HP P6000 Continuous Access Implementation Guide (T3680-96431, August 2012)

Using the failover only setting
The failover only setting should be used for virtual disks that are presented to a host using HP
Secure Path. This setting automatically redirects I/O to the alternate controller if the preferred
controller becomes unavailable, but enables the host server to use HP Secure Path settings or
commands to control the return to the preferred controller when it becomes available.
For virtual disks that are presented to a host using other multipathing software, select either failover
only or failover/failback for non-DR group member virtual disks.
Presenting virtual disks
Presenting virtual disks is required to allow host access. Use HP P6000 Command View or HP
P6000 Replication Solutions Manager to present source virtual disks to the host servers that will
use the storage. For the procedure for presenting virtual disks, see the application online help.
Presenting virtual disks to hosts is an array requirement. You must also make virtual disks accessible
from the host's perspective. Use host operating system tools to discover and mount the source virtual
disks (disk devices) as required by the host.
Adding hosts
Adding a host makes it easier to define a path between the host HBAs and the virtual disks in an
array. Use HP P6000 Command View to add each host that needs access to the source array. For
convenience, you can perform this and subsequent HP P6000 Command View procedures on the
local management server and copy the finished configuration to the standby and remote
management servers.
To present a virtual disk to a server so the server can perform I/O to that disk, map the virtual disk
to the server WWN using HP P6000 Command View. For more information on presenting virtual
disks, see the HP P6000 Command View Online Help.
Creating DR groups
Before you create DR groups, ensure that:
• Local and remote arrays are online and accessible to the management server.
• ISLs are operating properly.
• HP P6000 Command View on the active local management server has control of the local
and remote arrays.
After you create the DR groups, you can divide the management responsibilities for multiple arrays
between the local and remote management servers. For instructions on changing the management
server that is managing an array, see the HP P6000 Command View User Guide.
Use HP P6000 Replication Solutions Manager or HP P6000 Command View to create DR groups
on the source array. At a minimum, you must specify a source virtual disk and a destination array.
The array software creates a corresponding DR group and virtual disk on the destination array.
For more information, see “Planning DR groups” (page 36).
Specifying virtual disks
Select one virtual disk to create the DR group. Add other virtual disks as needed to ensure that all
data for one application is in one DR group. For optimum failover performance, limit the virtual
disks in a DR group to as few as possible, and do not group virtual disks that are assigned to
separate applications.
To be eligible for inclusion in a DR group, a source virtual disk:
• Cannot be a member of another DR group
• Cannot be added to a destination DR group
98 Implementing remote replication