NSS Mirroring with NWCS Setting it up

Prerequisites NetWare 5.1 installed on all servers –Upgrade to SP1 –Or use International version All servers connected to SAN SAN Storage –Create one or more drive arrays –Always reserve 10MB free space for SBD partition

1. Assign Server ID’s to all nodes To assign server ID –Edit AUTOEXEC.NCF on each server –Add the following new lines before NSS loads mm assign server id= scan for new partitions on FFFFFFFF –ensures all partition information is reset – 16 byte ASCII variable Must be unique for all servers Suggested naming convention –use ClusterNode1, ClusterNode2, ClusterNode3…. –OR use the servers name

2. Create Virtual Device Partitions At one server ONLY Load NWCONFIG –Select Storage Array #1 Create Virtual Drive Partition #1 –Select Storage Array #2 Create Virtual Drive Partition #2 (same size as #1) –Mirror together and allow to sync, if necessary –Repeat procedure is other arrays require mirroring Quit NWCONFIG

3. Label Virtual Disk Partitions Use same server in Step 2. –Assumes only one mirrored partition being setup System Console –:vrdev /list partitions –Note down the two Partition ID values One Partition ID shown per Virtual Disk Partition –Label each partition with the same name :mm assign partition label =

3. Label Virtual Disk Partitions (cont..) Example: –Using vrdev /list partitions shows that: Partition ID #1 = 0xD and Partition ID #2 = 0x10 –Suggestion Name the Partition the same as the NSS volume name –Even though the NSS volume has not been created yet Example: –mm assign partition label 0xD=nssmirror –mm assign partition label 0x10=nssmirror –Use “vrdev /list partitions again to check partition name has been assigned

4. Create NSS Volume NWCONFIG (on server in Step 2.) –Assign NSS ownership to the Virtual Partition Which is mirrored (so only one entry seen) –Create a single storage group –Create a single volume for the storage group Name this volume “NSSMIRROR” (example) Edit AUTOEXEC.NCF on all servers –NSS /AutoDeactivateVol=ALL must be after ‘mm assign…’ and ‘scan for…’ commands in Step 1.

5. Add VRDEV to all servers Check all server’s Add “LOAD VRDEV.NLM” –To startup.ncf –Last line, after HAM driver load statements Restart all servers

6. Install NetWare Cluster Services NO change in the install procedure. After installation –make sure all servers join cluster –load ConsoleOne at Client convert “nssmirror” volume to become a cluster resource

7. Update LOAD script (“nssmirror”) Modify the LOAD script as follows: –Items in red are the additions vrdev /ASSIGN OWNER=nssmirror nss /activate=NSSMIRROR mount NSSMIRROR VOLID=254 trustmig NSSMIRROR watch NUDP ADD _NSSMIRROR_SERVER add secondary ipaddress

8. Update UNLOAD script Modify the UNLOAD script as follows: –Items in red are the additions del secondary ipaddress NUDP DEL _NSSMIRROR_SERVER trustmig NSSMIRROR unwatch dismount NSSMIRROR /force nss /forcedeactivate=NSSMIRROR vrdev /RELEASE OWNER=nssmirror

9. Test Procedure Bring Cluster Volume resource on-line –Check that volume mounts on server –Check Mirror status should be 100% Migrate volume to another server –Check that volume mounts –Check Mirror status should be still 100%