EMC PowerPath

for AIX
Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases

Release Notes
P/N 300-005-462
Rev A04

October 22, 2009

These release notes contain information about features, system

requirements, and limitations of PowerPath 5.1 for AIX. The release
notes supplement other PowerPath 5.1 documentation.
◆ Product description...............................................................................2
◆ New features and changes ...................................................................2
◆ Fixed problems ......................................................................................5
◆ Environment and system requirements.............................................6
◆ Known problems and limitations .....................................................13
◆ Technical notes.....................................................................................17
◆ Documentation ....................................................................................20
◆ Software media and organization .....................................................21
◆ Installation ............................................................................................21
◆ Troubleshooting and getting help.....................................................22

1
Product description

Product description
PowerPath® is host-based software that provides:
◆ Automatic failover in the event of hardware failure.
◆ Dynamic multipath load balancing.
Your license type determines the extent of PowerPath functionality
available. If you have questions about your license, contact your
EMC® Customer Support Representative.

New features and changes

This section includes new features and changes in PowerPath 5.1 and
service pack releases.

PowerPath 5.1 SP1 PowerPath 5.1 SP1 adds support for the following new features and
changes:
◆ CLARiiON AX4-5 storage systems.
◆ Version format changes. PowerPath releases use the term service
pack instead of patch (for example, PowerPath 5.1 SP1 instead of
PowerPath 5.1.1 patch). The release version format is:
<Major>.<Minor>.<Service Pack>.<Hot Fix>
Additionally, installed hot fixes appear in the powermt version
output.
The output for PowerPath 5.1 SP1 appears as follows:
EMC powermt for PowerPath (c) Version 5.1 SP 1 (build 10)
◆ Several bug fixes, as described in Table 1 on page 5.

PowerPath 5.1.0 PowerPath 5.1.0 for AIX adds support for the following new features:
◆ CLARiiON FLARE Operating Environment version 03.26,
including support for:
• RAID 6.
• Concurrent host access (from different hosts) to a single
iSCSI/Fibre Channel combo array, as specified in the E-Lab™
Interoperability Navigator.

2 PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes
 New features and changes

Note that different port types (iSCSI and FC) on the same host
may not be connected to the same storage system. This
configuration is not supported.

Note: PowerPath 5.1 and 5.1 SP1 for AIX do not support the Asymmetric
Logical Unit Access (ALUA) failover mode.

◆ Disable host bus adapter (HBA) and port commands:

• powermt disable hba
• powermt display hba_mode
• powermt display port_mode
• powermt enable hba
• powermt set port_disable
◆ powermt path_latency commands:
• powermt display latency
• powermt set path_latency_monitoring
• powermt set latency threshold
◆ iSCSi configurations

Note: iSCSi is not supported with CLARiiON nondisruptive upgrades,

booting from iSCSi devices, clusters, and VIO servers.

! CAUTION
PowerPath supports HP EVA3000/5000 only with VCS 3.x.
Therefore, if you use PowerPath to manage HP EVA3000/EVA5000
devices and you upgrade from VCS3.x to VCS4.x or later, or you
upgrade your EVA3000/EVA5000 to an EVA4000/EVA6000/EVA8000,
PowerPath cannot manage those devices.

Discontinued features
This section includes information about discontinued features in
PowerPath.

EMC HighRoad PowerPath 5.1 does not include intrinsic disk protection for EMC
HighRoad® disks on Symmetrix® storage systems. This is a change
from PowerPath 4.5 and earlier, in which disk protection for
HighRoad disks on Symmetrix systems was included in the

PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes 3
New features and changes

PowerPath software. Effective with HighRoad 4.0, disk protection for

Symmetrix is included in the HighRoad software. If you are using
PowerPath 4.5 or earlier with HighRoad 4.0 or earlier, you do not
need to take any action at this time. In the future if you want to
upgrade to a version of PowerPath later than 4.5 (and you have
HighRoad 3.2 or earlier), you will need to upgrade first to HighRoad
4.0 or later before upgrading PowerPath.

End-of-life announcements
CLARiiON FC4700
As of PowerPath 4.5.0, EMC announced EOL for CLARiiON FC4700
support. Effective with the release of PowerPath 4.5.0 for AIX,
PowerPath will no longer support CLARiiON FC4700 storage
systems.

