12    Using the Visual Administrator (dxlsm)

This chapter describes how to use the Visual Administrator to manage LSM disk configurations.

12.1    Starting the Visual Administrator

To start the LSM Visual Administrator, you must be logged into an account that has superuser privileges.

Enter the dxlsm command as follows:

#  dxlsm

The system displays the following message in a pop up window:

dxlsm is coming up, please wait.

When dxlsm comes up, it displays the main LSM Visual Administrator window, called the root window, and the "View of rootdg" window. These windows are described in Section 10.3.

12.2    Disk Operations

The following sections describe the basic disk operations you can perform using the Visual Administrator. When managing disks, it is important that you recognize the difference between a device name and a disk name. Refer to Section 1.6.2 for more information about how LSM disks are named.

12.2.1    Initializing a Disk

Whenever you add a new disk, you must identify it to the system. This is also called initializing the disk. The system software cannot make use of the physical disk device without a software pointer to that disk. In order for LSM to be able to control a disk, that disk must also be identified to LSM.

To initialize a disk using dxlsm, follow these steps:

1. In the View of Disks window, select

   Basic-Ops -> Disk Operations -> Add Disks

2. In the Add Disks Form that displays, fill in the following fields:

   Field	Description
   New device name	Enter the new physical device name in rznp form. The name must be unique within the disk group.
   Disk group	Enter the name of the disk group to which this disk is to be added. This field is optional.

3. Click the MB1 button on the Apply button, or press Return.

If the operation is successful, a new physical disk icon containing a partition icon appears in the View of Disks window. If a disk group was specified, a new LSM disk icon appears in the view window corresponding to the chosen disk group.

If the fstype in the disk label of the specified partition or an overlapping partition is set, LSM displays a warning message to inform you that initializing the disk might destroy existing data.

If you are sure that the disk partition has no valid data and that the partition can be added to LSM, you can use the Execute with Force option to override the warning message. See Section 11.8.4 for instructions on using this option.

If the disk cannot be initialized because the specified partition or an overlapping partition on the disk is open (that is, a partition is actively in use by UFS, AdvFS, LSM or swap), the initialization process fails and dxlsm exits with an error message informing you of the problem.

12.2.2    Displaying Disk Information

Before you use a disk, you should confirm that it has been initialized. With the Visual Administrator, physical disk icons containing partition icons appear in the View of Disks window. Those disks that are under LSM control contain partition icons that are colored or patterned. The LSM disks corresponding to colored or patterned partition icons are displayed in the window for the disk group to which they belong. Disk groups are represented visually as disk group views rather than icons. The "View of rootdg" window contains icons representing all LSM disks that exist within the rootdg disk group.

To see the disk information displayed in the View of Disks window, click MB1 on the Disks button in the Visual Administrator window. A View of Disks window appears (see Figure 12-1).

Figure 12-1: View of Disks

The Visual Administrator allows you to see detailed information about a particular LSM disk in a properties form.

To display disk configuration information for a particular LSM disk, in the "View of rootdg" window (or appropriate disk group view), click MB3 on the disk icon whose properties you are viewing. The disk's properties form appears, displaying detailed information about the disk.

It is possible to alter certain characteristics of the LSM disk (such as its name) via its properties form by editing the appropriate properties form field and then clicking MB1 on Apply.

12.2.3    Adding a Disk to a Disk Group

Disks are added to and grouped in disk groups for ease of administration.

To add another disk to an existing disk group, do the following:

1. In the View of Disks window, click MB1 on the partition icon representing the disk you want to add to a disk group.

2. Choose

   Advanced-Ops -> Disk Groups -> Add Disk

3. When the Add Disk Form appears, either leave rootdg as the default name in the Disk group field or enter the name of another existing disk group.

4. Enter the disk media name or leave the default name.

5. Click the MB1 button on Apply.

   If you look at the view window for the group you specified, you see that the new disk has been added to that disk group.

Note

You cannot put a disk in more than one disk group. If you attempt to do so, LSM returns an error message.

12.2.4    Renaming a Disk

Disks might be named according to their purpose (for example docs0), their owner (for example smith02), or their work group (for example pubs01). However, it is not necessary to give the disks special names (names such as disk01 suffice). If the owner or purpose of the disk changes, you might want to change the disk name to reflect the change of ownership or use.

To rename a disk, do the following:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or the appropriate disk group view), click MB3 on the icon representing the disk to be renamed. This accesses the LSM disk properties form corresponding to that disk.

