storage node linux

Question

Hi all,

I'm new to the configuration of Networker and I have few problems to get the tape drives recognised by my Linux boxes.

My backup server is a windows box while I have 4 Red Hat Linux boxes (kernel 2.6.9-22.0.2.ELsmp) that should be configured as Storage Node as they are directly connected to the tape library via fibre channel. My tape library is a HP MSL5026 with 2 tape heads.

The zoning on my fibre channel switches is correctly configured because I can see the jukebox but I cannot see the 2 tape drives (it's my understanding that I should see them as 2 separate devices).

Here is the output of the Networker inquire command :

scsidev@0.0.0:HP HSV200
5030|(Unknown Device Type c), /dev/sg0
S/N: P8BC8F3AAS405C
WWNN=50001FE1500694C0
PORT=00000003
scsidev@0.0.1:HP HSV200
5030|Disk, /dev/sg1
S/N: P8BC8F3AAS405C
WWNN=600508B40010655F00007000008E0000
WWPN=600508B40010655F00007000008E0000
PORT=00000003
scsidev@0.2.0:COMPAQ MSL5000 Series
0507|Autochanger (Jukebox), /dev/sg3
S/N: 555358353233303030380000
ATNN=COMPAQ MSL5000 Series USX5230008
IENN=00900DE605418000

and here the cat of /proc/scsi/scsi

Attached devices:
Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 00 Lun: 00
Vendor: HP Model: HSV200 Rev: 5030
Type: RAID ANSI SCSI revision: 05
Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 00 Lun: 01
Vendor: HP Model: HSV200 Rev: 5030
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 05
Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 00 Lun: 02
Vendor: HP Model: HSV200 Rev: 5030
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 05
Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 02 Lun: 00
Vendor: COMPAQ Model: MSL5000 Series Rev: 0507
Type: Medium Changer ANSI SCSI revision: 02
Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 00 Lun: 03
Vendor: HP Model: HSV200 Rev: 5030
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 05
Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 02 Lun: 02
Vendor: HP Model: NS E1200-160 Rev: 5669
Type: RAID ANSI SCSI revision: 04
Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 00 Lun: 04
Vendor: HP Model: HSV200 Rev: 5030
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 05

The NS E1200-160 (scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 02 Lun: 02) seems to have something to do with the library because it's mentioned in the fibre channel switch and the backup server but not sure what exactly it is.

Am I right thinking that I should see the two tape drives as separate devices?

Any help on this is greatly appreciated as I've lost a lot of time on this without finding an explanation/solution.

thanks
kind regards
Luca Turrini

ble1 · Answer

From NetWorker point of view, you have better chances of having less problem with your backup after with kernel 2.4.x than 2.6.x (at least with 7.1.x and 7.2.x). So I would change that first. This probably is not related to your problem, but while you are still configuring this...

Second, you will need to set stinit, meaning your st driver should be loaded first and then stinit.def should be configured.

According to output you sent you don't see those drives at all. Once you see them you should see them as nst devices.

turrinil · Answer

Thanks for the prompt response. Changing kernel is not an option but I will check the stinit .def configuration. I will keep you updated. thanks and regardsLuca

ble1 · Answer

As you wish, but even with 7.3 kernel 2.4.XX is supported one - check installation guide page 20. 2.6.x is still not officially supported and I know some people had problems before (unrelated to NetWorker but rather st stuff) - not sure how things stand with current version of kernel.

ble1 · Answer

I do have Networker 7.3

Then you don't need to worry about platform. As for kernel, check that with support or presales. Primary now is to get devices being visible to Linux system itself. Once this is done you won't have problems configuring those.

I believe you can communicate with library if you run something like sjirdtag 0.2.0 (0.2.0 was SCSI address of your library accroding to your first post). See if you can commnicate by sending query to the library with this command. If not, then you have two problems - library communication and drive presence.

turrinil · Answer

Thanks Hrvoje and Frank.my HW is AMD64 with LINUX RED-HAT (2.6.9-22.0.2.ELsmp)tape library : HP StorageWorks MSL5026, 2 SDLT drives, 26 slotsone NSR for fibre connectivity Basically, my server is connected to the fibre channel switch that is connected to the tape library and the SAN storage. I'm checking the dmesg and will post the resultscheersLuca

FrankLammers · Answer

Hi turrinil,

you are right, you should see 2 entries for the tapes.
I don't see any tapes in the output you provided.
Have a look at the output of the command 'dmesg' or look in /var/log/messages .
You shoul find something like the output below (e.g.: Qlogic Controller).
...
scsi2 : qla2300
Vendor: EXABYTE Model: Exabyte 110L Rev: 3.6
Type: Medium Changer ANSI SCSI revision: 02
Vendor: IBM Model: ULTRIUM-TD1 Rev: 36U3
Type: Sequential-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
...