PowerPath Volume Manager

As of PowerPath 4.4.0 for AIX, EMC announced EOL for PowerPath
Volume Manager (PPVM) functionality for Solaris, AIX, and HP-UX
environments. This is effective with the release of PowerPath 4.4 for
AIX and Solaris, and PowerPath 4.5 for HP-UX.
EMC has also announced EOL for PPVM functionality for Solaris,
AIX, and HP-UX effective March 2006.
Therefore, if you have any data on PPVM volumes, back up that data
and destroy all PPVM volume groups before installing PowerPath
4.4.0 or 4.5.0.

End of service dates and extended support

EMC has a standard software support duration policy which
specifies that a major version will reach End of Service Life (EOSL) a
minimum of 36 months following the General Availability (GA).
EOSL is followed by an Extended Support period during which
customers may elect to pay an additional fee to extend their support
coverage rather than migrate to a current software version.
Once a software product reaches EOSL, EMC Technical Support is no
longer available under base support/maintenance agreements.
Customers interested in uninterrupted support must upgrade to a
current release or contract for Extended Support (ES).
Powerlink contains a list of documents that provide end-of-service
and extended support information for PowerPath and other EMC
software and hardware products. To access these documents on

4 PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes
 Fixed problems

Powerlink, from the Support menu, select Interoperabililty and

Product Lifecycle Information > Release and End of Life Dates.

Note: This policy is in effect for select releases and will be phased in as new
versions are made available. In cases where a software release is not eligible
for Extended Support, the previous policy, which specifies product support
and maintenance under Continuous Coverage Product Maintenance
(CCPM), terms still apply.

Fixed problems
This section lists the fixed problems in PowerPath 5.1 and 5.1 SP1.
You can view the most current fixed problems for PowerPath online
using E-Lab™ Issue Tracker on Powerlink®. “Troubleshooting and
getting help” on page 22 provides additional information on
accessing Issue Tracker.
Table 1 lists the fixed problems in PowerPath 5.1 SP1.

Table 1 Problems fixed in PowerPath 5.1 SP1

Issue Found in Fixed in

number Description version version

246086 When standby HACMP node is started it streams an 5.0.0 5.1.0

SC_DISK_ERR2 error in the sense data.
Related OPT: 283166

262474 Single-SP (or single controller) models of CLARiiON 5.1.0 5.1 SP1
AX-Series storage systems are not supported with
PowerPath 5.1.0.

260730 In a CLARiiON iSCSI configuration, a trespass does not 5.1.0 5.1 SP1
occur when an SP cable is pulled.

263477 Error messages are not logged for some dead path events. 5.1.0 5.1 SP1

PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes 5
Environment and system requirements

Table 2 lists the fixed problems in PowerPath 5.1.0.

Table 2 Problems fixed in PowerPath 5.1.0

Issue Found in Resolved in

number Description version version

250794 After running rmdev -l commands against hdiskpower 5.0.0 5.1.0

devices, followed by the cfgmgr command several times in
succession, hdiskpower devices are no longer in a valid
state. The rmdev command produces the following error:
“Method error (/etc/methods/ucfgpower disk).”

245852 Target Reset not issued when using the varyonvg -bu 5.0.0 5.1.0
command.

Environment and system requirements

PowerPath 5.1 host-based software operates with Symmetrix,
CLARiiON, IBM ESS, Hitachi Lightning, Hitachi TagmaStore,
Invista®, HP StorageWorks xp, and EVA storage systems.
Note that the Important Information About PowerPath SE document
(available on Powerlink) provides information about the PowerPath
version that ships in CLARiiON Utility Kits.

Note: PowerPath 5.1 cannot co-manage devices with third-party path

management software such as Hitachi Dynamic Link Manager (HDLM), IBM
Subsystem Device Driver (SDD), HP StorageWorks Secure Path, or HP
StorageWorks Auto Path XP Virtual Array. It is possible to have these
packages installed on the host alongside PowerPath but you must unmanage
the appropriate device class in PowerPath in order to have devices managed
by these third-party products.

Before you install PowerPath, or whenever you make changes to the

host or storage environment where PowerPath operates, consult the
following resources:
◆ Section titled "Before You Install" in the PowerPath 5.1 for AIX
Installation and Administration Guide.
◆ EMC E-Lab Navigator
◆ EMC Host Connectivity Guide for IBM AIX (CLARiiON and
Symmetrix systems only)
These resources will help you configure an environment in which all
components, including PowerPath, can operate optimally.

