UID
ibm16258105