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Create DR server using mksysb

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Operating Systems AIX Create DR server using mksysb
# 1  
Old 10-27-2008
Create DR server using mksysb
Hello all,

I am familiar with Redhat and have had some experience with AIX, however I have been give system custodian of several AIX servers.

My first task is to create a DR solution for a remote off site server to a local server.

I have done some comparisons and it seems the new DR server is slightly new and differs in hardware slightly.

My main concern at this time is there are only 2 disks in the DR server. disk0 and disk1. The Remote Server has 4 disks disk0-3.

I am assuming this will give me a problem doing a mksysb to the DR server, or is there a way to create the fs on 2 disks?

Many thanks
# 2  
Old 10-28-2008
Should not result in problems. If the original server was mirrored and the target server needs to be unmirrored (because it has only half of the disks) you edit the image data (which is used for the restore process) to remove the information about the mirrors. You would end up with an unmirrored server (that can be mirrored later).
If the FS need to be on dedicated disks you can move LV after installation manually.
If the target VG disks are of different size it was no problem if the disks are bigger and also no problem if the disks are smaller as long as the FS content fits into it. In that case you tell the restore process to shrink the FS size. You can extend the FS later manually.
For information about mksysb details start here: pSeries and AIX Information Center
If the target server needs different drivers you restore the mksysb from a NIM server that will integrate the new drivers smoothly into the restore process so that you end up with a working server.
For information about NIM have a look into the redbook: IBM Redbooks | NIM from A to Z in AIX 5L
# 3  
Old 10-28-2008
Thanks shockneck,

I have been thinking this over the local server is currently setup with 4 x 72GB disks and 2 mirrors. I would like to set the DR server up with the 2 x 146GB disks as a mirror, this will give me a 146GB disk or so. I will then need to restore my Data from mksysb to the mirror and have rootvg and datavg on the same disks.

Do you have any newbie AIX guides?
# 4  
Old 10-28-2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by pobman
I have been thinking this over the local server is currently setup with 4 x 72GB disks and 2 mirrors. I would like to set the DR server up with the 2 x 146GB disks as a mirror, this will give me a 146GB disk or so.
This is possible. The LVM (logical volumen manager) will take care of the differences between 4x72GB and 2x146GB.

Quote:
I will then need to restore my Data from mksysb to the mirror and have rootvg and datavg on the same disks.
I think there is a misunderstanding: a mksysb image is always an image of the rootvg and nothing else. In fact it is some logic to setup up the machine during an initial boot followed by a "savevg rootvg" output, which comprises most of the mksysb image. So, when you restore the mksysb you will have only the rootvg, nothing more. This will include all the settings, users, groups, queues, etc., because all this is stored in rootvg files. But the data stored in filesystems from the datavg won't be included.

Another point is: a disk can only be used by one and exactly one VG. You might want to read this thread for some explanation of Logical Volume Manager concepts. I know, this is far from being complete - i am working on a more thorough introduction, but its far from being presentable.

Quote:
Do you have any newbie AIX guides?
If you have a good knowledge of other UNIX (or UNIX-like) dialects you might want to consult the UNIX rosetta stone.

I hope this helps.

bakunin
# 5  
Old 10-28-2008
Sorry got my self a little confussed, I remember now mksysb is root only.

The post you wrote Bakunin in the link was excellent. Thanks for the link to it.

This means I will have to restore the data to a new vg group ie newvg, am I right in thinking I could create 2 LV's and put the rootvg data fs on one on LV1 and the datavg data fs on LV2?

This mean's my mksysb will only be good for restoring the root fs?, and that none of the partion or disk information within it will be of any use to me?
# 6  
Old 10-28-2008
One more question if I may.

My current lv looks like below:

Code:
/> lspv -l hdisk0
hdisk0:
LV NAME               LPs   PPs   DISTRIBUTION          MOUNT POINT
hd5                   1     1     01..00..00..00..00    N/A
u4lv                  16    16    16..00..00..00..00    /u4_org
hd6                   4     4     01..03..00..00..00    N/A
rbolv                 2     2     00..02..00..00..00    /opt/backup
u1lv                  8     8     00..08..00..00..00    /u1_org
u2lv                  4     4     00..04..00..00..00    /u2_org
u3lv                  16    16    00..16..00..00..00    /u3_org
udalv                 4     4     00..04..00..00..00    /uda_org
hd8                   1     1     00..01..00..00..00    N/A
hd4                   1     1     00..01..00..00..00    /
hd2                   15    15    00..00..15..00..00    /usr
hd9var                3     3     00..00..03..00..00    /var
hd3                   1     1     00..00..01..00..00    /tmp
hd1                   1     1     00..00..01..00..00    /home
hd10opt               1     1     00..00..01..00..00    /opt
/> lspv -l hdisk1
hdisk1:
LV NAME               LPs   PPs   DISTRIBUTION          MOUNT POINT
hd5                   1     1     01..00..00..00..00    N/A
rbolv                 2     2     01..01..00..00..00    /opt/backup
hd3                   1     1     00..01..00..00..00    /tmp
hd9var                3     3     00..03..00..00..00    /var
hd2                   15    15    00..15..00..00..00    /usr
hd6                   4     4     00..04..00..00..00    N/A
hd10opt               1     1     00..01..00..00..00    /opt
hd8                   1     1     00..01..00..00..00    N/A
hd4                   1     1     00..01..00..00..00    /
hd1                   1     1     00..00..01..00..00    /home

/> lsvg -l rootvg
rootvg:
LV NAME             TYPE       LPs   PPs   PVs  LV STATE      MOUNT POINT
hd5                 boot       1     2     2    closed/syncd  N/A
hd6                 paging     4     8     2    open/syncd    N/A
hd8                 jfslog     1     2     2    open/syncd    N/A
hd4                 jfs        1     2     2    open/syncd    /
hd2                 jfs        15    30    2    open/syncd    /usr
hd9var              jfs        3     6     2    open/syncd    /var
hd3                 jfs        1     2     2    open/syncd    /tmp
hd1                 jfs        1     2     2    open/syncd    /home
u1lv                jfs        8     8     1    closed/syncd  /u1_org
u2lv                jfs        4     4     1    closed/syncd  /u2_org
u3lv                jfs        16    16    1    closed/syncd  /u3_org
u4lv                jfs        16    16    1    closed/syncd  /u4_org
udalv               jfs        4     4     1    closed/syncd  /uda_org
hd10opt             jfs        1     2     2    open/syncd    /opt
rbolv               jfs        2     4     2    open/syncd    /opt/backup

/> lsvg -l datavg
datavg:
LV NAME             TYPE       LPs   PPs   PVs  LV STATE      MOUNT POINT
loglv00             jfslog     1     2     2    open/stale    N/A
lv00                jfs        8     16    2    open/stale    /u1
lv01                jfs        4     8     2    open/stale    /u2
lv02                jfs        16    32    2    open/stale    /u3
lv03                jfs        16    32    2    open/stale    /u4
lv04                jfs        4     8     2    open/stale    /uda

It seems on / the directories /u{1-4}_org are only on one pv?
Also they are showing as closed/syncd can someone explain if this is a problem as everything seems ok.
On vg datavg the mount points are showing as open/stale? Again is this a problem?

Thanks
Last edited by pobman; 10-28-2008 at 09:52 PM..
# 7  
Old 10-30-2008
Any one got any suggestions on the above post?

Quote:
It seems on / the directories /u{1-4}_org are only on one pv?
Also they are showing as closed/syncd can someone explain if this is a problem as everything seems ok.
On vg datavg the mount points are showing as open/stale? Again is this a problem?
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