6 PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes
 Environment and system requirements

The EMC E-Lab Navigator and the EMC Host Connectivity Guide for
IBM AIX provide the following information:
EMC E-Lab Navigator (all storage systems)—Provides detailed
information about the hardware, software, and networked storage
components that are tested and compatible with both EMC storage
systems and third-party storage systems. (The chapter entitled
"Non-EMC Storage" provides information about third-party storage
systems.) The EMC E-Lab Navigator describes supported host
models, operating system revisions, HBAs, and connectivity devices.
The EMC E-Lab Navigator, which is updated every month, is
published at the Powerlink website:
http://Powerlink.EMC.com
The EMC E-Lab Navigator is available in two formats:
◆ The EMCLink E-Lab Navigator (formerly ESN Builder) link is a
web-based, searchable database configurator.
◆ The PDFs and Guides tab (within E-Lab Navigator) lets you view
support information in Adobe .pdf format.
EMC Host Connectivity Guide for IBM AIX (EMC storage systems
only)—Describes the features and setup procedures for AIX host
interfaces to EMC Symmetrix and CLARiiON systems. Host
connectivity guides are updated quarterly and are published on the
Powerlink website.
Before you install PowerPath, consult the "Before You Install" section
of the PowerPath for AIX installation and administration guide; the
EMC E-Lab Navigator; and, for CLARiiON or Symmetrix systems,
the EMC Host Connectivity Guide for IBM AIX . In addition, since
changing any system component can change the way PowerPath
manages storage paths, you should consult these resources before
you undertake any of the following common system or network
management tasks:
◆ Upgrade or change the host OS, or the HBA. (Refer specifically to
the Application Software chapter for your storage system model.)
◆ Change the model of the system that hosts PowerPath.
◆ Change or replace an HBA type, or adapter cable on the system
that hosts PowerPath.
◆ Change components (for example, switches) of your network
configuration.

PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes 7
Environment and system requirements

◆ Change the storage network zoning or device assignments.

◆ Change the array or storage system connected to the host.
The information in the following sections is accurate at the time of
publication. However, information about qualified hardware and
software is revised and published monthly in the EMC E-Lab
Navigator and quarterly in the EMC Host Connectivity Guide for IBM
AIX.

Note: In the event of discrepancies, information in the EMC E-Lab Navigator

or host connectivity guide for AIX supersedes the information in these
sections.

Host configuration
Table 3 shows the AIX operating systems supported.

Table 3 Operating systems supported in release 5.1 for AIX

Supported operating system Required packages or filesetsa

AIX 6.1 SP3

APAR IZ11722

AIX 5.3 (32 and 64 bit) TL07 SP2

APAR IZ11721, IZ11908

AIX 5.2 (32 and 64 bit) TL10 SP5

APAR IZ11719

VIO server 1.5

a. You can obtain these fixes from the IBM website or your IBM
representative.

Note
If you are booting off a PowerPath device:
◆ You may need to extend the hd5 partition to avoid bosboot
problems, as described in “Extending the hd5 partition” on
page 11.
◆ PowerPath requires either the hardware, firmware, and APARs
specified in “PowerPath boot device requirements” on page 12 or
the workaround described in that section.

8 PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes
 Environment and system requirements

Table 4 shows the minimum free disk space requirements for AIX.

Table 4 AIX: Disk space required

File system or directory Minimum space requirements

/ (root) 5 MB

/usr 40 MB

/tmp 5 MB

Configuring specific ODM attributes

EMC recommends setting certain Object Data Manager (ODM)
attributes to enable enhanced error recovery during certain failover
scenarios. EMC Host Connectivity Guide for IBM AIX, available on
Powerlink, provides more information on ODM attributes in general,
and the Fast Fail feature in particular.
To configure the ODM attributes:
1. For Fibre Channel switched environments only, enable the
adapter driver fast_fail feature as follows:
chdev -l fscsiX -a fc_err_recov=fast_fail -P
2. Reboot the host.

Supported HBAs: PowerPath 5.1 for AIX with third-party storage systems
Consult the EMC E-Lab Navigator for HBA models and driver
versions supported with EMC and third-party storage systems.
Heterogeneous configurations (managing different storage arrays
through a single HBA) have been tested and qualified with all
supported EMC and third-party storage arrays. Note that the HBA
model, driver, and firmware must be supported on each of these
arrays.

Using Cambex HBAs

With PowerPath installed, Cambex PC2000LC HBAs require the AIX
5 FCP driver. This driver can be downloaded from
www.cambex.com. Follow the installation instructions provided for
the driver.

PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes 9
Environment and system requirements

Note: The current link to the driver is

http://www.cambex.com/csupport/aix5/PC1000.fcp5.tar. The current link
to the Cambex driver download page is
http://www.cambex.com/csupport/index.html. Refer to the main Cambex
site (www.cambex.com) if either link has been changed by Cambex.

