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SMS SAN zoning supportUntil recently, if you were configuring a new LPAR with virtual FC adapters you couldn’t force it to log into the SAN before an operating system (such as AIX) was installed. I’ve written about this before (see link below). I also offered a way to work around this issue.
As mentioned in my post, there are new HMC commands to force a new LPAR to connect to the SAN, so that SAN administrators can zone storage to the new WWPN(s).
There’s also another method available in the Power Systems SMS menu.
In recent levels of POWER systems firmware, there is a new option in the SMS menu called SAN Zoning Support. You’ll find it mentioned here:
I’ve successfully used this method on both POWER6 (595) and POWER7 (795) systems. After configuring a new LPAR profile with a single VFC adapter, the VIOS reported that the client was not logged into the SAN:
$ lsmap -vadapter vfchost41 -npiv Name Phys -------------
---- vfchost41 U911
Stat FC
name Ports logged in:0 Flags:4<NOT_LOGGED> VFC client
name
I forced this event by booting into SMS and selecting 5 (Boot Options).
PowerPC Firmware Version EH350_120 SMS 1.7 (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 2000,2008 All rights reserved. ---- Main Menu 1. Select Language 2. Setup Remote IPL (Initial Program Load) 3. Change SCSI Settings 4. Select Console 5. Select Boot Options
--- Navigation Keys:
--- Type menu item number and press Enter or select Navigation key:5
Then I selected 4 (SAN Zoning Support).
PowerPC Firmware Version EH350_120 SMS 1.7 (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 2000,2008 All rights reserved. ---- Multiboot 1. Select Install/Boot Device 2. Configure Boot Device Order 3. Multiboot Startup <OFF> 4. SAN Zoning Support
--- Navigation keys: M = return to Main Menu ESC key = return to previous screen X = eXit System Management Services --- Type menu item number and press Enter or select Navigation key:4
Next I choose the appropriate VFC adapter I’d like to connect on the SAN at this time.
PowerPC Firmware Version EH350_120 SMS 1.7 (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 2000,2008 All rights reserved. ---- Select Media Adapter 1.
U911
--- Navigation keys: M = return to Main Menu ESC key = return to previous screen X = eXit System Management Services --- Type menu item number and press Enter or select Navigation key:1
A message appears stating that it may now be possible to perform SAN zoning to the adapters WWPN.
.---
| The selected adapter has been
open
| Zoning of attached disks may
now be poss | Press any key to close the adapter and return to the previous menu. |
`---
On the VIOS I observed the client vfchost adapter status changed to LOGGED_IN.
$ lsmap -vadapter vfchost41 -npiv Name Phys -------------
---- vfchost41 U911
Status:LOGGED_IN FC name Ports logged in:1 Flag VFC client
name:Virtual
Fibre Channel - Firmware driverVFC client
DRC:
It appears that the new SMS option is simply an interface to the Open Firmware Prompt and the IOINFO command. This was how we performed the task without the SMS menu in front:
http
So far I’ve found this new SMS option on POWER7 795 systems running firmware level AH730_078 and POWER6 595 systems running EH350_120. |
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It is possible to log all VFCs , depending on your HMC version. Not sure but on 7.4.0 you can boot in SMS menu, LPAR properties, virtual adapters and from Menu you have option to log in all the VFC on switch .
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Hi Chris, I tried this method but if you have more then one adapter (and you likely will be running redundant paths) you have to do them individually, since when you exit out of the menu it logs the adapter out. It will be great if IBM can add an option to select all adapters. I have resorted to NIM booting into diagnostics which logs in all the adapters. Cheers, Barry
