Debian Linux (on HP) - StorageWorks MSA20 Freezing

StorageWorks MSA20 Freezing

Debian on HP, Linux | Debian on HP (non-HP software, hardware) | Server hardware | StorageWorks MSA20 Freezing

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Topic: StorageWorks MSA20 Freezing (Read 1532 times)

Josh Berry

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StorageWorks MSA20 Freezing

« on: March 17, 2006, 03:08:35 pm »

Hi,

I am using the StorageWorks MSA20 with a ProLient DL360 G4 running Debian (Sarge with 2.4.27-2-386 kernel) and am experiencing a problem where the storage seems to be hanging for no reason.

The storage is not available on the server after this (I am not able to cd into it for example) and looking in /var/log/messages gives the following errors (there are loads of these, this is just a small section):

Mar 16 19:06:50 localhost kernel: cciss: cmd f7e00000 timedout
Mar 16 19:08:50 localhost kernel: cciss: cmd f7e00000 timedout
Mar 16 19:10:50 localhost kernel: cciss: cmd f7e00000 timedout
Mar 16 19:12:49 localhost kernel: cciss: cmd f7e00000 timedout
Mar 16 19:14:49 localhost kernel: cciss: cmd f7e00000 timedout
Mar 16 19:16:49 localhost kernel: cciss: cmd f7e00000 timedout
Mar 16 19:18:49 localhost kernel: cciss: cmd f7e00000 timedout
Mar 16 19:20:48 localhost kernel: cciss: cmd f7e00000 timedout
Mar 16 19:22:48 localhost kernel: cciss: cmd f7e00000 timedout
Mar 16 19:24:48 localhost kernel: cciss: cmd f7e0024c timedout
Mar 16 19:24:48 localhost kernel: cciss: cmd f7e00000 timedout
Mar 16 19:26:48 localhost kernel: cciss: cmd f7e00498 timedout

To resolve the problem I have to reboot the server and powercycle the storage to get it working again.

In case it is relevant, the system is running as a backend storage system which is mounted by frontend servers via NFS. When the problem occurs the NFS mounts are still there but not accessible, and cannot be unmounted as they are busy.

TIA
Josh


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mutombo

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Re: StorageWorks MSA20 Freezing

« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2006, 06:25:22 pm »

interesting problem.
i would like to know how well the msa works with debian.
but i havent used a MSA myself yet.
perhaps you could explain a bit more about your config.
i guess the msa is connected via the external scsi port of the smartarray?
so it would be interesting to know your firmware versions from your server and smartarray.

another pof could be the driver. i dont know if the debian stock kernel has the most recent cciss modul.
perhaps try to build a recent kernel by yourself,
the timeouts look more like a hardware problem, but its worth a try.


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Josh Berry

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Re: StorageWorks MSA20 Freezing

« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2006, 05:53:49 pm »

OK,

The setup is like so ....

As mentioned before, I have a DL360 G4 with a Smart Array 641 Controller in it. This is connected to the MSA20 via the SCSI interface on the card.

The machine is running debian with a 2.4 kernel (I could not get the array to work with a 2.6 kernel) which has had the drivers installed using the howto provided in these forums.

I'm not sure how you get the firmware from the array and server. If you let me know how I'll get the info.

Will have a look at compiling another kernel as well with the updated cciss module as well to see if it helps.

Some more info, the problem does not occur very often, its happened twice in 2 months but as the server is mounted over NFS the whole system locks up. I am also not able to replicate the problem and have not been around during the failures at all.

Thanks
Josh


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mutombo

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Re: StorageWorks MSA20 Freezing

« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2006, 10:41:10 am »

do a

Code:

cat /proc/driver/cciss/cciss0

you'll get the firmware version there.

compare it with the version here:

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/locate/98_6011.html

checking your biosversion too would be a good idea perhaps.

btw it seems your not the only one:

https://www.redhat.com/archives/linux-cluster/2006-March/msg00005.html

perhaps check back with HP too and ask them if they know this error.

some advice there, dont tell them about debian too soon, because some lazy supporters like to get into the "this OS is not supported" scheme.


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Josh Berry

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Re: StorageWorks MSA20 Freezing

« Reply #4 on: March 27, 2006, 06:04:57 pm »

hmmm ... I'm on 2.36 and the current version is 2.58 so I think I'll try upgrading the firmware to that vesion and if I am still having problems I'll contact HP (following your advise about OS obscurity ... I know exactly what you mean).

Once I make some progress I'll let you know how I got on.

Josh


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tom

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Re: StorageWorks MSA20 Freezing

« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2006, 06:37:37 pm »

I have a MSA 20 on an HP DL 380 G4 with Smart Array 6i Controller and Firmware Version 2.26 and Debian Sarge running and have no problems at all with this configuration

TOm


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Debian on HP, Linux | Debian on HP (non-HP software, hardware) | Server hardware | StorageWorks MSA20 Freezing

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