Configuring Server A


Configuring Server A



Note: For complete information on using the ServeRAID Configuration Program, refer to the IBM ServeRAID-3H and ServeRAID-3L Ultra2 SCSI Adapters Installation and User's Guide .

To configure Server A, do the following:

  -Important- If you already have logical drives defined that you wish to keep, go to (below) step 6.
The steps prior to step 6 will cause loss of data by deleting all logical drives already defined.

  1.  Start server A using the IBM ServeRAID Configuration CD  (or the configuration CD that came with your server).
     At this time, leave server B turned off.

     A screen similar to the following appears:

     
    Figure 1. Configuration Mode Screen 

  2.  Click on Cancel.

      -Important- The ServeRAID adapter only should be initialized one time  when the adapter is first installed.
     Initializing the adapter removes all configuration information from NVRAM.
     This information includes the SCSI IDs, the cluster and the cluster partner name, and the array information.
     This point is especially important if the Windows NT system boot drive is attached to the IBM ServeRAID adapter.
     If the initialization occurs after the boot drive array has been created, this array information will be removed  and the server will not be able to startup into Windows NT.

  3.  Using the right mouse button, click on the ServeRAID controller in the main tree that you are configuring and  a pop-up list appears.
  4.  Click on Initialize the Controller Configuration
     If a confirmation window appears, click on Yes.
  5.  When complete, a message appears at the bottom of the screen saying that the initialization was successful.

    Note: Do not attempt to change the host ID on both ServeRAID adapters in a pair at the exact same time.
     Doing so can cause a problem, such as a server 'lock-up.'

  6.  Using the right mouse button, click on the ServeRAID controller in the main tree that you are configuring and the  pop-up list appears.
  7.  Click on Configure for Clustering.
  8.  A window appears. Fill in the following information:

      -Important- If your configuration will contain multiple ServeRAID adapter  pairs, each adapter Host Configuration ID must be unique.
     The name of the Host ID and the Cluster Partner ID are case sensitive.

  9.  Record the Host ID and Cluster Partner ID.
  10.  Click OK

    Notes:

    1.  When creating logical drives, be aware of the following way in which the information is displayed on the ServeRAID  configuration program screens.
      You only should create one logical drive for each array when defining shared logical drives for use in a cluster
       When logical drives are created, they appear on the screen in the order they are created.
       For ease of understanding, create an array and then all logical drives for that array before you create another array.
       If they are created in that order, they will appear on the screen as shown in the first figure.
       (***** is other information that will appear on the screen, such as RAID level, Write Policy, and so on, but is  not needed for this explanation).

             A ***** A0 ***** ***** ****** ****** *****
             B ***** B0 ***** ***** ****** ****** *****
             C ***** C0 ***** ***** ****** ****** *****
         If logical drives are created out of order, meaning you do not follow the order mentioned above, then they are listed on the  screen out of order, which might cause some confusion.
       For example, say you created two arrays, A and B, but did not define any logical drives at that time.
       Then, afterwards, you go back and create a logical drive on array B.
       That logical drive will then appear in the first line of the logical drive box.
       Now, if you go back and create another logical drive on array A, that logical drive will show up on the second line of the  logical drive box, as shown in the second figure.

             A ***** B0 ***** ***** ****** ****** *****
             B ***** A0 ***** ***** ****** ****** *****
       

    2.  Hot-Spare/Standby Hot-Spare (HSP/SHS) devices must be defined only on a shared channel and each adapter must  have its own HSP/SHS device defined.
       This means that the same HSP/SHS device must not be defined to both adapters in the adapter pair.
       For example: if node A has a particular drive set for hot-spare, this same drive on node B should  remain in a Ready state.

  11.  Create RAID arrays and logical drives on server A as follows:

    1.  Click on the ServeRAID controller that you want to configure in the Main Tree.
    2.  Click on the Custom Configuration radio button.
    3.  Click on the Next button.

      Notes:  p.  1) You must have two or more drives for RAID level 1 and three or more drives
        for RAID level 5 within the same array.
       2) In the Windows NT environment, you must create at least one logical drive,
        the quorum drive, as RAID level-1 to store the quorum resource information.
        This drive can be used to store customer programs and data.

    4.  Using the right mouse button, click on the drive or SCSI Channel icons in the Main Tree  to select the drives that you want to add to your arrays, delete from your arrays, or define  as hot-spare drives; then, select a choice from the pop-up list.

        or

       Drag the drive or SCSI Channel icon from the Main Tree and drop it on the Array or Hot-Spare  Drive icon in the Main Panel on the right.
       If you change your mind, you can drag the icons back to the Main Tree to remove them from the  configuration.

    5.  After you select the data drives for your arrays and define your hot-spare drives, click on the Next button.

       If you change your mind, you can:

      •  Remove a specific drive from a newly defined array or delete an entire newly defined array.
         To do this, click on the Back button, use the right mouse button to click on the specific drive  or Array icon in the Main Panel on the right, and then select Remove from New Array or Delete New Array.
      •  Remove a specific hot-spare drive or all newly defined hot-spare drives.
         To do this, click on the Back button, use the right mouse button to click on the Hot-Spare Drive icon  in the Main Panel on the right, and then select Remove New Hot-Spare Drive or Remove All New Hot-Spare Drives.

    6.  Select a RAID level for the logical drive from the RAID pull-down menu in the Main Panel.
       (Refer to the ServeRAID documentation for descriptions of the supported levels.)
    7.  Move the sliding bar in the Main Panel from right to left to allot data and parity space for the logical drive.

      Notes:
       1) Some operating systems have size limitations for logical drives.
        Before you save the configuration, you might want to verify that the size
        of the logical drive is appropriate for your operating system.
        See your operating-system documentation for more detailed information.
       2) Typically, the first logical drive defined on the first ServeRAID adapter
        found by system BIOS during startup will be your startup (boot) drive.

    8.  Click on the Next button.
    9.  Review the information that appears on the Configuration Summary screen.

      Note: To change the configuration, click on Modify icon button.

    10.  Click on the Apply to accept and save the configuration.

      Note: For Microsoft Windows NT clusters, you should define all shared logical drives on server A.

       Then, continue with step 12.

  12.  After creating the arrays and logical drives, you must assign a Merge ID to the shared drives.

     To set the Merge IDs, do the following: :

    Note: Shared and Non-Shared Merge ID considerations:

  13.  Using the right mouse button, click on the ServeRAID controller in the main tree that contains the logical  drives and a pop-up list appears.
  14.  Click on Configure for Clustering.
  15.  A window appears.
  16.  Click on the Shared checkbox for the logical drives that will be shared between the two ServeRAID adapters.
  17.  Set the Merge ID. You can change the Merge Group value, but use the default provided is ok.
  18.  Click on Ok.
  19.  Exit the Configuration Program by either clicking on the box with the "X" in the upper right corner,  or by clicking on File, and then Exit.
  20.  Shutdown Server A.
  21.  Restart the server.
  22.  When the ServeRAID Mini-Configuration prompt appears, press Cntl+i to go to the mini-configuration program.
  23.  Select the ServeRAID adapter you are working on by using the Up Arrow (  ) or Down Arrow (  ) and then press Enter.
  24.  Select Advanced Functions.
  25.  Select Configure BIOS Settings.
  26.  Select BIOS Unattended Mode and press Enter to set it On.
  27.  Select Save Configuration to ServeRAID Controller and press Enter.


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