Before you install the version 2.5.10.x driver, you must install the AIX
EVA platform kit, and then remove the HP-provided driver (HP
StorageWorks Secure Path driver version 1.5.23.0). PowerPath does
not support the HP-provided driver.
Follow this procedure to install the AIX EVA platform kit and remove
the HP-provided driver:
1. Go to HP’s website at http://www.hp.com.
2. Search for IBM AIX EVA 3.0F Platform Kit.
3. Download the aix_v3.tar file and unpack it in a local directory.
4. Run the INSTALL script to install the SP driver and the EVA
device ODM.
5. Locate the HP-provided driver:
lslpp –L PC1000.driver.obj
Note the 1.5.23.0 version of the driver. This is the HP-provided
driver.
6. Remove the HP-provided driver:
installp –u PC1000.driver.obj
7. Install the latest FCP driver (version 2.5.10.x). Follow the
instructions downloaded with the driver.
8. Verify installation of the new driver:
lslpp –L PC1000.driver.obj
Note the 2.5.10.x version of the driver. This is the version required
for PowerPath.
9. Install the Cambex AIX 5 FCP driver. Follow the instructions
provided for the driver.
Upgrading a Cambex driver
To upgrade a Cambex PC1000.driver.obj to the most recent version:
1. Remove the HBA’s devices and any child devices:

10 PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes
 Environment and system requirements

rmdev -Rdl fscsiX

2. Remove the old driver.
3. Install the new driver. Follow the instructions provided with the
driver.

Extending the hd5 partition

For an AIX Bundle Installation or a Full Install, you should extend the
hd5 partition in the following cases:
◆ The system disk is less or equal to 4 GB.
◆ The PP size is less than 8 MB and the number of hd5 PP is equal to
one.
To check the number of PP, enter:
lspv –p hdiskX| grep –i boot
where hdiskX is rootvg.
If there is only one PP, the output is similar to this:
1–1 used outer edge hd5 boot N/A

If you do not extend hd5, some bosboot problems might arise, with
the following message:
0301–161 bosboot: dd failed to copy boot image
0301–165 bosboot: WARNING! System not bootable
The following procedure explains how to extend hd5 from one PP to
two PP. If the bosboot command still fails with two PP, extend hd5
with a new PP, following the same procedure, until the bosboot
command succeeds.
To extend the hd5 partition, enter:
extendlv hd5 1
The two hd5 PP must be contiguous. In the following example, the
two PP are not contiguous:
1–1 used outer edge hd5 boot N/A
13–13 used outer edge hd5 boot N/A
To make the PP contiguous, remove hd5 and create it again using the
following sequence of commands:
rmlv –f hd5
mklv –y hd5 –t boot –u2 rootvg 2 hdiskX
lspv –p hdiskX | grep –i boot
In the following example, the two PP are contiguous:

PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes 11
Environment and system requirements

162–163 used outer middle hd5 boot N/A

After modifying the hd5 partition, run the bosboot command:
bosboot –a –d /dev/ipldevice
PowerPath boot device requirements
Refer to the EMC E-Lab Navigator for boot support requirements.
Troubleshooting
If you install PowerPath on Power4-based server without the
required firmware and APAR, you must uninstall PowerPath from
maintenance mode, and then apply the required fixes.

Storage array configuration

Before you install PowerPath, set up connections between a storage
system and a host. The EMC Host Connectivity Guide for IBM AIX
provides information on setting up connections for Symmetrix and
CLARiiON systems. For information on setting up connections for
third-party storage systems, refer to your vendor’s documentation.
Refer to the EMC E-Lab Navigator on Powerlink for supported EMC
and third-party storage systems and firmware versions.

Symmetrix storage A problem with Symmetrix microcode 5x68 and 5x69 prevents
systems PowerPath for AIX from recovering path state. To avoid this problem:
◆ If you run 5x69 code, apply minimum version 5669.42.19.
◆ If you run 5x68 code, and you have already applied fix 16710, now
apply fix 19491.
Fix 16710 is available by special request only. If you have not
applied 16710, you do not need 19491.
For more information, contact your EMC Customer Support
Representative and reference OPT 136739.
Once a host and Symmetrix system are properly configured, you can
install or upgrade PowerPath. The PowerPath 5.1 for AIX Installation
and Administration Guide provides installation details.

CLARiiON storage PowerPath installation is an integral part of a CLARiiON setup and

systems configuration procedure. If your environment includes CLARiiON
storage systems, refer also to the following manuals:
◆ EMC Host Connectivity Guide for IBM AIX, which provides basic
information about the features and setup procedures for host
interfaces to CLARiiON systems.

