Create FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard: Additional Instructions for HP-UX – LVM Logical Volumes

Use this procedure to create on a running the HP-UX 11.23 or 11.31 operating system using LVM logical volumes. Failure to complete the steps listed might result in an inaccurate point-in-time image of the .

For a process overview of the flashcopy logical drive creation process, refer to the Create FlashCopy Logical Drive Wizard: Process Overview – UNIX with Volume Manager Volumes online help topic.

You might use flashcopy logical drives for frequent backups or nightly backups. You might create flashcopy logical drives for one-time usage, such as speculative change or upgrade testing. For instructions about how to reuse a disabled flashcopy logical drive, refer to the Reusing FlashCopy Logical Drives: Additional Information for HP-UX –LVM Logical Volumes online help topic.

  1. Start the storage management software.
  2. Launch a Subsystem Management Window by selecting the storage subsystem in either the Tree view or the Table view and selecting Tools >> Manage Device .


    Important:

    Stop the host application accessing the base logical drive, and unmount the base logical drive. Unmounting the base logical drive does not apply when the base logical drive is the root disk of the .

    The Subsystem Management Window opens in a separate window.
  3. When creating a flashcopy logical drive based on a mounted file system, always perform a synchronization to flush the file system cache immediately prior to creating a flashcopy logical drive. At the host prompt, type this command, and press Enter:

    sync
    

    All unwritten file system buffers are flushed.
  4. Within the Logical pane of the Logical/Physical tab, select a , and create a flashcopy logical drive by using one of these methods:

    create snapshotVolume
    

    For command reference information about creating a flashcopy logical drive, refer to the online help topics in the Enterprise Management Window.

  5. Assign a between the flashcopy logical drive and the host that will access the flashcopy logical drive. You can define mappings by using one of these methods:

    create mapping volume
    

    For command reference information about creating a mapping, refer to the online help topics in the Enterprise Management Window.

  6. Disable the flashcopy logical drive by using one of these methods:

    disableSnapshot volume
    

    For command reference information about disabling a flashcopy logical drive, refer to the online help topics in the Enterprise Management Window.

  7. At the host prompt, type this command, and press Enter:

    ioscan -fn
    

    A list of the mapped devices recognized by the host appears.


    Note:

    If the required device names do not appear using the above command, at the host prompt, type insf, and press Enter.

  8. Unmount the base logical drive.
  9. In the storage management software, re-create the flashcopy logical drive by using one of these methods:

    recreateSnapshot volume
    

    For command reference information about re-creating a flashcopy logical drive, refer to the online help topics in the Enterprise Management Window.

  10. Remount the base logical drive (to its original host).
  11. 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 start data transfer.
  12. Complete these steps to import the flashcopy logical drives into the Logical Volume Manager.
    1. Create a new directory for the new ; for example:

       mkdir /dev/vg02 
      

    2. Create a group node for the new array; for example:

      mknod /dev/vg02/group c 64 -0x020000
      

    3. Import the flashcopy logical drive LUNs. At the host prompt, type this command, and press Enter:

      vgimport /dev/vg02 snapshot-block-node-1 snapshot-block-node-2 
      

      For example:

      vgimport /dev/vg02 /dev/dsk/c66t0d1 /dev/dsk/c69t0d1
      

    4. Verify the /dev/dsk device files to be the flashcopy logical drive and that they exist using the utility or the HP-UX ioscan utility.

      A warning appears that indicates that a backup of the array being imported might not exist on the host. This message is only a warning and can be ignored. The import continues and completes successfully.

      The backup for this array is created when it is later exported.

    5. Activate the new array; for example:

       vgchange -a y /dev/vg02
      

  13. If a file system existed on the base logical drive, it will also exist on the flashcopy logical drive. However, before the flashcopy logical drive can be mounted, run a file system check to ensure that the file system is consistent; for example:

    fsck /dev/vg02/lvol01
    

  14. Mount the flashcopy logical drive to its intended host.
  15. Use the flashcopy logical drive with your backup application, for speculative testing, or with another application.
  16. Unmount the flashcopy logical drive.
  17. After 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 . 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 action takes less time than creating a new flashcopy logical drive and stops any reduction in performance that might occur if the flashcopy logical drive remains available.

    For information about disabling or re-creating a flashcopy logical drive, refer to the Disabling a FlashCopy Logical Drive online help topic and the Re-creating a FlashCopy Logical Drive online help topic. For information about deleting a flashcopy logical drive, refer to the Deleting a Logical Drive online help topic.

    For command reference information about disabling, re-creating, and deleting a flashcopy logical drive, refer to the online help topics in the Enterprise Management Window.

Related Links: