Enabling basic path failover
To successfully enable basic path failover, complete the following:
Procedure
1.
Verify that the switch and host prerequisites are met. See
Preparing the switches and hosts for
on page 16.
2.
Verify that the tape drive and library prerequisites are met and then configure failover for your library:
a. Configuring failover for the ESL G3 Tape Libraries
on page 21
b. Configuring failover for the MSL3040 or MSL6480
on page 32
c. Configuring failover for other MSL Tape Libraries
Preparing the switches and hosts for failover
Prerequisites for using basic data and control path failover:
• The library drive FC ports must be attached to a Fibre Channel SAN that supports NPIV and NPIV
must be enabled. LTO-5 and LTO-6 drives need an 8G connection with the fill word set to arb(ff). With
4G connections, set the fill word to idle.
• The switch is running a supported version of software. For a list of supported software, see the
compatibility matrix on the Backup, Recovery and Archive website:
• The drive port FC topology must be in Fabric mode and the switch side must be set to F-port or Auto
Sense.
• The host Fibre Channel port must have a physical path to both the first port and secondary (passive)
port on the Fibre Channel drive.
• For basic data path failover with port zoning, the host Fibre Channel port and both ports on the drive
need to be within the same zone for failover to work.
• For basic data path failover with World Wide Port Name zoning, the host Fibre Channel World Wide
Port Name and a single first port on the drive need to be in the zone.
• For basic control path failover with port zoning the host Fibre Channel ports and the ports on both the
active and secondary drive chosen for basic control path failover will need to be in the same zone.
• For basic control path failover with World Wide Port Name zoning the host Fibre Channel World Wide
Port Name and basic control path failover World Wide Port Name assigned to the library must be in
the same zone. The Library World Wide Port Name is not the same as the World Wide Port Name of
the drive that is hosting the library.
• Hosts connecting to the library may need to be rebooted if the operating system does not support
dynamic device detection.
• Applications on hosts may need to be reconfigured to recognize the new library world wide name.
16
Enabling basic path failover
