Seagate ST34572WC Specifications download pdf (Page 3)

Abstract

This white paper discusses how to deal with disk failures under the HP-UX Logical Volume Manager (LVM). It is

intended for system administrators or operators who have experience with LVM. It includes strategies for preparing

for disk failure, means for recognizing that a disk has failed, and steps for removing or replacing a failed disk.

Background

Whether managing a workstation or server, your goals include minimizing system downtime and maximizing data

availability. Hardware problems such as disk failures can disrupt those goals. Replacing disks can be a daunting

task, given the variety of hardware features such as hot-swappable disks, and software features such as mirroring

or online disk replacement you can encounter.

LVM provides features to maximize data availability and improve system uptime. This paper explains how you can

use LVM to minimize the impact of disk failures to your system and your data. It addresses the following topics:

• Preparing for Disk Recovery

: what you can do before a disk goes bad. This includes guidelines on logical

volume and volume group organization, software features to install, and other best practices.

• Recognizing a Failing Disk

: how you can tell that a disk is having problems. This covers some of the error

messages related to disk failure you might encounter in the system’s error log, in your electronic mail, or

from LVM commands.

• Confirming Disk Failure

: what you should check to make sure the disk is failing. This includes a simple

three-step approach to validating a disk failure if you do not have online diagnostics.

• Choosing a Course of Action

: what you must know before you either remove or replace the disk. This

includes whether the disk is hot-swappable, what logical volumes are located on the disk, and what

recovery options are available for the data.

• Removing the Disk

: how to remove the disk permanently from your LVM configuration, rather than replace

it.

• Replacing the Disk

: how to replace a failing disk, while minimizing system downtime and data loss. This

section gives a high-level overview of the process and the specifics of each step. The exact procedure

varies, depending on your LVM configuration and what hardware and software features you have

installed, so several disk replacement scenarios are included. The section concludes with a flowchart of

the disk replacement process.

In addition, there are two appendices. The first appendix contains step-by-step procedures for creating a mirror of

your root disk. The second appendix lists some common LVM error messages, what triggers them, and what you

should do to recover from them.

You do not have to wait for a disk failure to begin preparing for failure recovery. This paper can help you be

ready when a failure does occur.

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Seagate ST34572WC Specifications Page 3