2. Enter the new disk name in the Logical Storage Manager disk name field in the properties form.

3. Click MB1 on Apply to change the disk name.

12.2.5    Initializing a New Disk Group

A disk group consists of one or more disks that share a common configuration. Disks are grouped together in disk groups for ease of administration.

To create a disk group, perform the following steps:

1. In the View of Disks window, select a disk by selecting the desired partition icon. This disk cannot already belong to a disk group.

2. Choose

   Advanced-Ops -> Disk Groups -> Initialize

3. In the Disk Group Initialize Form, fill in the Disk group field with the name you have chosen for the disk group.

4. Click MB1 on Apply to execute the initialize command.

12.2.6    Deporting a Disk Group

When a disk group is deported, access to that disk group is disabled. Disk groups may be deported if you intend to move or reuse the disks that are currently in the disk group.

To deport a disk group, do the following:

1. In the view of the disk group to be deported, choose:

   Advanced-Ops -> Disk Group -> Deport Disk Group

   In the Deport Disk Group Form, enter the name of the disk group to be deported.

2. Click MB1 on Apply to deport the disk group.

The deported disk group's view disappears.

12.2.7    Importing a Disk Group

Importing a disk group enables access to a deported disk group. The disk group to be imported must have been deported at one time and at least one disk that belonged to this disk group before it was deported must remain unused.

To import a disk group, do the following:

1. In any view window, select:

   Advanced-Ops -> Disk Group -> Import Disk Group

   In the Import Disk Group Form, enter the name of the disk group to be imported.

2. Click the MB1 button on Apply to import the disk group.

The view button for the disk group that has been imported appears in the Visual Administrator root window.

12.2.8    Displaying Disk Group Information

With the Visual Administrator, disk groups are represented by view windows rather than icons. A view for each disk group that exists is accessible through a button in the Logical Storage Manager Visual Administrator root window.

To view the objects belonging to a particular disk group, click MB1 on the appropriate disk group button in the Logical Storage Manager Visual Administrator root window. The view window for the desired disk group appears, displaying an icon for each object that belongs in that disk group.

12.2.9    Displaying Free Space

Before you add volumes and file systems to your system, you may want to make sure you have enough free disk space to adequately meet your needs. LSM lets you request a display of free space.

To display the free space on a disk, in the "View of rootdg" window (or the appropriate disk group view), click MB3 on the desired LSM disk. The properties form for the selected disk appears. The last field in this window shows the maximum free space available on that particular disk. Confirm that the amount of free space is sufficient.

12.2.10    Removing a Disk

The disk hardware is removable and can be moved between systems to where it is needed the most. However, before removing the disk from the current system, you must remove the software connections the disk has with the system. First you must remove the disk from its disk group, then you can remove the disk.

To remove a disk from a disk group, do the following:

1. In the disk group view to which the disk belongs, select the LSM disk you want to remove by clicking MB1 on its icon.

2. Choose

   Advanced-Ops -> Disk Group -> Remove Disks

The disk icon disappears from its disk group view.

To remove a disk that no longer belongs to a disk group, do the following:

1. In the View of Disks window, select the disk you want to remove by clicking MB2 on all partitions in the disk.

2. Choose

   Advanced-Ops -> Disk -> Remove Disks

Note

LSM does not allow you to remove the last disk in a disk group. To remove the last disk from a disk group, deport that disk group first, then reuse the disk.

12.2.11    Replacing a Disk in Place

If a disk fails, you need to replace that disk with another. It is possible to replace a disk without disrupting the system; this is referred to as replacing a disk in place. It requires disabling and removing the failed disk and installing a new disk in its place.

To replace a disk in place, perform the following steps:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or the appropriate disk group view), click MB1 on the failed disk.

2. Select

   Basic-Ops -> Disk Operations -> Replace Disks

3. In the Replace Disks Form, enter the name of the replacement disk in the New physical disk name field.

4. Click the MB1 button on Apply to complete the replacement form.

12.3    Volume Operations

A volume is a virtual disk on which file systems or databases can be placed. This section describes the volume operations available with the Visual Administrator.

12.3.1    Creating a Simple Volume

To create a simple concatenated volume, perform the following steps:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or the appropriate disk group view), select

   Basic-Ops -> Volume Operations -> Create -> Simple

2. In the Simple Volume/FS Create Form ( Figure 12-2), either enter a name for the new volume or allow LSM to choose a default name (which appears in the Volume name field).

