T10000 - AIX Host Bus Adapter Configuration For T10k A/B/C Drives

Asset ID:	1-71-2135655.1
Update Date:	2018-01-03
Keywords:

Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 2135655.1 : T10000 - AIX Host Bus Adapter Configuration For T10k A/B/C Drives

Applies to:

Sun StorageTek T10000A Tape Drive - Version All Versions and later
Sun StorageTek T10000B Tape Drive - Version All Versions and later
StorageTek T10000C Tape Drive - Version All Versions and later
StorageTek T10000D Tape Drive - Version All Versions and later
Information in this document applies to any platform.

Goal

Is there any recommended setting for parameters "dyntrk" and "fc_err_recov" for T10000 drives.

The current settings for the AIX Lpars (PowerVM) HBA on which the T10000 drive are attached are listed below:

$ lsattr -El fscsi4
attach switch How this adapter is CONNECTED False
dyntrk yes Dynamic Tracking of FC Devices True
fc_err_recov fast_fail FC Fabric Event Error RECOVERY Policy True
scsi_id 0x21eac1 Adapter SCSI ID False
sw_fc_class 3 FC Class for Fabric True

Solution

Refer to the information supplied by the IBM Knowledge Center:

Fast I/O Failure for Fibre Channel devices:
https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/ssw_aix_71/com.ibm.aix.performance/fast_io_failure.htm

Fast I/O Failure is useful in situations where multi-pathing software is used. Setting the fc_err_recov attribute to fast_fail can decrease the I/O fail times because of link loss between the storage device and switch. This would support faster fail-over to alternate paths.
In single-path configurations, especially configurations with a single path to a paging device, the delayed_fail default setting is recommended.

Dynamic Tracking of Fibre Channel Devices:
https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/ssw_aix_72/com.ibm.aix.kernextc/dynamictracking.htm

The STK tape device using the standard AIX® device driver also supports dynamic tracking provided the STK fileset contains the necessary sn_location and node_name attributes.
Devices configured with the Other FC SCSI Tape messages do not support dynamic tracking.

Answer:
Given the T10000 tape drives using the standard AIX® device driver (STK Fileset) does not support multi-pathing the default recommended setting "delayed_fail," for Fast I/O Failure is recommended.
AIX (STK Fileset) device drivers for T10000 are available on tape support. https://tapesupport.us.oracle.com/Procedures/drivers.php
Dynamic Tracking is supported with our T10000 drives provided the STK fileset attributes listed from the lsattr -El rmt(x) contains the device serial number and WWnode_name information.
T10000 drives configured as Other FC SCSI Tape (without the AIX STK fileset /driver) do not support dynamic tracking.

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