Create FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard: Additional Instructions for Unix - Regular Disks

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Use the following procedure when creating FlashCopy logical drives on a host running one of the following Unix-based operating systems:

Failure to complete the steps listed may result in an inaccurate point-in-time image of the base logical drive.

For a process overview of the FlashCopy logical drive creation process, refer to Create FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard: Process Overview - Unix.

FlashCopy logical drives may be reused (for frequent or nightly backups), or may be created for one-time usage (speculative change or upgrade testing). For instructions on how to reuse a disabled FlashCopy logical drive, see Reusing FlashCopy Logical Drives.

How to Create a FlashCopy Logical Drive

Before creating a FlashCopy logical drive, the following should be considered:

To create a FlashCopy logical drive, complete the following steps.

1

Start the storage management software.

Result: The Enterprise Management Window is displayed.

2

Launch an Subsystem Management Window using one of the following methods:

  • Select the storage subsystem in either the Device Tree View or the Device Table, then select the Manage Device toolbar button or the Tools >> Manage Device pull-down menu option.
  • Right-click the storage subsystem in the Device Tree View or Device Table, then select Manage Device from the right-mouse pop-up menu.
  • Double-click on a storage subsystem node in the Device Table.
  • Select the storage subsystem in either the Device Tree View or the Device Table, then press Enter.

Result: The Subsystem Management Window is opened in a separate window.

3

Within the Logical View of the Subsystem Management Window, select a standard logical drive and create a FlashCopy logical drive using one of the following methods:

  • Create FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard, accessed using an Subsystem Management Window. For more information, see Creating a FlashCopy Logical Drive Using the FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard.
  • Create a FlashCopy logical drive using either the Script Editor or a command line shell on the host operating system. Type the following command and press Enter:

    create FlashCopyLogicalDrive

    For command reference information on creating a FlashCopy logical drive, refer to "Using the create Command" in the Enterprise Management Window online help.

4

Assign a logical drive-to-LUN mapping between the FlashCopy logical drive and the host that will access the FlashCopy logical drive.

Logical Drive-to-LUN mappings can be defined using one of the following methods:

  • Storage Partitioning Wizard. The Storage Partitioning Wizard helps you to quickly define a single storage partition. It guides you through the major steps required to specify which host will access a logical drive and the associated Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs) . For more information, see Using the Storage Partitioning Wizard.
  • Create a logical drive-to-LUN mapping using either the Script Editor or a command line shell on the host operating system. Type the following command and press Enter:

    create mapping logical drive

    For command reference information on creating a logical drive-to-LUN mapping, see "Using the create Command" in the Enterprise Management Window online help.

5

If supported by the operating system, run the hot_add utility (or operating system-specific utility), or reboot the host where the FlashCopy will be used. This will ensure that the host operating system recognizes the FlashCopy logical drive.

Once logical drives have been created and logical drive-to-LUN mappings have been defined, the hot_add utility is run to ensure that the operating system is aware of the newly created logical drives, without having to reboot the host. For information on which operating systems support the hot_add utility, refer to the Storage Manager Software Installation Guide.

Solaris Operating System-Specific Instructions:

At the host prompt, type the following, then press Enter:

/etc/raid/bin/hot_add

IRIX Operating System-Specific Instructions:

Perform a path scan. At the host prompt, type the following:

scsiha -rp <X> <X> ;ioconfig -f /hw; hinv

where <X> is the scsi controller number, then press Enter.

Once logical drives have been created and logical drive-to-LUN mappings have been defined, this step ensures that the operating system is aware of the newly created logical drives, without having to reboot the host.

6

Run the SMdevices utility to associate the LUN with a host operating system device and to ensure that the FlashCopy logical drive is recognized by the host.

Once logical drives have been created and logical drive-to-LUN mappings have been defined, the SMdevices utility is run to ensure that the logical drive name and the operating system device name (assigned by the operating system) correlate.

7

If the FlashCopy logical drive is being created for immediate use, go to step 8. If the FlashCopy logical drive is being created for use at a later date, disable the FlashCopy logical drive now.

