4.1.0 HP PolyServe Matrix Server administration guide (T5392-96073, October 2010)

Using Microsoft Windows disk management utilities
After a disk has been imported into a cluster, it can no longer be managed with the
normal Windows Disk Manager/diskpart/format or other Microsoft utilities. To use
these utilities to change, repartition, or reformat an imported disk, you must first
deport the disk. All imported disks appear as “Read-only” in Disk Manager. After
deporting a disk, you may need to refresh the Disk Manager view (by pressing F5)
to see the disk change from Read-only to Online.
Filesystem access
In the Windows operating system, a filesystem is automatically mounted on a server
the first time the server attempts to access it. When the server is shut down, the
filesystem is automatically unmounted. You do not need to mount or unmount PSFS
filesystems.
After a PSFS filesystem is created, it will appear on the PolyServe Management
Console and can be accessed by the servers in the matrix. However, users and
applications on the servers will not be able to access the filesystem until you assign
a drive letter or mount point to it.
Managing assignments is key to controlling access to your filesystems. Keep in mind
the following:
• Filesystem mounts should not be confused with assignments. Although a filesystem
is mounted on multiple nodes, Windows applications can access the mounted
filesystem only via a drive letter/mount point assignment.
• You do not have to assign the same mount points or drive letters to each filesystem
on each node. When you use the PolyServe Management Console to assign a
drive letter/mount point, the assignment applies to every node. However, you
can use the mx fs assign command or the Windows LDM, mountvol.exe,
or diskpart.exe commands to assign drive letters/mount points uniquely on
each node.
• You can assign multiple mount points to the same filesystem if necessary.
• Permissions can be locked down to prevent users from accessing the reserved
mount points in the conf directory. You can use Windows Explorer or other tools
to change permissions on the conf\mounts directory or on individual mount
points. (Be careful not to change permissions for the root of the mounted filesystem.)
Also, do not remove LocalSystem or Administrators from the permissions, as doing
this could cause operating system or Matrix Server problems.
• You do not have to share the same filesystems on each node via CIFS.
Configure PSFS filesystems106