12 PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes
 Known problems and limitations

◆ Installation Roadmap for CLARiiON Storage Systems, which

provides instructions for setting up your CLARiiON system with
a supported host and PowerPath software.
◆ CLARiiON AX-Series installation, planning, and troubleshooting
documents, located on the AX support website on EMC.com. For
information on accessing the site, refer to the support
documentation that shipped with your storage system. Refer only
to these documents for prescribed installation information when
using AX-Series storage systems.

Note: CLARiiON customers receive PowerPath with the CLARiiON Utility

Kits that ship with CLARiiON CX- and CX3-series storage systems. This
version of PowerPath, referred to as PowerPath SE, provides basic failover
for single HBA host configurations without the use of a license key. The
Important Information About PowerPath SE document, available on the
Powerlink website, provides additional information on the CLARiiON
configurations supported by PowerPath SE.

Connectivity requirements
The EMC E-Lab Navigator provides information about the
requirements for Fibre Channel and switched fabric configurations
and components that can be used with PowerPath.

Note: Install HBAs, their supporting firmware versions, and other network
components using the manufacturer’s directions and the settings specified in
the EMC E-Lab Navigator. Using incorrect settings can cause erratic failover
behavior or extended response time for system I/O.

Known problems and limitations

This section describes known problems in PowerPath 5.1 for AIX and
in PowerPath for all UNIX platforms. Each table indicates the version
in which the problem was discovered and the version in which the
problem was resolved.
This section covers the following topics:
◆ “Known problems in PowerPath 5.1 for AIX” on page 14
◆ “Limitations on AIX” on page 16

PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes 13
Known problems and limitations

Known problems in PowerPath 5.1 for AIX

Table 5 on page 14 shows problems in PowerPath 5.1 for AIX. You can
view a complete list of known problems for PowerPath online using
E-Lab Issue Tracker on Powerlink. “Troubleshooting and getting
help” on page 22 provides additional information on accessing Issue
Tracker.

Table 5 Known problems in Version 5.1: AIX

Found in Fixed in
Description Workaround version version

277715 Run powermt display ports to see 5.1 —

powermt display paths shows negative ID for HP EVA8000 the correct SSN ID.
devices with PowerPath 5.1 with SFRAC installed on the
host during qualification of RFP#3824937.

273758 None. 5.1 —

On systems running PowerPath for AIX that support Running the powermt
CLARiiON FLARE 26 array, powermt display update lun_names
dev=all does not display the snapshot LUN nicename. command afterward, however,
Related OPT: 268056 updates the LUN names.

269656 5.1 —
PowerPath does not send messages to the AIX log file
when the path latency threshold value is exceeded. (The
latency threshold value is set with the powermt set
path_latency_threshold command. Messages
should appear when the threshold is exceeded.)

235871 Set the threshold to a value within 5.1 —

When you enter a value for the powermt set the acceptable range, which is 0 to
path_latency_threshold command that is 2,147,483,647.
invalid, an error message appears, but the message does
not include the range of acceptable values.

240836, 239297 Upgrade to Veritas 5.0 or ask 4.5.2 —

System boot time doubles when Veritas 4.0 MP3 is Symantec for a Veritas 4.0 patch
installed. that contains the fix.

240996 Run powermt restore. 4.5.1 —

LUN ownership does not restore after rebooting the host.

14 PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes
 Known problems and limitations

Table 5 Known problems in Version 5.1: AIX (continued)

Found in Fixed in
Description Workaround version version

223948 Run powermt load after changing 4.5.1 —

When PowerPath is booted from any array, after changing these settings to ensure the
the policy, priority, write throttle, mode, write throttle queue changes persist across reboots.
depth, or periodic autorestore settings, the configuration
does not persist across reboots.

223719 Reducing I/O load for the AIX host 4.5.1 —

Very rarely an AIX host whose boot disk and paging space before a CLARiiON NDU reduces
reside on a CLARiiON array may experience a hang during the chance of the hang occurring.
a CLARiiON NDU. EMC testing revealed the frequency of If a host hang does occur, reboot
AIX hangs under heavy I/O load was less than 1 in 1000 the host to restore array access.
NDUs.

223532 If you installed PowerPath 4.4 over 4.5.1 —

Installation of PowerPath 4.3 or later over PowerPath 4.5.1 4.5.1, enter:
fails, but the PPVM filesets are installed. EMC announced installp -u
EOL for PPVM with the release of PowerPath 4.4.0 for AIX. EMCpower.ppvm
EMCpower.mobility
EMCpower.vcsagent
The empty filesets are removed.
If you installed PowerPath 4.3 over
PowerPath 4.5.1:
1. Install PowerPath 4.4.0.
2. Enter:
installp -u
EMCpower.ppvm
EMCpower.mobility
EMCpower.vcsagent
The empty filesets are removed.

