IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i: Preparation (Volume 1 of 4)

IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i: Preparation (Volume 1 of 4)

by David Granum, Edward Grygierczyk, Sabine Jordan, Peter Mayhew, David Painter
Released May 2016
Publisher(s): IBM Redbooks
ISBN: 9780738441702

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Book description

IBM® PowerHA® SystemMirror® for i is the IBM high-availability (HA), disk-based clustering solution for the IBM i operating system. When PowerHA for i is combined with IBM i clustering technology, it delivers a complete HA and disaster-recovery (DR) solution for business applications that are running in an IBM i environment. You can use PowerHA for i to support HA capabilities with either native disk storage, IBM DS8000® storage servers, or IBM Storwize® storage servers.

This IBM Redbooks® publication gives a broad understanding of PowerHA for i and provides a general introduction to clustering technology, independent auxiliary storage pools (IASPs), PowerHA SystemMirror products, and the PowerHA architecture.

This book is part of a four-book volume set that gives you a complete understanding of PowerHA for i and its use of native disk storage, IBM DS8000 storage servers, or IBM Storwize storage servers. The following IBM Redbooks publications are part of this PowerHA for i volume set:

  • IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i: Using DS8000, SG24-8403

  • IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i: Using IBM Storwize, SG24-8402.

  • IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i: Using Geographic Mirroring, SG24-8401


    • Important: The information that is presented in this volume set is for technical consultants, technical support staff, IT architects, and IT specialists who are responsible for providing HA and support for IBM i solutions. If you are new to HA, first review the information that is presented in this book to get a general understanding of clustering technology, IASPs, and the PowerHA architecture. You can then select the appropriate follow-on book based on the storage solutions that you are planning to use.

