AIX Tip of the Week: SSA Spare Tool for Mirrored Disk Management

Audience: AIX Administrators

Date: February 1999

The SSA "Spare Tool" is a free IBM utility for managing mirrored SSA disks. The tool provides the following functions:

1. Simplifies the process of replacing a failed mirrored disk.
2. Automatically replaces a failed mirrored disk with an available spare.
3. Moves data back to original disk location after failed disk is replaced.
4. Speeds recovery by recreating data only on the failed drive.
5. Issues e-mail notification of status throughout the process.

The SSA Spare Tool and documentation can be downloaded from the IBM website:

http://www.hursley.ibm.com/~ssa/rs6k

Update: Decemeber 2001

Spare Tool link

The SSA Spare Tool has several versions by adapter type and AIX level. Be sure to choose the correct version for the adapter/AIX combination installed on your system.