256084 Press Ctrl-C to stop the script, and 5.1 —

If using PowerPath with AIX 5.3, the pprootdev fix and
emcpassive2active scripts will hang if the PowerPath boot
device (for example, CLARiiON) has trespassed. This is
due to an AIX 5.3 limitation of bosboot, which is spawned
by these two scripts.
then trespass the boot device back
to its default setting. Do not run
bosboot after the script hangs or
before restoring the boot device.

223329 EMC Knowledgebase Solution 4.5.1 —

In a PowerPath environment with AIX 5.1 and a Symmetrix emc72902 provides a more
storage system, a PowerPath boot device, once activated, detailed description and a solution.
may continue to boot from the underlying hdisk rather than
from the pseudo device.

PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes 15
Known problems and limitations

Table 5 Known problems in Version 5.1: AIX (continued)

Found in Fixed in
Description Workaround version version

215001 Restore the devices to their 4.5.0 —

The powermt config command causes some EVA LUNs to previous controller using the
trespass to another controller. powermt restore command.

214601 4.5.0 —
Uninstalling PowerPath from a Veritas Volume Manager 4.0
MP1 setup causes a host crash. Veritas has an eFix that
addresses this issue. You can download the eFix at:
ftp://service.software.ibm.com/aix/efixe
s/thrpgio/IY69539.epkg.Z

212025 Run the pprootdev fix command 4.5.0 —

Cloning a rootvg after you boot from a PowerPath device to set the boot device to be a native
may generate this error message: device, rather than a pseudo
0301-154 bosboot: missing proto file: device. Then, redo the clone.
/usr/lib/boot/network/chrp.hdiskpower.pr
oto

Limitations on AIX ◆ HP StorageWorks EMA and MA arrays are not supported with
AIX.
◆ In rare cases, if the AIX swap device is stored on a CLARiiON
LUN, your system may hang if all paths to the active SP are lost
and the AIX code, required for PowerPath to complete a trespass
operation, is swapped out of memory. If this problem occurs, you
must manually trespass the LUN to the available SP and reboot
the host.
◆ Using the rmdev -dl hdiskpowerX command to unconfigure a
PowerPath pseudo device removes persistent device mapping
information. To avoid this problem, use the command
rmdev -l hdiskpowerX instead.
◆ When a trespass occurs in a CLARiiON environment, a passive
interface becomes the active interface. In this situation, bosboot
will fail unless you transfer the rootvg PVID to the newly active
interface. To do so, run the command
/usr/sbin/emcpassive2active. Once you run the command,
bosboot will succeed.
Run /usr/sbin/emcpassive2active whenever a trespass occurs.

16 PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes
 Technical notes

Note: On AIX 5.3 only, a trespassed CLARiiON boot device will hang if
you run emcpassive2active and pprootdev fix. OPT 256084 in Table 5 on
page 14 provides additional information.

◆ On an AIX 5.2 host attached to a Symmetrix system, the inq

command returns an incorrect Symmetrix ID for native devices
(but not for pseudo devices) after PowerPath is installed. This
may be caused by the IBM ODM driver. As a workaround, install
the EMC ODM driver, which populates the inquiry data page
correctly. To install the driver:
a. FTP to ftp.EMC.com and log in as anonymous, using your
email address as your password.
b. Change to the directory
/pub/elab/aix/ODM_DEFINITIONS/.
c. Get the appropriate compressed tar file containing the EMC
ODM fileset for your system. (EMC E-Lab Navigator can help
you determine the ODM fileset version required for your
system.)
d. Uncompress and untar the file. Then, follow the instructions
in the ReadMe file.
◆ PowerPath 5.1 can coexist with third-party path management
software such as Hitachi Dynamic Link Manager (HDLM), IBM
Subsystem Device Driver (SDD), HP StorageWorks Secure Path or
HP StorageWorks Auto Path XP Virtual Array; however,
PowerPath cannot co-manage devices with third-party path
management software.
The PowerPath 5.1 for AIX Installation and Administration Guide,
available on the Powerlink website, provides more information
on PowerPath’s coexistence with third-party path management
software.

Technical notes
This section includes the following topics:
◆ “powervxvm command” on page 18
◆ “Nondisruptive upgrades in a CLARiiON environment” on
page 18
◆ “HP StorageWorks controller and port names” on page 18

PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes 17
Technical notes

◆ “CLARiiON failover mode in powermt display” on page 18

powervxvm command
With VERITAS Volume Manager version 4.0 and MP1 or later, the
powervxvm command is no longer needed to discover hdiskpower
devices.