    Table of contents

    1. Front cover
    2. Notices
      1. Trademarks
    3. IBM Redbooks promotions
    4. Preface
      1. Authors
      2. Now you can become a published author, too!
      3. Comments welcome
      4. Stay connected to IBM Redbooks
    5. Chapter 1. Introduction to IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i
      1. 1.1 IBM i business continuity solutions
        1. 1.1.1 IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i solutions
        2. 1.1.2 IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i availability capabilities
      2. 1.2 PowerHA solution considerations
    6. Chapter 2. Independent auxiliary storage pools (IASPs)
      1. 2.1 IASP technology
        1. 2.1.1 Namespace
        2. 2.1.2 Relational database directory
        3. 2.1.3 SQL Connections
        4. 2.1.4 Object creation
        5. 2.1.5 System-wide statement cache (SWSC)
      2. 2.2 Creating an IASP
      3. 2.3 Moving applications to an IASP
        1. 2.3.1 Object considerations
        2. 2.3.2 Accessing objects in an IASP
        3. 2.3.3 Considerations for specific environments
        4. 2.3.4 Steps for application migration
      4. 2.4 After you move your application to the IASP
        1. 2.4.1 Starting and stopping your applications
      5. 2.5 Journaling
        1. 2.5.1 Journal performance impact
        2. 2.5.2 Journal management effort
      6. 2.6 Reducing IASP vary-on times
        1. 2.6.1 Keeping as few database files in SYSBAS as possible
        2. 2.6.2 Synchronizing UIDs/GIDs
        3. 2.6.3 Access path rebuild
        4. 2.6.4 System-managed access-path protection
    7. Chapter 3. IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i architecture
      1. 3.1 Cluster
        1. 3.1.1 Cluster nodes
        2. 3.1.2 Advanced node failure detection
      2. 3.2 Device domain
      3. 3.3 Cluster resource group
        1. 3.3.1 Recovery domain
        2. 3.3.2 CRG exit programs
      4. 3.4 IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i technologies
        1. 3.4.1 Host-based replication (geographic mirroring)
        2. 3.4.2 Storage-based replication
        3. 3.4.3 Cluster administrative domain
      5. 3.5 ASP copy descriptions
        1. 3.5.1 ASP sessions
      6. 3.6 Licensing for IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i
        1. 3.6.1 Licensing considerations
        2. 3.6.2 License considerations with Live Partition Mobility
    8. Chapter 4. Creating the cluster framework
      1. 4.1 Gathering information for your cluster configuration
      2. 4.2 Creating a cluster and adding cluster nodes
        1. 4.2.1 Prerequisites
        2. 4.2.2 Creating a cluster
      3. 4.3 Configuring advanced node failure detection
        1. 4.3.1 Setting up the IBM i partitions
        2. 4.3.2 Managed by an HMC
        3. 4.3.3 Managed by a VIOS
        4. 4.3.4 Installing a certificate on the IBM i partition
        5. 4.3.5 Adding monitors to the cluster nodes
        6. 4.3.6 Multiple HMC or VIOS environments
      4. 4.4 Completing the cluster configuration
      5. 4.5 Verifying requirements for PowerHA
    9. Chapter 5. Choosing a replication solution
      1. 5.1 Establishing your business needs
        1. 5.1.1 Recovery point objective and recovery time objective
        2. 5.1.2 Cost of downtime
        3. 5.1.3 IASP or a full system solution
      2. 5.2 Synchronous solutions
        1. 5.2.1 Synchronous geographic mirroring
        2. 5.2.2 LUN-based switching
        3. 5.2.3 Metro Mirror
        4. 5.2.4 HyperSwap
      3. 5.3 Asynchronous solutions
        1. 5.3.1 Asynchronous geographic mirroring
        2. 5.3.2 Global Mirror
      4. 5.4 Three-site solutions
        1. 5.4.1 LUN switching + Metro Mirror or Global Mirror (IASP)
        2. 5.4.2 Metro Mirror + Metro Mirror
        3. 5.4.3 Metro Mirror + Global Mirror
      5. 5.5 Backup window reduction solutions
        1. 5.5.1 FlashCopy
      6. 5.6 Where do you go next
    10. Chapter 6. Troubleshooting and collecting data for problem determination
      1. 6.1 Maintaining current PTF levels
        1. 6.1.1 Creating a fix strategy
        2. 6.1.2 PowerHA group PTF and recommended fixes
      2. 6.2 Using QMGTOOLS for diagnostic data collection
        1. 6.2.1 Downloading and installing QMGTOOLS
        2. 6.2.2 Verifying the build date of QMGTOOLS
        3. 6.2.3 Comparing system PowerHA PTFs with available PowerHA PTFs
        4. 6.2.4 Collecting diagnostic data with QMGTOOLS
        5. 6.2.5 Development of QMGTOOLS
      3. 6.3 Methods for troubleshooting
        1. 6.3.1 Ensuring that job descriptions have appropriate logging levels
        2. 6.3.2 Using the command-line interface when you re-create problems
      4. 6.4 Troubleshooting common cluster architecture
        1. 6.4.1 Cluster node does not start
        2. 6.4.2 Cluster node does not end
        3. 6.4.3 Cluster node in partition status
        4. 6.4.4 Cluster node in unknown status
        5. 6.4.5 IASP cannot be varied on on the current production system
        6. 6.4.6 Unexpectedly long vary-on time for IASP after the failover
        7. 6.4.7 MREs in cluster admin domain with an inconsistent global status
        8. 6.4.8 RMVCADMRE fails to remove monitored resource entry
        9. 6.4.9 User profile MRE in cluster admin domain with a failed status
        10. 6.4.10 Cannot access PowerHA graphical user interface
        11. 6.4.11 Checking the PowerHA status by using the PowerHA GUI
      5. 6.5 Troubleshooting PowerHA in a DS8000 environment
        1. 6.5.1 Using DSCLI to access the DS8000 systems from IBM i
        2. 6.5.2 Diagnostic data for troubleshooting PowerHA in a DS8000 environment
        3. 6.5.3 Diagnostic data for troubleshooting PowerHA in a DS8000 environment by using ICSM or FSCSM
        4. 6.5.4 CMUC00201E: Authentication failure
        5. 6.5.5 CMUN00018E: Unable to connect to the management console server
        6. 6.5.6 Check Peer-to-Peer Remote Copy (CHKPPRC) by using ICSM fails
        7. 6.5.7 ICSM status codes
        8. 6.5.8 Contacting IBM Support
      6. 6.6 Troubleshooting PowerHA in a Storwize environment
        1. 6.6.1 Checking Storwize Copy Services status
        2. 6.6.2 Diagnostic data for troubleshooting PowerHA in a Storwize environment
        3. 6.6.3 Gathering diagnostic data for an ICSM or FSCSM Storwize environment
        4. 6.6.4 Problems with DSPSVCSSN hanging or not responding
        5. 6.6.5 CHGSVCSSN OPTION(*RESUME) fails
        6. 6.6.6 Contacting IBM Support
      7. 6.7 Troubleshooting PowerHA in a geographic mirroring environment
        1. 6.7.1 Problems with DSPASPSSN hanging or not responding
        2. 6.7.2 CHGCRG for RCYDMNACN(*CHGCUR) fails
        3. 6.7.3 Dual production role scenario
        4. 6.7.4 CHGASPSSN OPTION(*RESUME) fails
        5. 6.7.5 Common return codes when you manage geographic mirroring
        6. 6.7.6 Contacting IBM Support
    11. Appendix A. PowerHA Tools for IBM i
      1. PowerHA Tools for IBM i
      2. IBM Lab Services Offerings for PowerHA for IBM i
    12. Appendix B. IBM Live Partition Mobility
      1. Why LPM
      2. LPM requirements
      3. How LPM works
    13. Appendix C. IBM Power Enterprise Pools
      1. IBM Power Enterprise Pools overview
      2. Power Enterprise Pools prerequisites
    14. Appendix D. Power Systems Capacity BackUp
      1. CBU prerequisites
      2. License considerations for CBU
      3. CBU setup options
    15. Appendix E. Worksheet to configure the cluster framework
      1. Worksheet for configuring the cluster framework
    16. Appendix F. Solutions that are hosted by IBM i
      1. Using IBM i hosting in a PowerHA environment to perform full system replication
    17. Related publications
      1. IBM Redbooks
      2. Other publications
      3. Online resources
      4. Help from IBM
    18. Back cover

    Product information

    • Title: IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i: Preparation (Volume 1 of 4)
    • Author(s): David Granum, Edward Grygierczyk, Sabine Jordan, Peter Mayhew, David Painter
    • Release date: May 2016
    • Publisher(s): IBM Redbooks
    • ISBN: 9780738441702