3. Enter a value in the Volume size field. If no unit is specified, sectors are assumed.

4. Select the Usage type. The default is fsgen. Use gen if you do not plan to create a file system on the volume.

5. Click the MB1 button on Apply to initialize the simple volume.

Figure 12-2 shows an example of this form.

Figure 12-2: Simple Volume/FS Create Form

Note

Because a file system is not created by default with this operation, the file system fields in the Simple Volume/FS Create Form are greyed out.

12.3.2    Creating a Striped Volume

A striped volume is one whose plex consists of a number of equal-sized subdisks, each located on a separate disk. Striped volumes provide faster average response time.

To create a striped volume, perform the following steps:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or the appropriate disk group view), select:

   Basic-Ops -> Volume Operations -> Create -> Striped

2. In the Striped Volume/FS Create Form ( Figure 12-3), either enter a name for the new volume or allow LSM to choose a default name (which appears in the Volume name field).

3. Enter a value in the Volume size field. If no unit is specified, sectors are assumed.

4. Select the Usage type. The default is fsgen. Use gen if you do not plan to create a file system on the volume.

5. Choose the number of stripes (which is equal to the number of disks on which the volume is to be created).

6. Choose the stripe width or let LSM use the default value.

7. Click the MB1 button on Apply to initialize the striped volume.

Figure 12-3 shows an example of this form.

Figure 12-3: Striped Volume/FS Create Form

Note

Because a file system is not created by default with this operation, the file system fields in the Striped Volume/FS Create Form are greyed out.

12.3.3    Creating a Volume on a Specific Disk

LSM automatically selects the disk or disks each volume will reside on, unless you specify otherwise. If you want a volume to reside on a specific disk, you must designate the disk for LSM.

To create a simple volume on a specific disk, do the following:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or the appropriate disk group view), click MB1 on the desired LSM disk icon.

2. Choose

   Basic-Ops -> Volume Operations -> Create -> Simple

3. In the Simple Volume/FS Create Form either enter a name for the new volume or allow LSM to choose a default name (which appears in the Volume name field).

4. Enter a value in the Volume size field. If no unit is specified, sectors are assumed.

5. Choose the Usage type. fsgen is the default. Use gen if you do not plan to create a file system on the volume.

6. Click the MB1 button on Apply to initialize the simple volume.

12.3.4    Displaying Volume Information

At times, you may want to see how a volume is configured. The Visual Administrator allows you to view detailed information about a particular volume in a volume properties form.

To display volume configuration information for a particular volume, in the "View of rootdg" window (or appropriate disk group view), click MB3 on the volume icon whose properties are to be viewed. The volume's properties form appears, displaying detailed information about the volume (see Figure 12-4).

It is possible to alter certain characteristics of the volume (such as its name) via its properties form by editing the appropriate properties form field and then clicking MB1 on Apply.

Figure 12-4: Volume Properties Form

12.3.5    Mirroring a Volume

A mirror is a copy of a volume. The mirror copy is not stored on the same disk as the original copy of the volume. Mirroring a volume assures you that the data in that volume will not be lost if one of your disk fails.

To mirror a volume, perform the following procedures:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or appropriate disk group view), select the volume you want to mirror.

2. Choose

   Basic-Ops -> Volume Operations -> Add Mirror

3. At this point, indicate whether a simple or striped plex is to be created by selecting either Simple or Striped, respectively.

An additional plex appears within the volume icon's borders.

12.3.6    Extending a Volume

If the volume is not large enough for the amount of data that needs to be stored in it, you need to extend the volume's length.

To extend a volume, follow these steps:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or appropriate disk group view), select the volume you want to extend.

2. Choose

   Basic-Ops -> Volume Operations -> Resize

3. In the Volume Resize Form that appears ( Figure 12-5), select either Grow To or Grow By in the Option field.

4. If you selected Grow To in the Option field, enter the new size of the volume in the Size/Amount field. If you selected Grow By, enter the amount by which you want the volume to grow.

5. Click the MB1 button on Apply to execute the extend command.

Notes

You cannot extend a striped volume.

To prevent accidental destruction of file systems, the extend operation will fail if a volume is open when you perform the operation. To override the failure, use the Execute menu to reissue the volassist command with an added -f force option.

Figure 12-5: Volume Resize Form

12.3.7    Shrinking a Volume

If you find that your volume is much larger than you really need it to be, you can shrink the volume's size. However, be aware that shrinking a volume containing data (perhaps in the form of a file system or database) can result in the loss of any data residing on the part of the volume that is removed.

