OnlySandy

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OnlySandy

63 Posts

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July 20th, 2010 04:00

vmax masking query

Hi Folks ,

                    In V-max Once we create Masking view , devices inside  Storage group get mapped to FA's mentioned in Port Group and also get masked with hba's mentioned in Initiator Group. Just querious in knowing How V-max picks up the Correct HBA-FA combination for masking ??

Does he internally checks the symmask list logins  and according to port logins he pick up the Correct HBA-FA combination. if that is the case then i need to do zoning first and them the masking.

What if i missed the zoning and do the masking first i.e create the Masking View , in that case how he will pick up the correct HBA-FA combination.

Thanks in Advance (as usual).

  • Boom1

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    Posted August 27th, 2010 14:00

    i am using this simple command sometimes.

    symaccess -sid xxxx create view -name abc -wwn xxxx -dirport xx:x devs xxx,xxx

    It will create masking view, storage group,initiator group,portgroup with same name.

    create two masking view for one server.

    I know this is stupid way, but not sure about solution.

    sometimes symaccess looks more complex than symmask.

  • RobertDudley

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    Posted July 20th, 2010 05:00

    When you create the masking view the V-Max is doing all that work for you.  The masking view applies all the changes needed to present the luns you select to that host; mapping and masking.  On the V-max Ihave been configuring I am also using DLA so I dont even have to worry about FA address, each server in the masking view is presented the lun(s) sequentially from an address I specify.

  • AJK3

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    Posted July 20th, 2010 05:00

    In VMAX's, devices are masked on all the HBA and on all FA's. It does not pertain just for a single HBA or FA.

  • dynamox

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    Posted July 20th, 2010 06:00

    Robert,

    correct me if i am wrong but VMAX does DLA by default, i know i did not have to do anything special.

  • AranH1

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    Posted July 20th, 2010 08:00

    Yes you still need to setup your switch zoning first, otherwise the Masking View won't be able to successfully mask the HBAs in the Initiator Group to the devices in the Storage Group through the ports you selected in the Port Group. And yes, you will have to ensure that you zone correctly so that your zoning matches the ports listed in the Port Group.

  • AranH1

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    Posted July 20th, 2010 10:00

    Right the Symm will create the masking entry but that doesn't help if the host is not zoned to the ports in the masking view.

  • Boom1

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    Posted July 20th, 2010 10:00

    we can use one storage group with two masking view.

    create two port and two initiator group and one storage group.

    Now create two making view.

    I am not sure but we can use cascade group option.

    If we add all HBA in one group, VMAX simply mask device on all also map device on all port.

    it does not make any difference zoning is available or not.

    DLA is default.

  • dynamox

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    Posted July 21st, 2010 10:00

    thanks ..good to know for folks using SMC.

  • RobertDudley

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    Posted July 21st, 2010 10:00

    It may be.  When I create a storage group view there is a Dynamic Lun Address button on the bottom left of the window (yes I use SMC) and I always click that to make sure its using the lun numbers I want.

  • beetgj

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    Posted July 27th, 2010 06:00

    just to clarify, a masking view consist of 1 initiator group (all hba's from one host), plus 1 port group (the front end or FA ports  on VMAX where this host connects to) and 1 storage group (symmdevices). An HBA wnn or initiator can belong to only 1 initiator group. You can dynamically add to all 3 groups.. You can create for every host a masking view and name it with the host name. A port group can belong to multiple masking views. When you create the masking view the storage become visible to the host. This is called Autoprovisioning. SYMACCESS is the most important symcli command to remember with Autoprovisioning. Autoprovisioning is a feature supported only on VMAX. Dynamic lun address is enable by default on symcli and SMC meaning it will use the next avaiable lun address. If you want to create the lun address manually then on SMC under the "masking view management" you will click on "set dynamic lun address". Hope this helps