3.4.0 Matrix Server Administration Guide

Chapter 1: Introduction 5

psd driver. Provides matrix-wide consistent device names among all

servers.

psv driver. Used by the Matrix Server Volume Manager, which creates,

extends, recreates, or destroys dynamic volumes.

PanPulse process. Selects and monitors the network to be used for the

administrative network, verifies that all hosts in the matrix can

communicate with each other, and detects any communication problems.

mxlogd process. Manages global error and event messages. The messages

are written to the Matrix Server event log on each server.

mxlog module. Allows Matrix Server kernel modules to send messages

to the mxlogd process.

grpcommd process. Manages Matrix Server group communications

across the matrix.

Administrative Network. Handles Matrix Server administrative traffic.

Most Matrix Server processes communicate with each other over the

administrative network.

Shared SAN Devices

Before a SAN disk can be used, the disk will need to be imported into the

matrix. This step gives Matrix Server complete and exclusive control over

access to the disk. During the import, the disk is given a unique global

device name. The servers in the matrix use this name when they need to

access the disk.

Volume Manager

The Matrix Server Volume Manager can be used to create dynamic

volumes consisting of disk partitions that have been imported into the

matrix. Dynamic volumes can be configured to use either concatenation

or striping. A single PSFS filesystem can be placed on a dynamic volume.

The Volume Manager can also be used to extend a dynamic volume and

the filesystem located on that volume. Other Volume Manager operations

include recreating or destroying a volume.