PRIMECLUSTER Global Disk Services Configuration and Administration Guide 4.1 (Solaris(TM) Operating System)
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Appendix G Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

G.2 Environment Configuration

Questions regarding environment configuration are explained.

 

Q: How do I make a backup of a system disk that is managed with GDS?

[A]

For procedures on how to make backups of file systems /(root), /usr and /var, which cannot be unmounted while the system is operating, see "Backing Up and Restoring a System Disk" and "Backing Up and Restoring a System Disk through an Alternative Boot Environment."

 

Q: How do I make a backup of a disk (other than a system disk) that is managed with GDS?

[A]

The backup of GDS's logical volume can be made in the same way as a physical slice. However, make sure you make a backup using the logical volume. For example, do not boot from the CD-ROM and make a backup using the physical slice, since correct data may not be saved.

You can also efficiently create a backup with the mirroring function. For details, see "Snapshot by Slice Detachment" "sdxslice - Slice operations", "Backup" and "Backing Up and Restoring Local Disks and Shared Disks."

By making use of GDS Snapshot proxy volumes, you can also configure backup administration that minimizes operation stop time. For details, see "Proxy Volume," "sdxproxy - Proxy object operations," "Snapshot Creation Using Command," "Backup (by Synchronization)," "Backup (by OPC)" and "Online Backup and Instant Restore through Proxy Volume."

Furthermore, backing up data through a server outside the domain running the service using GDS snapshot shadow volumes can hold the effects on the service to a minimum. For details, see "Shadow Volume" and "Backing Up and Restoring through an External Server."

 

Q: The following message is output on the console after mirroring the system disk with GDS. Is there a problem? What is the resolution method?

/usr/sbin/pmconfig: /etc/power.conf line (30) failed to convert mount

point /dev/sfdsk/System/dsk/root to prom name: Invalid argument

[A]

There is no problem, and no resolution is necessary.

The message says that by mirroring the system disk, the Power Management function and the suspend-resume function provided by the Solaris(TM) Operating System will become unavailable.

Apart from these functions being unavailable, there is no effect.

For details on the Power Management function and the suspend-resume function, and whether the device you are using supports these functions, see the manual provided with Solaris(TM) Operating System.


The Power Management system provided by Solaris(TM) Operating System is different from the automatic power control provided by Enhanced Support Facility (ESF). The above restrictions are unrelated to ESF's automatic power control.

 

Q: I cannot execute the format(1M) command or prtvtoc(1M) on a physical disk managed by GDS (e.g. c0t0d0s0). How can I solve this problem?

[A]

Since access to physical disks is restrained by GDS, you cannot perform this operation.

For details, see "Restraining Access to Physical Special File."

If all you need to do with the commands format(1M) or prtvtoc(1M) is to refer to the disk contents, you may do so by booting from the CD-ROM, and specifying the physical disk. However, you must exercise care since updating the data on the physical disk will damage the mirrored data. For details, see "Booting from a CD-ROM Device."

 

Q: Can I install OS upgrades while system disks are in mirroring configuration through GDS?

[A]

No. Remove the mirrored status and then upgrade the OS.

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