UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi,

I've been asked to setup disk multipathing (not IP multipathing) I have searched the internet and found limited documents, I have found one
http://dlc.sun.com/pdf/819-0139-12/819-0139-12.pdf but I am struggling to understand it.

Does anyone have any links I can use that will tell me how to setup disk multipathing?

Or even tell me what disk multipathing is? Is it similiar to disk mirroring?

Any help would be appreciated. I don't even know where to start...

Thank you

---------- Post updated at 04:27 AM ---------- Previous update was at 04:26 AM ----------

Also not sure if disk multipathing has another name as cannot find alot for it on the internet?

Disk multipathing is mostly used in SANs but you could have SCSI disks subsystems that are aware of (HDS, CLARIION etc...).
It means having a secondary access to the same disks so you have 2 paths (or more.. but has less sence...) to your LUNs normally one is primary the other is used in case of failover but you have software/drivers that allow simultaneous access to both (load balancing/ and increased performance). So you need at a minimum two HBAs or two extra SCSI controllers...

In your PDF (which is a very good source by the way), start with Chapter 2, then read Ch3, then Ch4. Go through the examples on your system. Make copies of all files you edit before you edit them. Take your time you'll get through it. Then once your done, go back and read Ch1.

HTH