AIX Failing disks

First of all could you please explain which command did you use to have the above mentioned output ?? And could you please tell us the OS version you are running ??

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Usually a "FAILED" disk means that the underlying physical drive (as seen from the host) is not available.

1) the host have a single HBA or multiple HBA ??
1bis) if you have multiple HBA, the disk is reported as "FAILED" on all the paths ??
2) the same HBA can "see" other devices or all the devices are reported as "failed" ??

-s-

-Thats the output of the veritas command vxprint -htr
-AIX ver 5.3

The failing disks WAS indeed available before.I wonder how they are failing now.


It still sees the device and they are failing and one has failed !

hdisk431 auto:aixdisk e778d3BA IGL12M-APP-dg online failing
- e778d3BE IGL12M-APP-dg failed failing was:hdisk432



Yes, inq still sees the devices:

/dev/vx/rdmp/hdisk431 :EMC :SYMMETRIX :5670 :78003ba000 : 35692800
/dev/vx/rdmp/hdisk432 :EMC :SYMMETRIX :5670 :78003be000 : 35692800




3) use the vxedit command to remove the "post-it"
(vxedit set failing=off )

Not sure if we can do this ..This would prevent it to report the 'failing' of disks !



The disks have not disappered, the host still sees the disks but they are 'failing' apart from these 2 disks THERE ARE SEVERAL METAS ASSIGNED TO THIS HOST AND THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY FINE.
BCVs are not established
HBA,switch port and director port is absolutely fine.

It looks like that a "failing" disk is a disk that wasn't available at any given time in the past but now it looks like being available. So Veritas will put a "post-it" on the volume just to warn you that the device disappeared and come back again in the past.

You have to

1) verify with vxdisk list that you can still see the device
2) verify with syminq that you can still see the device
3) use the vxedit command to remove the "post-it" (vxedit set failing=off )

I think you have also to understand WHY the device disappeared (and hopefully come back) in the past. Is it a BCV and you established it ?? Did you have problems with the HBA/fabric/storage ports ??

We'll be very glad if you update the thread with news from the SR .. But maybe someone (Rob from NL or Mr Dynamox from Atlanta) will shade some light on your issue.

Will update if they find a solution ( actually they are lazy to bother SRs ) I know EMC Support due to obvious reasons.:)

But if you find some solutions for this ,do update.

The situation looks very complex .. Unfortunatly I can't help you further ..

I think it's better if you open a SR.

heheh...that's tomorrow ....unfortunately today i have to come to the office and it's 0c outside plus rain ..perfect day to work from home

We were waiting for you !! Did you find a traffic jam ?? Or are you still "working" from your bed

amrith,

would you please post output of lsdev -Cc disk

hdisk431 Available 04-08-02 EMC Symmetrix FCP Raid5
hdisk432 Available 04-08-02 EMC Symmetrix FCP Raid5

I have a feeling this issue has nothing to do with Symm ....
I have rasied a SR , donno whn those guys will pick my SR.

I feel this is a Veritas issue....
Lets see....Time will tell...

All, you can still help me !

Yes we'll try to .. but unfortunatly Mr Dynamox is sleeping right now .. So we have to wait for him ..

However if the hdisks are "Available" and not "Defined" I really think it's something sexy with Veritas .. But as you note, only time will tell

Have you checked errpt to make sure that you aren't seeing any errors from this device?

I've seen issues with the past on AIX where devices with very poor response times would generate "disk failures" which I'm speculating might translate into "failing" devices in Veritas.

PS Why Veritas on top of AIX - that has to be one of the worst combinations I can imagine as far as trouble-shooting problems in UNIX environments