This would tell you that the fibre channel controller did recognise the tape (Sequential-Access).
If you don't see any Sequential-Access then probably you zoning is wrong or your FC router is not setup correctly.

When the tapes are recognised /proc/scsi/scsi should look as follows.:
[root@sprinter root]# cat /proc/scsi/scsi
Attached devices:
Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 00 Lun: 00
Vendor: LSILOGIC Model: 1030 IM Rev: 1000
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
Host: scsi0 Channel: 00 Id: 06 Lun: 00
Vendor: SDR Model: GEM318P Rev: 1
Type: Processor ANSI SCSI revision: 02
Host: scsi2 Channel: 00 Id: 00 Lun: 00
Vendor: EXABYTE Model: Exabyte 110L Rev: 3.6
Type: Medium Changer ANSI SCSI revision: 02
Host: scsi2 Channel: 00 Id: 00 Lun: 01
Vendor: IBM Model: ULTRIUM-TD1 Rev: 36U3
Type: Sequential-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02

Maybe you can provide some more details about you HW
My example above is an Exabyte 110L with one LTO drive.
What tape drives models are you using e.g.: lto ?
Are the tapes native fibre channel or connect via the router ?

cheers
Frank

turrinil · Answer

I do have Networker 7.3

ble1 · Answer

You will need 7.3 for amd64. Available packages are:
- Linux (IA-64 64 bit) Client, Server and Storage Node package
- Linux (x86 & IA-32 32-bit) Client, Server and Storage Node package
- Linux (x86, amd64 & em64T 64-bit) Client, Server and Storage Node package

According to compatibility list they are listing only 2.4 kernel, but I heard that 7.3 should have brought support for 2.6 kernel as well. Best thing would be to check this with support or even presales as they can get to this information.

turrinil · Answer

Thanks for the information, I had overlooked this.

my HW is AMD64 but in the documentation I found only i386 and Itanium. Do you know where I can check if AMD64/Red Hat 2.6 is supported? I suppose it isn't if the more common i386 is not.

thanks and regards
Luca

turrinil · Answer

Thanks Hrvoje,

I checked the output of dmesg and I see nothing about the tape drives, I've got entries for the library though.

I run sjirdtag 0.2.0 and the result is : 0.2.0: No such device

... but, I have no stinit.def defined. I've downloaded an example from the legato website but I suppose I need to specify what library / tapes I've got? I'm looking for an example for the SDLT320... I bet you have got one ?! :))

Luca

ble1 · Answer

The first inquire output says you should see this @ 0.2.0

scsidev@0.2.0:COMPAQ MSL5000 Series

As for stinit entry, you must first install st* package to have stinit... and def for SDLT... I have no idea, but google search on "SDLT 320 stinit" will produce many results. One example is by Quantum official docs:
http://downloads.quantum.com/sdlt320/6464215011.pdf

turrinil · Answer

I did some research and I found a possible entry for the stinit.def but I suppose that first of all I need to get the devices recognised by the O/S.

It seems that I need to check the configuration of my NSR e1200-160 that if I understand correctly is the fibre channel interface of my tape library. So I'm also exploring that as well..

thanks again for your input.

Luca

turrinil · Answer

Just to confirm that the NSR configuration was the missing bit here. I can now see the tape devices from my Red-Hat Linux boxes. thanks again for the supportsCiaoLuca

ble1 · Answer

Of course, it might be that you wish to reconfigure existing jukebox to use DDS - in such case delete existing definition of jukebox and devices and run jbconfig again.

turrinil · Answer

Hi,a) I'm performing LAN backups of my servers okb) I'm running it from the backup server. Should I run it from the Storage Node?jbconfigJbconfig is running on host aceback01 (Windows Server 2003 5.2), and is using aceback01 as the NetWorker server. 1) Configure an AlphaStor Library. 2) Configure an Autodetected SCSI Jukebox. 3) Configure an Autodetected NDMP SCSI Jukebox. 4) Configure an SJI Jukebox. 5) Configure an STL Silo. 6) Configure a Microsoft Removable Storage Jukebox.What kind of Jukebox are you configuring? [1] 2Scanning SCSI buses; this may take a while ...All the Jukeboxes that are connected are already configured.No new jukeboxes are found on host aceback01Cheers

NetWorker

storage node linux

Was this post helpful?

Register Now! for Secure Secrets with Kubernetes & DevSecOps - and grab a lab!

Dell Technologies at SpiceWorld 2022