FC4500 Navisphere agent connection issues

Question

We have an old EMC Clariion FC4500 that was purchase for our lab recently. Unfortunately the device came as is without a maintenance agreement with EMC so I cannot get support on it. We do not have the Navisphere Manager software available to us, but it seems that everything can be accomplished through the command line with the Navisphere agent and CLI. I am having problems getting the agent to actually run on the server that is connected to the device. I can connect to the DPE with a serial connection and can access the fcli prompt. However, if I set the agent to the ttydevice com1 com1 "com1" setting I cannot get any command to work properly. I have even set the agent.config to auto auto and it sees the SCSI connection and even says that the device is connected in the event log as Manage device: auto (\\.\SCSI2:0:1:0.) It seems that with the com port and the auto setting, the agent is connecting to the device because in the application log of the system there are several Warning messages that are returned and it says that the agent is started.
Example warning message: EV_VAFactoryFeature::_buildLunState: lun:1, file: X:\raid++\vafact.cxx, line: 2626: No such Host LUN in this Storage Group

I have been contacting EMC sales to get a quote on the Navisphere Manager software, but for some reason I cannot get someone to call me back.

1. Do I have to have the Navisphere Manager software to manage this FC4500 SAN?
2. Can someone shed some light on the agent.config and navicli interface?

agent.config
ttydevice com1 com1 "com1"
poll 60
baud 9600
eventlog 10

or

agent.config
device auto auto
poll 60
baud 9600
eventlog 10

kelleg · Accepted Answer

If I remember correctly, you can manage the array using navicli commands - you do not need Navisphere Manager. Navisphere runs on a Windows box and your hosts talk to this server and the server sends navicli commands to the array down the FC paths (its been a long time since I've worked on one of these).

I believe that you can use Navisphere Manager 6.x., but you need an agent running on the host that's connected to the array.

glen

calle2 · Answer

Now you are asking... It has been a v. v. long time since I last saw one of those!I managed to dig out the below procedure from an old FC4500 Setup Guide: Proceed with this step only if your storage system will be connected to a serverthat will run PowerPath software.Setting the storage-system properties to the values required for PowerPathrequires a directly connected computer that is not a laptop. This computerrequires¿ Windows NT® 4.0 with Service Pack 5 or Windows® 2000.¿ EMC ControlCenter Navisphere 6.1 or higher Windows Host Agentand CLI.1. Connect a serial/null modem cable between the computer¿sCOM 1 port and the console (serial) port on SP A.2. On the computer, log in as a privileged user.3. Using a text editor, open the Host Agent configuration file:Program Files\EMC\Navisphere Agent\agent.config4. Edit the file as follows:a. Comment out the entry device auto auto by adding a # before thefirst letter in the entry.b. Add the following entries:poll 240ttydevice com1 com1 ¿com1¿baud 9600eventlog 13. Save the file.4. Stop and start the Host Agent.5. Verify that the Agent has completed startup and is running overa valid serial connectiona. cd into the cli directoryC:cd program files\emc
avisphere clib. Type navicli -np getagentc. Repeat the above getagent command until the display shows thenew connection.Once the Agent is running, you can use it to configure the FC4500 forPowerPath¿Finally if I remember correctly you need to setup a portal from Navisphere Manager to control the FC4500. Either from a Management Station or if you got a more modern CLARiiON FC4700 (I think), CX or CX3¿I hope this helps and eelcome to the forums!Carl

CSchom · Answer

Thanks for the information. I found that configuration material in the FC4500 setup guide that was on the EMC support site. It looks like the agent is connecting at this point because when I run a navicli -np getagent it comes back with the SCSI connections to the controller. I guess my biggest question was if the Navisphere Manager software was needed or not?
Our EMC representive finally got back with us, but I guess there is some concern about this device being EOL and EOSL. That being said, it is our only solution at this time until we have our new budget at the first of the year for something new.

1. Is the Navisphere Manager software needed for this device to work properly?
2. Is there an open source management utility that will manage this device?

CLARiiON

FC4500 Navisphere agent connection issues

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