How to Add New Storage Disk Devices to Solaris[TM] Without Performing a Reconfiguration Boot

Asset ID:	1-71-1011735.1
Update Date:	2011-05-30
Keywords:

Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 1011735.1 : How to Add New Storage Disk Devices to Solaris[TM] Without Performing a Reconfiguration Boot

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Related Categories


GCS>Sun Microsystems>Storage - Disk>Modular Disk - Other

PreviouslyPublishedAs
216092

Applies to:

Sun Storage 3310 Array
Sun Storage 3320 SCSI Array
Sun Storage 3510 FC Array
Sun Storage 3511 SATA Array
Sun Storage 3910 Array
All Platforms

Goal

This document describes how to add storage devices without performing a reconfiguration boot (boot -r).

Solution

It is important to note that not all storage can be added hot, so use discretion when adding new hardware.

As a general rule, use the following guidelines:

Copper SCSI devices are not hot plug, with the exception of devices that use SCA-2 connectors to attach to the SCSI bus.
Fibre Channel devices are hot plug.

For Copper SCSI devices, there are quite a few more exceptions to the above rule. Consult the documentation for the device in question to answer this. Also, note the distinction between the hot-plug capability of devices in an enclosure and the hot-plug capability of the enclosure itself:

if the drives use SCA-2 connectors, they are hot-plug. The enclosure itself will likely use a VHCI, HD68 or HD50 SCSI cable, which is not designed with hot-plug in mind, so the enclosure itself is not hot-plug.
Choosing to hot-plug devices that are not capable can lead to a variety of errors: from a simple hung SCSI bus (cleared by a reboot) to electrically induced damage of host bus adaptors and/or devices. Especially newer, faster ultra3scsi host bus adapters and devices are a lot more sensitive to electrical damage. Additionally, your host may hang during attachment, requiring a boot cycle to initialize the bus.

This document describes general procedures for adding hardware while the system is up, but cannot take into account every possible hardware device or scenario. When in doubt, power down the host before adding your device!

General Procedure for Adding Storage in Solaris[TM]

1- Attach the disk or array to the host.

2- Power on the disk or array if applicable

3- Check, using the format command, to verify that the storage isn't already seen after a minute or two of being powered on. The devfsadmd daemon will be running in the background and constantly checking for the presence of new hardware, so often times the device will be found right away. This would be the expected behavior in a SAN environment for example.

If format does not see the device, and the device is directly attached Copper SCSI, run: devfsadm -c disk, and recheck format.
If format does not see the device, and the device is a directly attached Fibre Channel SCSI, run: luxadm insert_device and follow the prompts. Then re-check format.
If format does not see the device, and the device is a SAN attached Fibre Channel SCSI, <Document 1009557.1> Troubleshooting Fibre Channel Devices from the OS.
If format does not see the device, and the device is a SAN attached iSCSI device, <Document 1004038.1> Host sees the iSCSI Target but fails to recognize the LUN.
If format sees the device, you are complete.

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