Disable the FlashCopy logical drive using one of the following methods:

  • Select the Logical Drive >> FlashCopy >> Disable pull-down menu option in the Subsystem Management Window. For more information, see Disabling a FlashCopy Logical Drive.
  • Disable a FlashCopy logical drive using either the Script Editor or a command line shell on the host operating system. Type the following command and press Enter:

    disableFlashCopy logical drive

    For command reference information on disabling a FlashCopy logical drive, see "Using the disableFlashCopy Command" in the Enterprise Management Window online help.

Important: If I/O activity to the base logical drive was stopped or data transfer was suspended, resume I/O activity to the base logical drive at this time (or re-enable data transfer).

8

Mount the FlashCopy logical drive to its intended host.

9

Use the FlashCopy logical drive in conjunction with your backup application, for speculative testing, or with another application.

10

Unmount the FlashCopy logical drive.

11

Once the FlashCopy logical drive is no longer required, disable or delete the FlashCopy logical drive.

If you disable the FlashCopy logical drive instead of deleting it, you can retain the FlashCopy logical drive and its associated FlashCopy repository logical drive. Then, when you need to create a different FlashCopy of the same base logical drive, you can re-create the disabled FlashCopy logical drive. This takes less time than creating a new FlashCopy logical drive and will stop any reduction in performance that may occur if the FlashCopy logical drive remains available.

For information on disabling or recreating a FlashCopy, see Disabling a FlashCopy Logical Drive and Re-creating a FlashCopy Logical Drive. For information on deleting a FlashCopy logical drive, see Deleting a Logical Drive.

For command reference information on disabling, recreating, and deleting a FlashCopy logical drive, refer to the Enterprise Management Window online help.

Reusing FlashCopy Logical Drives

Typically, once a FlashCopy logical drive has been created, it is disabled until a new point-in-time image of the same base logical drive is required. To create a new point-in-time image of the same base logical drive, complete the following steps.

Important: All I/O activity to the base logical drive should be stopped at this point (or data transfer suspended). This will ensure that an accurate point-in-time image of the base logical drive is captured.

1

Unmount the base logical drive.

2

In the storage management software, re-create the FlashCopy logical drive using one of the following methods:

  • Select the Logical Drive >> FlashCopy >> Re-create pull-down menu option in the Subsystem Management Window. For more information, see Re-creating a FlashCopy Logical Drive.
  • Re-create a FlashCopy logical drive using either the Script Editor or a command line shell on the host operating system. Type the following command and press Enter:

    recreateFlashCopy logical drive

    For command reference information on re-creating a FlashCopy logical drive, see "Using the recreateFlashCopy Command" in the Enterprise Management Window online help.

3

Remount the base logical drive (to its original host).

4

Mount the FlashCopy logical drive to its intended host.

Important: If I/O activity to the base logical drive was stopped or data transfer was suspended, resume I/O activity to the base logical drive at this time (or re-enable data transfer).

5

Use the FlashCopy logical drive in conjunction with your backup application (or with another application).

6

Unmount the FlashCopy logical drive.

7

Once use of the FlashCopy logical drive is no longer required, disable the FlashCopy logical drive.

If you disable the FlashCopy logical drive instead of deleting it, you can retain the FlashCopy logical drive and its associated FlashCopy repository logical drive. Then, when you need to create a different FlashCopy of the same base logical drive, you can re-create the disabled FlashCopy logical drive. This takes less time than creating a new FlashCopy logical drive and will stop any reduction in performance that may occur if the FlashCopy logical drive remains available.

For more information, see Disabling a FlashCopy Logical Drive and Re-creating a FlashCopy Logical Drive. For command reference information on disabling and re-creating a FlashCopy logical drive, refer to the Enterprise Management Window online help.

Related Topics

Create FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard: Additional Instructions

Learn About Creating FlashCopy Logical Drives

Creating a FlashCopy Logical Drive Using the FlashCopy Wizard