To shrink a volume, complete the following operations:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or the appropriate disk group view), select the volume you want to shrink.

2. Choose

   Basic-Ops -> Volume Operations -> Resize

3. In the Volume Resize Form that appears, select either Shrink To or Shrink By in the Option field.

4. If you selected Shrink To in the Option field, enter the new size of the volume in the Size/Amount field. If you selected Shrink By, enter the amount by which you want the volume to shrink.

5. Click the MB1 button on Apply to execute the shrink command.

Notes

You cannot shrink a striped volume.

To prevent accidental destruction of file systems, the shrink operation will fail if a volume is open when you perform the operation. To override the failure, use the Execute menu to reissue the volassist command with an added -f force option.

12.3.8    Removing a Volume

Once a volume is no longer necessary (it is inactive and archived, for example), you can remove the volume and free up the disk space for other use. It is possible to remove a volume recursively, which automatically takes care of removing its associated plexes and freeing up its associated subdisks.

To remove a volume recursively, do the following:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or appropriate disk group view), select the volume you want to remove.

2. Choose

   Basic-Ops -> Volume Operations -> Remove Volumes Recursively

3. If the volume is enabled, a dialog box containing a warning message appears to inform you that removing an enabled volume may destroy valuable data. Selecting the Cancel button abandons the removal, while selecting OK activates the removal despite the warning.

   Click the MB1 button on the OK button to remove the volume and its components.

12.3.9    Backing Up a Volume

It is very important to make back up copies of your volumes. This provides a copy of the data as it stands at the time of the backup. Backup copies are used to restore volumes lost due to disk failure, or data destroyed due to human error.

To back up a volume, perform the following steps:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or appropriate disk group view), select the volume you want to back up.

2. Choose

   Basic-Ops -> Volume Operations -> Snapshot -> Snapstart

3. The new plex that appears in the selected volume is greyed out until it is completely updated. At this point, you may want to notify users of the upcoming snapshot and ask them to save files and temporarily reduce activity.

   Note

   For UFS volumes, Digital recommends that you unmount the file system briefly to ensure the snapshot data on disk is consistent and complete.

   For volumes used in AdvFS domains, Digital recommends the use of an AdvFS backup method such as cloning.

4. Choose

   Basic-Ops -> Volume Operations -> Snapshot -> Snapshot

5. In the Snapshot Form that appears, either accept the default snapshot name that LSM supplies, or change the Snapshot Name field to the name of your choice.

6. Click the MB1 button on Apply to complete the backup snapshot. A new, snapshot volume appears ( Figure 12-6). Normal usage of the original volume can now resume.

7. Backup the snapshot volume to tape.

8. Remove the snapshot volume (which now takes up unnecessary space) by selecting the snapshot volume and then selecting the following:

   Basic-Ops -> Volume Operations -> Remove Volumes Recursively

Figure 12-6: Volume and Snapshot

12.4    File System Operations

This section describes the file system management operations available with the Visual Administrator.

12.4.1    Creating a File System

With the Visual Administrator, a file system can be created on an underlying volume through a single operation. The layout of the volume on which the file system is created can be simple or striped.

12.4.1.1    Simple Volume

To create a file system on a simple concatenated volume, perform the following steps:

1. In the View of rootdg (or appropriate disk group view), select

   Basic-Ops -> UFS Operations -> Create -> Simple

   This creates a new volume on which a new file system is created.

2. In the Simple Volume/FS Create Form ( Figure 12-2), choose either a volume name for the new volume or allow LSM to choose a default name (which appears in the Volume name field).

3. Enter the desired volume size in the Volume size field. If no unit is specified, sectors are assumed.

4. Enter the Usage type . The default is fsgen.

5. Confirm that Yes is already selected in the Create file system field.

6. Choose a file system type. The default is ufs.

7. Choose Yes in the Mount file system field in order to mount the file system.

8. Enter the mount point for the new file system in the Mount point field.

9. Choose Yes in the Mount automatically field. This causes the file system to be added to the /etc/fstab file and be mounted every time the system comes up.

10. Click the MB1 button on Apply to create and mount the file system.

Figure 12-7 shows an example of this form.

Figure 12-7: Simple Volume/FS Create Form

The mount point appears below the volume icon containing the mounted file system.

