Storage pool disk management

Important: Create at least one additional storage pool so that the rootvg pool is not the default storage pool.

2.10 Installing and managing the Virtual I/O Server on a JS21

This section discusses the Virtual I/O Server with respect to the JS21 platform.

IVM functions in the same way as on a System p5 server. LPARs are managed identically.

IBM Director is the management choice for a BladeCenter JS21.

2.10.1 Virtual I/O Server image installation from DVD

Virtual I/O Server 1.3.0.0 is shipped as a single DVD media that contains a bootable image of the software. When installing VIOS/IVM from DVD, you must assign the media tray to the desired blade and then mount the VIOS installation media. The remaining steps are similar to a normal AIX 5L operating system installation.

2.10.2 Virtual I/O Server image installation from a NIM server

It is also possible to install the Virtual I/O Server from a NIM server. To perform the VIOS installation via NIM, follow these steps:

1. Install or define an existing server running AIX 5L that can be configured as a NIM server.

2. If your NIM server does not have a DVD drive, get access to a computer with a DVD drive and a network connection. This computer may run an operating system other than the AIX 5L operating system, for example Linux or Windows®.

3. Configure the NIM server.

4. Mount the VIOS installation DVD in the computer and transfer the mksysb and bosinst.data files from the /nimol/ioserver_res directory on the DVD to the NIM server (Example 2-12).

Example 2-12 NIM installation

# mount –oro –vcdrfs /dev/cd0 /mnt

# cp /mnt/nimol/ioserver_res/mksysb /export/vios

# cp /mnt/nimol/ioserver_res/bosinst.data /export/vios

For more information, see Chapter 7 of the IBM BladeCenter JS21: The POWER of Blade Innovation, SG24-7273.

Note: You can also use the installios command or NIM to install the IVM without the HMC. The command will set up the resources and services for the installation. All that is needed is to point the installing machine from the SMS network boot menu (in this case, the IVM) to the server that ran the installios or nim command. The network installation will then proceed as usual.

Note: When using the JS21 in a BladeCenter chassis that does not have a DVD drive in the media tray, the VIOS can be installed through the network from a NIM server or a Linux server.

Chapter 3.

Logical partition creation

The Integrated Virtualization Manager (IVM) provides a unique environment to administer LPAR-capable servers.

This chapter discusses the following topics related to LPAR management using the IVM:

򐂰 LPAR creation, deletion, and update

򐂰 Graphical and command line interfaces

򐂰 Dynamic operations on LPARs

3

3.1 Configure and manage partitions

The IVM provides several ways to configure and manage LPARs:

򐂰 A graphical user interface, designed to be as simple and intuitive as possible,

incorporating partition management, storage management, serviceability, and monitoring capabilities. See 3.2, “IVM graphical user interface” on page 38.

򐂰 A command line interface, to enable scripting capabilities. See 3.3, “IVM command line interface” on page 54.

򐂰 Starting with IVM version 1.3.0.0 there is also a so-called simple partition creation by using the option “Create Based On” in the task area. See 3.2.4, “Create an LPAR based on an existing partition” on page 49.

The following sections explain these methods.

3.2 IVM graphical user interface

The new graphical user interface (GUI) is an HTML-based interface. It enables you to create LPARs on a single managed system, manage the virtual storage and virtual Ethernet on the managed system, and view service information related to the managed system.

3.2.1 Connect to the IVM

Open a Web browser window and connect using the HTTP or HTTPS protocol to the IP address that has been assigned to the IVM during the installation process, as described in 2.6.3, “Initial network setup” on page 31. As a result, a Welcome window that contains the login and the password prompts opens, as shown in Figure 3-1. The default user ID is padmin, and the password you defined at IVM installation time.

Figure 3-1 IVM login page

After the authentication process, log in and the default IVM console window opens, as shown in Figure 3-2 on page 39. The IVM graphical user interface is composed of several elements.

The following elements are the most important:

Navigation area The navigation area displays the tasks that you can access in the work area.

Work area The work area contains information related to the management tasks that you perform using the IVM and to the objects on which you can perform management tasks.

Task area The task area lists the tasks that you can perform for items displayed in the work area. The tasks listed in the task area can change depending on the page that is displayed in the work area, or even depending on the tab that is selected in the work area.

Figure 3-2 IVM console: View/Modify Partitions

3.2.2 Storage pool disk management

During the installation of the VIOS, a default storage pool is created and named rootvg.

During the process of creating the LPAR, the IVM automatically creates virtual disks in the default storage pool. We recommend that you create another storage pool and add virtual disks to it for the LPARs. For advanced configuration of the storage pool, refer to 4.2, “Storage management” on page 76.

Storage pool creation

A storage pool consists of a set of physical disks that can be different types and sizes. You can create multiple storage pools; however, a disk can only be a member of a single storage pool.

Navigation area Task area

Work area

The following steps describe how to create a storage pool:

1. Under the Virtual Storage Management menu in the navigation area, click the Create Virtual Storage link.

2. Click Create Storage Pool in the work area, as shown in Figure 3-3.

Figure 3-3 Create Virtual Storage

Important: All data of a physical volume is erased when you add this volume to a storage pool.

3. Type a name in the Storage pool name field and select the needed disks, as shown in Figure 3-4.

Figure 3-4 Create Virtual Storage: Storage pool name

4. Click OK to create the storage pool. A new storage pool called datapoolvg2 with hdisk2 and hdisk3 has been created.

Default storage pool

The default storage pool created during the IVM installation is rootvg. This is because rootvg is the only volume group created at that time.

Because the IVM is installed in rootvg, when IVM is reinstalled, the rootvg storage pool is overwritten. The default storage pool should also be changed to another one to avoid creating virtual disks within the rootvg by default, thus preventing the loss of user data during an IVM update.

The following steps describe how to change the default storage pool:

1. Under the Virtual Storage Management menu in the navigation area, click View/Modify Virtual Storage.

Important: Create at least one additional storage pool. The rootvg storage pool should not be the default storage pool; this would result in IVM and user data being merged on the same storage devices.

2. Select the storage pool you want as the default, as shown in Figure 3-5.

Figure 3-5 View/Modify Virtual Storage - Storage Pools list

3. Click Assign as default storage pool in the task area.

4. A summary with the current and the next default storage pool opens, as shown in Figure 3-6.

5. Click OK to validate the change. In this example datapoolvg2 will be the new default storage pool.

Figure 3-6 Assign as Default Storage Pool

Virtual disk/logical volume creation

Logical volumes belong to a storage pool and are also known as virtual disks. Logical volumes are used to provide disk space to LPARs but are not assigned to LPARs when you create them.

They can be created in several ways, depending on the menu that is in use:

򐂰 During LPAR creation: A logical volume is created in the default storage pool and assigned to the partition.

򐂰 After or before LPAR creation: A virtual disk is not assigned to any partition and is created in the default storage pool.

The following steps describe how to create a new logical volume:

1. Under the Virtual Storage Management menu in the navigation area, click Create Virtual Storage.

2. Click Create Virtual Disk in the work area.

Figure 3-7 Create Virtual Storage

3. Enter a name for the virtual disk, select a storage pool name from the drop-down list, and add a size for the virtual disk, as shown in Figure 3-8.

4. Click OK to create the virtual disk.

Figure 3-8 Create Virtual Disk: name and size

In order to view your new virtual disk/logical volume and use it, select the View/Modify Virtual Storage link under the Virtual Storage Management menu in the navigation area. The list of available virtual disks is displayed in the work area.