V/IO server

[Mag0007]

Hi All,

New to VIO on AIX, and doing some researching, have a couple of questions:

Can the VIO server be Linux, and have clients as AIX? vice-versa.

How important is it to have dual VIO servers?

Are there any good docs (with screen shots) installing and configuring VIO for AIX (only). I already seen Linux VIO server, and I am really not that interested in it (

http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/eserver/library/es-aix-vioserver-v2/#logical)

TIA

 

[khalidaaa]

Hi Mag0007

Well, I'm new to VIO as well. I've attended one course in IBM for LPARs and Virtualization.

from my little experience, it's my first time to hear about a Linux VIO!?! All i know is that there is a VIO CD that contains a mksysb backup of the VIO which should be installed on the LPAR that had a VIO feature as shown in the document you attached.

The clients of the VIO could be AIX or Linux

The advantange of having dual VIO is for redundancy. You can use scsi disks from one VIO and take the same number of scsi disks from the second VIO and mirror them! this way, prevents single point of failure in case one VIO got corrupted, you will still have access to your disks.

Today, i'm planning to install my first VIO in the company, though i'm still not getting the idea of virtual ethernet but i hope it gets clearer once i get my hands dirty with installation

I see that i couldn't help you much but i will let you know how my installation goes

Regards,
Khalid

 

[khalidaaa]

View this document Mag,

http://oss.gonicus.de/openpower/index.php/IBM_VIO_Server

Regards,
Khalid

 

[khalidaaa]

Dual VIO Servers

http://techsupport.services.ibm.com...sptiDualVIOServerswp.pdf#search="mktcpip vio"

Regards,
Khalid

 

[Mag0007]

from the looks of it, it seems to be a version of AIX, running and handling resources.

Currenty, at my site we have 2 teams (buid team: that builds the servers; run team: that supports the servers). How much knowledge should the run team have about vio servers when supporting them in a production env?

tia

 

[khalidaaa]

Ok i know what the build team will do, like building the vio server and clients but what the run team will do? are they just system administrators for the clients machines? do they have access to the vio server?

from what you said, if i were supervising those two sections i will send both of them to the same training and i will try to make both of them to the same level. one good thing about that is to eaiser releaf-on-leave and in order to work as a team work then both should understand what the others are doing to speak the same language!

Regards,
Khalid

 

[Mag0007]

Khalid:
thanks for the response.

My responsibility is: maintain the clients (OS + Hardware). If there is a problem with the client, I will be called on.

Is it safe to assume, "if there is a I/O issue, I can call on the build folks to trouble shoot, since I have no knowledge on VIO server? "

tia
p.s
sorry to get so political ( i belong in management)

 

[khalidaaa]

he he (hi management

ok it depends on exactly what's on the clients and how you guys in support involve the "build folks" into the support!

Like if there is an application running on the server and you guys are supporting the application somehow then if something went wrong and the "build folks" came to troubleshoot they will not be able to do so quickly coz they will try first to figure out how the application works instead of pointing to the reason for failure itself!

As i understand from what you said the build team are just maintaining the VIO and creating the clients and then its up to you to tune and install whatever application (and if so whatever databases) on the client. right?

well, yes if you want them to support the system as a first line-aid then it's ok but i don't think that you should depend on them to solve bigger problems unless you involve them with your day-to-day support issues + little training on the clients contents!

I hope i rang a bill about what you are asking

Regards,
Khalid