DSS 1.30 FC 4GB Target Mode

[gharding]

I have just upgraded to the latest version of DSS on one of our DSS servers as the readme says it supports the qlogic 4GB crads now in target mode.

I have managed to get the target mode working with a Qlogic 2462 Fibre Card (Dual port) but the performance is very very bad (30MB/s), compared to when we where using a Qlogic 2GB Card 2340 (single port) in target mode on version 1.21 of DSS and where getting a combined speed of 260MB/s.

I have tried different volumes with different blocksizes but this does not make any difference.

Help!! :(

[To-M]

Can you test with latest kernel in Console tools go to Boot Options > Select System Architecture > Single or Multi proc. (TESTING).

Also could you test with the 2GB with 1.30 to see if this performs the same as the 4GB, would be interesting to se if it is the driver or something else. Send the log file in so we can see what is happening (copy your speeds results).

Thanks again for this information.

[gharding]

Hi Todd,

1. I have tried the server in the testing mode as suggested, however in this mode I can not see the FC disks from my servers. However I noticed that in the setup fibre channel it only show one port where it did show two ports in normal mode as it is a dual port card I am testing. I tried a fibre cable in both ports but still could not see the FC disks from my servers.

2. Put the single port 2GB card back in the server, and the disks are available and the average read/write combined tests using iometer is 240MB/s

3. what logs would you like and where must i email them too

Regards

Gavin

[To-M]

Gavin - We just released a newer version of DSS yesterday build 2819. Please test. We have too many request and we just need more time to get to every ones needs. If this does not work send in the log file to support so we can verify this with you. Thanks!

[gharding]

Hi Todd,

Tried the new release still no good with the 4GB card speeds still at 30MB/s. Also I have noticed that the FC Manager groups do not work have to add the disk to the default group to be able to view the disk.

Can you provide me an email address to send the logs too and which ones

Thanks

Gavin

[To-M]

Send the whole log file from the Download button then send them to support@open-e.com using the same description you gave me because there are many files within this log file.

[gharding]

While I have been waiting for the updated release that will hopefully resolve my issues which is believed to be caused by an IRQ conflict in the driver, I have tried this version on a different server (Dell 1950) and this one boots ok with no errors or IRQ confilcts however when I change the fibre channel to be in target mode and restart the networking stops working on the DSS server.

Then I need to do a factory reset on the DSS server :(

[To-M]

Wanted to let you know pre-release is available for 1.32 for USB and Demo-CD. See if you can test this. Thanks for the update!

/In_Engineering_Phase/DSS_v_1_32_b_2839_rel_2007_09_12

[gharding]

Hi Todd,

I have downloaded and tested the test version and it is working :) . The only problem is controlling to access to the FC LUNS by using the WWN Alias and FC groups does not work, we use this in Version 1.21 with 2GB FC support and it is really good for controlling acces to LUNS so hopefully this can be added back in prior to the release so we can implement it ASAP

Performance results:

Combined Read/Write speed using I/O meter of 590 mb/s :D this rocks

Gavin

[To-M]

I know you have to use the "Default Group". I have forward this onto engineering - thanks again for the status!! :D

[gharding]

Hi Todd,

Any news on the update to fix this problem

Thanks

Gavin

[To-M]

We are having a difficult time the driver - we are getting many emails into support about this issue. We all wished that 1.32 was going to fix this issue but it did not.

We are trying to get more 2GB and 4GB cards with different switches to really test with next version.

Gavin you where one of the first to really hit this issue - thanks again for being patient on this matter. You deserve this more then anyone. Thanks and know we are really working on this from all the emails that we are getting.

[gharding]

Hi Todd,

any news on the default group issue, also on the auto failover

Regards
Gavin

[To-M]

Do you have access to test beta version if not let me know (email me) and I will get you access. We will be testing with this version on the group issues. Hopefully we can resolve it soon. Also we will be receiving equipment to run tests (all the FC issues with Qlogic) - but this has cost a great deal of $$. Thanks for being extremely patient on this issue -we really want to have this completed asap as well.

[gharding]

Hi Todd, downloaded the latest engineering testing Version: 1.37.DB00000000.2910 and it still does not work

Gavin:(

[To-M]

Thanks. I will be testing next week with the new Qlogic switches and 2 QLogic 2462 4Gb Fiber Channel Host Bus Adapter PCI Express to see what is happening. We should know more after we start to test.

[Crosscreek]

I'm about to test out FC target myself. Correct me if I'm wrong - 2gb is working for everyone, right?

[gharding]

Thats correct the 2GB works well we have two DSS deployed with fibre and use them for our exchange, sql, progress and virtual servers. Touch wood no problems yet and it has been about 4 months.

Gavin

[kowo]

I'm also testing the FC-Target-Modus with the QLA2462-CK.

Is it working in 2GB modus?

Did you test it with a direct connection or with a FC-switch?

best regards, wolfgang

[gharding]

We have tested direct and using brocade FC switches

The 2GB qlogic 2340 fibre card.

Luns assigned to FC Default Group - works ok
Luns assigned to Custom FC groups - works ok :)

average speed 270MB/s


The 4GB card 2462 fibre card.

Luns assigned to FC Default Group - works ok
Luns assigned to Custom FC groups - does not work :( This is a problem for us and have been waiting a long time to get this resolved

average speed 570Mb/s

Regards

Gavin

[kowo]

hi gavin,

thanks for your quick reply.

I'm using the QLA2462 (PCI-X) in the Open-E Server and the QLE2462 (PCI-E) in the ESX Server (dell pe2950).

My problem is that the open-e system crashes or the fc-connection is lost during accessing the volumes.

open-e shows the error "Disabling IRQ #16"

do you have this errormessage to? did you upgrade the qlogic firmware?

Your performance sounds great, what storage hardware do you use?


best regards, wolfgang

[gharding]

I know there is an issue with FC and esx server there is a forum on this site with other users having a similar issue. The IRQ disable error I have seen with the latest version release but there is a small update that resolves this. Have you tried down loading the latest version that is in development, this may resolve the esx and irq issue

[kowo]

i'm using 1.37 B2910 RC from the "In_Engineering_Phase" subdir.

is the small update you mean included?

[gharding]

I am using the same version and it should be included, it may be worth while contact open-s support as they may have a fix. I am using dell 2950 servers with 2GB cards and all ok and 1950 has the 4GB card in and I have no irq problems

[Crosscreek]

How do I assign a FC target to an alias/WWN?

[gharding]

1. Create a FC volume (this does not need to initialzed)
2. In FC Target Manager, click on the Groups (heading), create a new group
3. In FC Target Manager, click on the WWN Alias (heading), create a alias(the WWN number must be in the format of xx:xx:xx etc...)
4. Go into the FC group you created
5. Add the FC Volume and the WWN Alias
6. you may need to restart your client computer to see the drive.

Please note this works only on the 2GB cards in the DSS at the moment