Using DDR in a mixed SAN environment under 11iv3

Update Feb 10th 2009: I wrote a script to help manage DDR.

A little-known feature of the HP-UX 11iv3 storage stack is DDR which stands for Device Data Repository. It lets you set "scopes attributes" for the storage driver which apply to specific disk types. As far as I know, there is no whitepaper on this yet, so you have to read the scsimgr(1m) manpage to know about it. In my case, I learned about this feature during a lab in Mannheim (which was worth the trip in itself). The scsimgr whitepaper on docs.hp.com does give out a few bits of info but doesn't show the real deal. I'll try to do this here.

Simply put, creating a scope enables you to use the -N option with scsimgr set_attr and scsimgr get_attr that will let you apply attributes on a set of devices that share common attributes, rather than a specific device.

For example, if you have a server that has EVA disks along with MPT devices, you will probably want to set the SCSI queue length of the EVA devices to something bigger than 8 which is the default. But MPT devices have to remain at 8. Doing this with DDR is easy; simply set a scope attribute that will automatically adjust the queue length only for HSV200 devices.

Here's an example.

First of all, let's define a scope. Start by getting the DDR name that applies to your EVA device:
# scsimgr ddr_name -D /dev/rdisk/disk93 pid
SETTABLE ATTRIBUTE SCOPE
"/escsi/esdisk/0x0/HP /HSV210 "

You can go down further to the bone and even include the revision of your controller:
# scsimgr ddr_name -D /dev/rdisk/disk93 pid
SETTABLE ATTRIBUTE SCOPE
"/escsi/esdisk/0x0/HP /HSV210 /6110"

Once you got your scope, add it to the device data repository - the DDR. You have to do some cut and paste here, as blanks between the quotes are important.
# scsimgr ddr_add \
-N "/escsi/esdisk/0x0/HP /HSV210 "
scsimgr:WARNING: Adding a settable attribute scope may impact system operation if some attribute values are changed at this scope.Do you really want to continue? (y/[n])? y
scsimgr: settable attribute scope '/escsi/esdisk/0x0/HP /HSV210 ' added successfully

Finally, use the -N to scsimgr to set your attribute on the entire scope. In this example, I'll set max_q_depth:
# scsimgr set_attr \
-N "/escsi/esdisk/0x0/HP /HSV210 " -a max_q_depth=32

Don't forget to save it if you want to keep it across reboots:
# scsimgr save_attr \
-N "/escsi/esdisk/0x0/HP /HSV210 " -a max_q_depth=32

And voilà. All your EVA disks, running on an HSV200, now have a queue depth of 32. Furthermore, any new EVA device you present on the server that matches your scope will inherit the new attribute. Does it really work across reboots? I don't know yet, but most probably.

Another example would be to set a specific load balancing policy for MSA devices:
# scsimgr ddr_add \
-N "/escsi/esdisk/0x0/HP /COMPAQ MSA1000 VOLUME"
# scsimgr set_attr \
-N "/escsi/esdisk/0x0/HP /COMPAQ MSA1000 VOLUME" \
-a load_bal_policy=preferred_path
# scsimgr save_attr \
-N "/escsi/esdisk/0x0/HP /COMPAQ MSA1000 VOLUME" \
-a load_bal_policy=preferred_path

Get the picture? DDR is very powerful in mixed SAN environments. With it you don't have to bother about setting attributes for each specific disk.

Have fun.