How to read the Hardware Compatibility List for Veritas Storage Foundation for Windows
| Article:TECH49820 | | | Created: 2006-01-30 | | | Updated: 2010-01-01 | | | Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH49820 |
Problem
How to read the Hardware Compatibility List for Veritas Storage Foundation for Windows
Solution
To ensure
that a hardware configuration is supported with Storage Foundation for Windows
(SFW) or Storage Foundation HA for Windows (SFW-HA), the following items should
be reviewed:
1. Disk
array, host bus adapter (HBA) and switch models that are being used must be
listed in the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) as being supported.
2. Driver
and firmware versions that are being used must be equal to, or higher, than the
versions that are listed on the HCL.
3.
Third-party multipathing (if present) must be the exact version version listed
on the HCL.
Note:
Both the disk array and the HBA model must support the driver version that is
being used in order for the configuration to be considered supported.
To verify
that the configuration is listed as supported by the HCL, perform the following
steps:
1. From the
Array Model column, locate the disk array.
2. Check
each field in the row that corresponds with the disk array (Figure 1).
Figure 1:
Verify that the disk array configuration is supported
DMP
(Dynamic Multipathing) Mode
This is the
type of Veritas DMP that is supported by this array. Possible values
are:
A/P
(Active/Passive) A/A (Active/Active) AP/C (Active/Passive Concurrent) No DMP
Support
3rd Party
Multipathing
A
multipathing solution that is not written by Veritas, but is supported for this
disk array.
Note: The
versions that are listed in this column are the only versions that are tested
and supported. Earlier, or later, versions should not be assumed to be
supported. This applies only to the "3rd Party Multipathing" field. When using
the supported 3rd party multipathing version, HBA drivers and firmware are
considered to be supported if they are the same version, or later, than the
versions listed as tested.
The next
columns are used to determine the supported drivers and architecture. If an item
is supported, this is indicated by a black dot for that column. If there is no
black dot, the item is not supported.
FC Port
Drivers
FC Port
drivers do not use the Microsoft scsiport.sys or storport.sys drivers.
SCSI
Miniport
SCSI
Miniport drivers use the Microsoft scsiport.sys drivers and are commonly
associated with SCSI-2 environments.
Storport
Miniport
Storport
Miniport drivers use the Microsoft storport.sys drivers and are commonly
associated with SCSI-3 environments. Storport drivers are based on the
Multipathing I/O (MPIO) standard.
DMP ASL
(Array Support Libraries) and DMP DSM (Device Specific Modules)
There are
two types of Veritas DMP:
DMP ASL
(Array Support Libraries): Older multipathing solution that does not support
Storport Miniport drivers. DMP DSM (Device Specific Modules): Newer multipathing
drivers that are based on the MPIO standard.
The
following guidelines should be followed when determining if a Veritas DMP
configuration is supported:
DMP ASL +
SCSI Miniport drivers = Supported
DMP ASL + FC
Port (Fullport) drivers = Supported
DMP ASL +
Storport Miniport drivers = Not supported
DMP DSM
(MPIO) + SCSI Miniport drivers = Not Supported
DMP DSM
(MPIO) + FC Port (Fullport) drivers = Not Supported
DMP DSM
(MPIO) + Storport Miniport drivers = Supported
Note:
Active/Active multipathing in a clustered environment is only supported with
Storport Miniport drivers.
iSCSI
Support
iSCSI allows
the use of SCSI commands over TCP/IP networks.
64-bit
Support
Indicates
whether or not 64-bit architecture is supported. This includes both IA-64 and
x64 architectures.
Notes
This column
Includes additional requirements that are specific to this hardware
item.
3. If all
items related to the disk array appear to be supported, verify that the HBA and
switch model and settings are also supported (Figure 2).
Under the
HBA Model column, locate the row that contains the model of the HBA. Check each
field in the row that corresponds with the HBA.
Figure 2
- Confirm that the HBA settings are supported
HBA
Model
A list of
HBAs that are supported by this version of Storage Foundation for Windows.
Note:
From SFW 5.1 onwards, we have stopped listing the specific HBA models and
driver/firmware versions. Basically, all Fibre Channel and iSCSI HBAs supported
by Operating System and Storage Array Manufacturer's are supported unless
otherwise explicitly stated.
Driver
The Driver
column shows the most recent driver version that has been tested by Symantec.
The version of the driver that is listed on the HCL is the minimum level
supported. Driver versions that are higher than the version listed on the HCL
are considered to be supported. However, they have not been tested by
Symantec.
Firmware
The firmware
column can be interpreted in the same manner as the driver column. However,
firmware is sometimes "dual-listed," meaning that two firmware versions are
listed in the same field. When the firmware has been dual-listed, any version
later than the earliest version listed is considered to be supported.
However, only the versions listed have actually been tested by
Symantec.
Note: Symantec
recommends that customers install a driver and firmware version that is support
by the manufacturer of the hardware in addition to being listed on the SFW HCL.
If a hardware manufacturer recommends installing a driver or firmware version
that is newer than the one listed on the HCL, the newer version should be used
with the understanding that it has not been specifically tested by Symantec. If
Symantec Technical Support has determined through troubleshooting that a problem
is being caused by the newer driver or firmware, they may request that the
version be downgraded to the version that is listed on the HCL.
The next six
columns are a continuation of the FC Port Drivers, SCSI Miniport,
Storport Miniport, iSCSI Support, 64-Bit Support and
MPIO Support columns that were found next to the disk arrays. Ensure that
the items that are supported by the disk array are also supported by the HBA.
Note: Both
the disk array and the HBA must support the driver and architectures that are
being used.
Notes
Includes
additional requirements that are specific to this HBA.
Figure 2:
Verify that the HBA configuration is supported
4. Verify
that both the switch model and firmware are listed (Figure 3). As with the disk
array and HBA, the switch firmware listed is the minimum supported
version.
Figure 3:
Verify that the switch model and firmware are supported
For
example, a sample configuration includes the following:
EMC
Symmetrix DMX Series array Emulex LP11000 HBAs using firmware revision 2.10a7
Emulex Storport miniport driver version 1.11a3 Veritas DMP DSM (MPIO) Brocade
Silkworm 48000 with a firmware version of 4.2.0b
A review of
the HCL revision that is included in the screenshots shows that this
configuration is not supported because Emulex driver version 1.11a3 is older
than the minimum supported version of 1.20a3.
Note: If the
configuration is not listed on the HCL, it may be still considered to be
supported on a "best effort" basis if the configuration is supported by
Microsoft and the hardware manufacturers involved. However, this applies only if
multipathing is not present. If multipathing is present, the Veritas HCL
must be followed.
The
Microsoft HCL can be found at http://www.windowsservercatalog.com
|
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| Value | a286163 |
Legacy ID
286163
Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH49820
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