Nondisruptive upgrades in a CLARiiON environment

PowerPath 5.1 supports nondisruptive upgrades of CLARiiON
storage system software and the installation of enablers for optional
CLARiiON array software components. PowerPath SE is the version
of PowerPath included in the AIX utility kit for CLARiiON storage
systems.
The EMC Host Connectivity Guide for IBM AIX provides additional
information on nondisruptive upgrades in a CLARiiON
environment.

HP StorageWorks controller and port names

PowerPath identifies controllers A and B exactly as Command View
EVA does. PowerPath port numbers are one digit lower than
Command View EVA port numbers. Names are mapped as shown in
Table 6.

Table 6 HP StorageWorks controller and port names

Command View EVA name PowerPath name

A-1 A-0

A-2 A-1

B-1 B-0

B-2 B-1

CLARiiON failover mode in powermt display

The powermt display dev and powermt display ports commands
include a new field, Array failover mode, which displays the failover
mode setting for CLARiiON arrays. This setting determines the

18 PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes
 Technical notes

failover mode for a server’s HBA ports, and is configured through

the CLARiiON Navisphere software. The Array failover mode field
appears only when PowerPath is managing CLARiiON arrays.
In the following example, the array failover mode field appears in
bold text.
powermt display dev=all class=clariion
Output:
CLARiiON ID=APM00023200776 [Hazard_lclb131_2_4]
Logical device ID=6006017FFD090000E7666B82B7EDD711 [LUN 206]
state=alive; policy=CLAROpt; priority=0; queued-IOs=0
Owner: default=SP B, current=SP B Array failover mode: 1
================================================================================
---------------- Host ------------------ - Stor- -- I/O Path-- ---Stats ------
### HW Path I/O Paths Interf. Mode State Q-IOs Errors
================================================================================
(Output truncated)

Array failover mode values

Table 7 describes failover mode values and their compatibility with
PowerPath. For information about other fields in the powermt
display output, refer to the PowerPath 5.1 Product Guide. For more
information about array failover modes, refer to the CLARiiON
documentation.

Table 7 CLARiiON failover mode settings

Mode Name Support

0 LUN based trespass Not supported with PowerPath.

1 passive not ready (PNR) Supported with all PowerPath platforms.

On AIX, PNR is not recommended with CLARiiON
FLARE Operating Environment versions 02.19 and
later that support PAR.

2 DMP Not supported with PowerPath.

3 passive always ready (PAR) Supported with PowerPath for AIX. PAR is the
recommended failover mode.

Note: PAR is required for CLARiiON NDU.

4 asymmetric logical unit Not supported with PowerPath for AIX at this time.
access (ALUA)

PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes 19
Documentation

Suppressing the failover mode display

To ensure compatibility with existing scripts, you can suppress the
failover mode display. To suppress the display of array failover
mode:
◆ Set the PP_SHOW_ALUA_FAILOVER_MODE environment variable to
false.
The following example uses Bourne shell syntax:
PP_SHOW_ALUA_FAILOVER_MODE=false
export PP_SHOW_ALUA_FAILOVER_MODE

Documentation
Table 8 lists the complete PowerPath 5.1 for AIX documentation set.

Table 8 PowerPath 5.1 for AIX documentation set

Part number Name

300-003-590 EMC PowerPath 5.1 Product Guide

300-005-461 EMC PowerPath 5.1 for AIX Installation and Administration Guide

300-005-462 EMC PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Point Releases Release
Notes

300-003-551 EMC PowerPath Migration Enabler 5.1 User’s Guide

300-003-552 EMC PowerPath Migration Enabler 5.1 Release Notes

Electronic versions of all PowerPath manuals are available on the

Powerlink website: http://Powerlink.EMC.com. These manuals are
updated periodically, and the updated manuals are posted on the
Powerlink website.

Related documentation
If your environment includes Symmetrix storage systems, the EMC
Host Connectivity Guide for IBM AIX, available on the Powerlink
website, provides additional information. If your environment
includes CLARiiON storage systems, the following manuals provide
additional information:
◆ EMC Host Connectivity Guide for IBM AIX

20 PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes
 Software media and organization

◆ Installation Roadmap for CLARiiON Storage Systems E

◆ EMC Navisphere Manager Version 6.X Administrator’s Guide
If your environment includes other vendors’ storage systems, refer to
the appropriate documentation from your vendor.

