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Direct attach connectivity of Storwize and SAN Volume Controller Systems to AIX hosts using a PCIe3 x8 2-port Fibre Channel (32 Gb/s )

How To


Summary

How to use the PCIe3 x8 2-port Fibre Channel (32 Gb/s); (FC EN1A, EN1B, EL5U, and EL5V; CCIN 578F) to direct attach Storwize and SAN Volume Controller Systems to an AIX or PowerVM VIOS host

Objective

Direct attachment is defined as Fibre Channel connection that does not require a Fibre Channel SAN. In other words,  a Fibre Channel port on the Fibre Channel adapter in the node or canister is directly attached via a single Fibre Channel cable to a Fibre Channel port on another Fibre Channel adapter.

A direct-attached configuration dedicates entire port bandwidth to be used for a specific connection. This document describes the prerequisites to attach the PCIe3 x8 2-port Fibre Channel adapter (32 Gb/s); (FC EN1A, EN1B, EL5U, and EL5V) directly to Storwize and SAN Volume Controller systems if the host is running with AIX 7.2 or PowerVM VIOS 3.1.2.

Environment

  • Hardware:
    • IBM Power9 Systems with PCIe3 x8 2-port Fibre Channel adapter (32 Gb/s); (FC EN1A, EN1B, EL5U, and EL5V; CCIN 578F)
    • Storwize and SAN Volume Controller Systems such as IBM FlashSystem 9200 and 9100
  • Software:
    • AIX 7.2 Technology Level 05 or PowerVM VIOS 3.1.2 as host operating system
    • Storwize 8.4.0

Steps

  • The port speed of the target port has to match the port speed of the host adapters, that is, the PCIe3 x8 2-port Fibre Channel Adapter (32 Gb/s); (FC EN1A, EN1B, EL5U, and EL5V; CCIN 578F) need to be connected to 32Gb/s Target port adapters
  • The N_Port ID Virtualization feature has to be disabled for the IO groups on the Storwize and SAN Volume Controller Systems using the "svctask" command, that is,
        svctask chiogrp -fctargetportmode disabled io_group_id_or_name
  • Disable the FC-NVMe device on the host. AIX creates children devices of the fcs device for each protocol that AIX supports.
    a. The FC-NVMe protocol appears through the lsdev command with a name starts with fcnvme.
    # lsdev | grep fcnvme
    fcnvme0    Available 00-00-02    FC-NVMe Protocol Device
    fcnvme1    Available 00-01-02    FC-NVMe Protocol Device
    b) Disable the FC-NVMe interfaces
    # rmdev -Rl fcnvme0
    # rmdev -Rl fcnvme1
    # chdev -l fcnvme0 -a  autoconfig=defined
    # chdev -l fcnvme1 -a  autoconfig=defined

Additional Information

SUPPORT

If you require more assistance, use the following step-by-step instructions to contact IBM to open a case for software with an active and valid support contract.  

1. Document (or collect screen captures of) all symptoms, errors, and messages related to your issue.

2. Capture any logs or data relevant to the situation.

3. Contact IBM to open a case:

   -For electronic support, see the IBM Support Community:
     https://www.ibm.com/mysupport
   -If you require telephone support, see the web page:
      https://www.ibm.com/planetwide/

4. Provide a clear, concise description of the issue.

 - For more information, see: Working with IBM AIX Support: Describing the problem.

5. If the system is accessible, collect a system snap, and upload all of the details and data for your case.

 - For more information, see: Working with IBM AIX Support: Collecting snap data

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Document Information

Modified date:
15 March 2022

UID

ibm16461911

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