PowerPath for AIX : PowerPath doesn't configure one of the path to a device, resulting in a duplicate PVID

Summary: There can be different reasons for PowerPath not to pick-up a path and the most common reason is a "reserve_policy" mismatch between the hdisk and the pseudo device ... but insuch a case, the pseudo device remains "defined" since PowerPath doesn't know which reserve_policy needs to be applied to the pseudodevice. Here, both the hdiskpower and the leftover hdisk are available, resulting into a duplicate PVID issue (same PVID on the pseudo-device as the one on the leftover hdisk). ...

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Symptoms

DellEMC SW : PowerPath for AIX (any release)

Although there are 2 paths to a devices configured by the OS, PowerPath is missing one of the path. As a result, the PVID remains on the non configured hdisk and on the pseudo device.

e.g,
# powermt display dev=1
Pseudo name=hdiskpower1
Symmetrix ID=00029780XXXX
Logical device ID=00157
Device WWN=6000097000029780XXXX533030313537
state=alive; policy=SymmOpt; queued-IOs=0
==============================================================================
--------------- Host ---------------   - Stor -  -- I/O Path --   -- Stats ---
###  HW Path               I/O Paths    Interf.  Mode     State   Q-IOs Errors
==============================================================================
   5 fscsi6                 hdisk233   FA  2d:08 active   alive      0      0

# lspv
...
hdisk1          00c94fa75919388d                    myvg1 
...
hdiskpower1     00c94fa75919388d                    myvg1

 

 

Cause

A process (which can't be identified) is holding the hdisk, preventing PowerPath from configuring the device.

Resolution

Force the management of the leftover hdisk by PowerPath with a "powermt manage dev=hdiskXX". The "powermt manage" will return "Warning: management of the path hdiskXX will be configured upon reboot", proving that the disk is busy and this is the reason for the issue. Upon reboot, the disk will indeed be under PowerPath control..

Affected Products

PowerPath for AIX
Article Properties
Article Number: 000215028
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 03 Jul 2024
Version:  5
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