Software media and organization

This section describes the contents of the PowerPath for AIX software
packages.

PowerPath 5.1 SP1 PowerPath 5.1 SP1 is a full package release, meaning you do not need
to install PowerPath 5.1.0 or an earlier version before installing
PowerPath 5.1 SP1. You can upgrade directly to PowerPath 5.1 SP1
from PowerPath 4.5.x or later. See the PowerPath 5.1 for AIX
Installation and Administration Guide for instructions on installing or
upgrading PowerPath.

PowerPath 5.1.0 The PowerPath 5.1.0 for AIX software is distributed on a CD,
P/N 053-002-000, and on Powerlink.
The PowerPath 5.1 for AIX CD has the following structure:
◆ /UNIX/AIX — Contains all files in the PowerPath package.
◆ /UNIX/AIX/EMCPower.AIX.5.1.0.tar.gz — Compressed tar file
that contains the PowerPath package.

Installation
See the PowerPath 5.1 for AIX Installation and Administration Guide for
complete instructions on installing PowerPath.

For the new user To install PowerPath 5.1 or PowerPath 5.1 SP1, follow the instructions
in the PowerPath 5.1 for AIX Installation and Administration Guide,
available on Powerlink.

Upgrading from a previous revision

To upgrade to PowerPath 5.1 or PowerPath 5.1 SP1, follow the
upgrade instructions in the PowerPath 5.1 for AIX Installation and
Administration Guide, available on Powerlink.

PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes 21
Troubleshooting and getting help

You can upgrade directly from PowerPath 4.5.x or later to PowerPath

5.1. You can also upgrade directly from PowerPath 4.5.x or later to
PowerPath 5.1 SP1.

Upgrading from PowerPath 4.5.x and later

Before upgrading to PowerPath 5.1 from PowerPath 4.5.x and later,
close all applications that use PowerPath devices. If any application
is holding a PowerPath device open, the upgrade will fail.
Note that certain applications such as EMC ControlCenter® agents, or
the Navisphere® agent running on a host attached to a CLARiiON
system, may have PowerPath devices open, and this will cause the
upgrade to fail. It is necessary to vary off all volume groups (except
the root volume group, rootvg).

Files added by installation

Appendix A, "Files Changed by PowerPath Installation," in the
PowerPath 5.1 for AIX Installation and Administration Guide, lists the
files modified or added by PowerPath installation.

Troubleshooting and getting help

EMC support, product, and licensing information can be obtained as
follows.
Product information — For documentation, release notes, software
updates, or for information about EMC products, licensing, and
service, go to the EMC Powerlink website (registration required) at:
http://Powerlink.EMC.com

Technical support — For technical support, go to EMC WebSupport

on Powerlink. To open a case on EMC WebSupport, you must be a
WebSupport customer. Information about your site configuration and
the circumstances under which the problem occurred is required.
Patches and upgrades — You can download PowerPath patch
software from Powerlink. Review the patch Readme files to
determine which patches (if any) you want to install after PowerPath,
and whether those patches have any added prerequisites that must
be met before you install PowerPath. To obtain patches: on

22 PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes
 Troubleshooting and getting help

Powerlink, select Support > Software Downloads and Licensing >

Downloads D-R > PowerPath for UNIX.
EMC Issue Tracker — EMC Issue Tracker is an application that
allows you to search for known problems and defects in EMC
software. To access Issue Tracker, on Powerlink select Support >
Interoperability and Product Lifecycle Information> E-Lab Issue
Tracker Information > E-Lab Issue Tracker. You can use Issue
Tracker to find:
◆ Descriptions of PowerPath bugs existing on any
PowerPath-supported host platform.
◆ Workarounds for existing bugs.
We update this database regularly between scheduled releases and
patch releases.

Reporting a problem
If you find a problem in PowerPath 5.1 , run the emcgrab utility, and
submit the generated tar file, along with any other supporting
material, to EMC Customer Support.
You can download emcgrab from the Powerlink website.
Choose the following links: Support > Product and Diagnostic Tools
> Grab Utilities.

Copyright © 2009 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved.

EMC believes the information in this publication is accurate as of its publication date. The information is
subject to change without notice.

THE INFORMATION IN THIS PUBLICATION IS PROVIDED “AS IS.” EMC CORPORATION MAKES NO
REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION IN
THIS PUBLICATION, AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Use, copying, and distribution of any EMC software described in this publication requires an applicable
software license.

For the most up-to-date listing of EMC product names, see EMC Corporation Trademarks on EMC.com.
All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

PowerPath for AIX Version 5.1 and Service Pack Releases Release Notes 23