12.4.1.2    Striped Volume

To create a file system on a striped volume, perform the following steps:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or appropriate disk group view), select:

   Basic-Ops -> UFS Operations -> Create -> Striped

2. In the Striped Volume/FS Create Form ( Figure 12-8) either choose a volume name for the new file system or allow LSM to choose a default name (which appears in the Volume name field).

3. Enter the desired volume size in the Volume size field. If no unit is specified, sectors are assumed.

4. Enter the Usage type, the default is fsgen.

5. Enter the number of stripes to be created in the Number of Stripes field. This is equal to the number of disks on which the volume is to be created.

6. Enter the width of the stripes the volume will have in the Stripe width field. The default is 128 sectors.

7. Confirm that Yes is already selected in the Create file system field.

8. Choose a file system type. The default is ufs.

9. Choose Yes in the Mount file system field in order to mount the file system.

10. Enter the mount point for the new file system in the Mount point field.

11. Choose Yes in the Mount automatically field. This causes the file system to be mounted every time the system comes up.

12. Click the MB1 button on Apply to create and mount the file system.

Figure 12-8 shows an example of this form.

Figure 12-8: Striped Volume/FS Create Form

The mount point appears below the volume icon containing the mounted file system.

12.4.2    Mirroring a File System

A mirror is a copy of a volume. The mirror copy is not stored on the same disk as the original copy of the volume. Mirroring a volume containing a file system assures you that the data in that file system will not be lost if one of your disks fails.

To create a mirrored file system, perform the following steps:

1. Create a file system on a simple or striped volume, as described previously.

2. In the "View of rootdg" window (or the appropriate disk group view), select the volume containing the file system to be mirrored.

3. Choose

   Basic-Ops -> Volume Operations -> Add Mirror

4. Choose a simple or striped plex layout by selecting Simple or Striped, respectively.

12.4.3    Making a File System

With the Visual Administrator, making a file system differs from creating a file system in that a file system is made on a volume that already exists. File systems can be created and placed on existing volumes, one file system per volume.

To make a file system, perform the following steps:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or appropriate disk group view), select the volume icon on which to make the file system.

2. Choose

   Basic-Ops -> UFS Operations -> Make File System

3. In the Make File System Form, the name of the device on which the file system is to be made is displayed. This corresponds to the selected volume name and cannot be changed. The File system size field indicates the length of the file system to be made. This should correspond to the volume length, although it can be altered in special circumstances.

4. Choose a file system type. The default is ufs.

5. Choose Yes in the Mount file system field.

6. Enter the mount point for the new file system in the Mount point field.

7. Type Yes in the Mount automatically field. This causes the file system to be added to the /etc/fstab file and be mounted every time the system comes up.

8. Click the MB1 button on Apply to make the file system.

12.4.4    Mounting a File System

A file system may exist on a volume, without being mounted.

To mount a file system, do the following:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or appropriate disk group view), select the volume icon containing the valid, unmounted file system. (If a mount point is displayed below the volume icon, then that volume already contains a mounted file system.)

2. Choose

   Basic-Ops -> UFS Operations -> Mount

3. The Mount File System Form displays, containing the Device name field. This field displays the device on which to mount the file system. This corresponds to the volume you chose and you cannot change it.

4. Choose a file system type. The default is ufs.

5. Enter the mount point for the file system in the Mount point field.

6. Choose Yes in the Mount automatically field. This causes the file system to be mounted every time the system comes up.

7. Click the MB1 button on Apply to mount the file system.

When the file system is mounted, the mount point appears below the volume icon.

12.4.5    Unmounting a File System

A file system may be unmounted when it is no longer needed.

To unmount a file system, do the following:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or appropriate disk group view), select the volume whose file system you want to unmount.

2. Choose

   Basic-Ops -> UFS Operations -> Unmount

12.4.6    Displaying a Mounted File System

With the Visual Administrator, it is possible to view the properties of mounted file systems.

To display a file system's properties, do the following:

1. In the "View of rootdg" window (or appropriate disk group view), select the volume whose file system properties are to be displayed.

2. Choose

   Basic-Ops -> UFS Operations -> Display Properties

3. The File System Properties Form appears and displays detailed information about the file system mounted on the selected volume. You can select different mounted file systems from a menu box displayed in the upper left corner of this form.

12.5    Quitting dxlsm

To close a Visual Administrator window, select the following from the menu bar of that window:

File -> Close

To end a dxlsm session completely, select the following from the menu bar area of any window.

File -> Exit

A dialog box displays confirming that the dxlsm session is to be closed completely.