Pillar Axiom 600 Storage System
 

PLA-Support>Sun Systems>DISK>Axiom>SN-DK: Ax600
 

Applies to:

Goal

How to change the hostname on a host running APM.

Solution

APM installs a service (axiompmd daemon) on the host which monitors the status and manages the Control Path connections to an Axiom System.  This monitoring service sends the hostname, which APM discovered, from the host to the Axiom.  The hostname is used as the name of the host entry in the Axiom.  To change the hostname of a SAN host that is running APM, use the following steps.

If you rename a host without going through this process, the LUN mappings to the host will be lost.  When APM connects to Axiom with the new name, Axiom will interpret this as if the HBAs have been transferred to a different host.  If the host was renamed but its entry at the Axiom was not deleted, it will move the ports to a new host entry with the new name and remove the mappings.

Because mappings are logically associated with a host name, it will appear to APM as if the HBAs have been removed from that host.  This is by design, since there are many conflicting requirements with implications to data security.

This process preserves the LUN mappings from the original host name to the renamed host name.

1. Ensure that one of the host initiators is connected to the Axiom. From the GUI, select Configure -> Storage -> SAN -> Hosts.  Under the Host Name locate the host to be renamed and check its status.
   
   

2. Stop the APM service.  Please check related release notes to find the exact procedure to stop APM.  Below are the commands for those familiar with stopping the APM service:

   All Linux Distributions  :  /etc/init.d/axiompmd stop
   AIX                      :  stopsrc –s axiompmd
   Solaris9                 :  /etc/rc2.d/S31axiompmd stop

    

3. Review the existing LUN mappings for the host you are renaming before deleting the host.  From the GUI, select Storage -> SAN -> Host-LUN Mapping to review the LUN mappings to the host you are deleting.
   
   
4. Select Configure -> Storage -> SAN -> Hosts to select the host you want to delete.
   
   
5. Select from menu Actions -> Delete Host and delete the host to be renamed.  When the Delete SAN Host dialog is displayed, make sure the "Delete mappings and initiators" is NOTchecked.  See diagram below:

    

   Select OK to delete the SAN Host.  This would have left the LUNs mapped to the individual HBA ports (rather than to a host), and the mappings would have been kept when the ports were gathered into a new host entry when APM reported in with the new name.  This preserves the associated LUN mappings to the host.

6. From the host operating system, rename the host.
   
   
7. Start the APM service.  It will be automatically started when you reboot the host.  All hosts need to be rebooted when changing its hostname.  After the APM has started, APM logs into the Axiom Pilots and sends a message that includes the new host name.  The Axiom creates an APM host entry with the new host name and transfers the initiators and LUN mappings associated to that host. (These values were preserved when the host was deleted.)
   
   
8. Select Storage -> SAN -> Host-LUN Mapping to verify the LUN mappings are restored to the renamed host.

References

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