HP StorageWorks Smart Array Multipath software user guide (354907-006, May 2008)

Supported operating systems
The Smart Array Multipath software supports the following operating systems:
• Microsoft
•Windows200
0 Server and Advanced Server with Service Pack 4
• Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (x86)
• Windows Server 2003 R2
•WindowsSe
rver 2003 x64 Edition
• Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition R2
• Linux
•RedHatEnt
erprise Linux
• UnitedLinux
• Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9.0
For infor
mation about the most current operating system support, errata kernels, and service pack
requirem
ents, see the HP ProLiant Packaged Clusters website: h
ttp://www.hp.com/products/
sharedstorage.
Microsoft feature support
• Static LUN balancing enables the administrator to optimize I/O by assigning specific volumes to
specific paths in the storage system. If one path fails, the storage system moves volumes to the
path for the redundant HBA for I/O management.
• Server-based PCI Hot Plug functionality supports online HBA addition and replacement.
• Logical volume hot-add functionality supports online array expansion, extension, or both.
• Device Manager extension provides point-and-click multipath management.
• Configuration flexibility enables boot volumes for DAS solutions to reside on the storage system.
Linux feature support
• Stat
ic load (read-only) balancing enables the HBAs to optimize I/O with dual paths, to the same
volu
mes in the storage system. If one HBA fails, the storage system moves volumes to the path
for t
he redundant HBA for I/O management.
• Depending on the operating system, servers maintain boot volumes and enable greater storage
capacity on the storage system.
Multiple operating system feature support
• For multipath configurations with multiple operating systems, use Shared Storage Presentation
(SSP) to restrict HBAs from accessing logical volumes containing data from a different operating
system. For more information about SSP, see the documentation shipped with the 4-Port Shared
Storage Module.
S
upported four-node confi gurations
T
he following sections discuss supported multipath configurations with their respective 4-Port Shared
S
torage Module connections and locations, for boot and data volumes. These configurations require two
o
r three servers attached with four SCSI cables, to the MSA500 G2 storage system.
Two-server external boot configuration
All boot and data volumes reside on the MSA500 G2 storage system. lists the boot volume and data
volume location for the two-server external boot configuration.
12 O ve r view