Tape recovery for Itanium-based systems

To boot from tape on an Itanium-based system you must first create a tape boot option on the EFI Boot Manager menu. Verify that your Itanium-based system has firmware support for tape boot. If there is firmware that supports tape boot available for your system, you may first need to upgrade your firmware to make this functionality available. A set of tables showing minimum firmware revisions and SCSI HBAs that support tape boot is available in the Ignite-UX Installation Booting white paper available at

http://www.hp.com/go/ignite-ux-docs.

The first version of Ignite-UX to support native tape boot for Itanium-based systems is C.6.8. Recovery tapes created before that version of Ignite-UX can only be used with two-step recovery. See “Tape recovery with no tape boot support — two-step media recovery” (page 217) for more information on two-step recovery.

The screens shown in this example are from an HP Integrity rx1620 system. Other systems may vary in method and screen format. For information on how to configure boot devices for your system, consult your system’s hardware documentation.

IMPORTANT: Configuring an EFI menu option for tape boot requires downtime since it can only be done from the EFI Boot Manager. If you are going to use tape recovery on your Itanium-based system, consider adding the tape boot option at your next planned maintenance window.

TIP: An ideal time to test tape recovery on your unique combination of system, tape drive, and HBA, is after you have configured an EFI Boot Manager menu option for tape boot. You do not need to recover the system. If you create a recovery tape with the -Ioption, you will enter an interactive recovery. When you get to the interactive screens, reset the system instead of performing a recovery.

Determining the tape drive’s EFI path

When adding a tape boot option to the firmware, you must identify the tape drive you will use for booting. The EFI menus will display device paths to choose from. Before beginning the tape boot configuration process at the EFI level, you must determine the device path to your tape drive so you can select the correct one to use for booting.

The ioscan -ecommand does not report EFI device paths for tape drives. Alternative methods must be used to determine the correct path.

The EFI device path for our example is Acpi(HWP0002,100)/Pci(11)/Scsi(Pun4,Lun0)

One way to identify the tape drive’s path is to use the reconnect -rEFI command to get its SCSI Physical and Logical unit numbers (Pun and Lun). The Pun and Lun numbers can be mapped to the last part of the EFI device path. Below is the output of reconnect -rfor our example.

Figure 100 Output from reconnect -r

Finding the Ultrium tape drive’s Pun and Lun numbers in this example is simple because not many devices are listed.

If your system is partitionable, EFI will not automatically enumerate all connected devices. (This allows for a speedier boot.) For this reason the tape drive you want to use may not be listed. If

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UX System Management Software specifications

HP-UX System Management Software is a robust suite of tools designed to facilitate the administration and management of HP's Unix-based operating system, HP-UX. As organizations increasingly rely on mission-critical applications, the need for a reliable and efficient management solution becomes paramount. HP-UX provides a comprehensive understanding of system performance, resource utilization, and enterprise-wide configuration, all while maintaining high availability and security.

One of the key features of HP-UX System Management Software is its Advanced System Administrator Toolkit. This toolkit includes a wide array of utilities that streamline daily administrative tasks such as monitoring system performance, managing user accounts, and configuring system settings. Tools such as Glance provide real-time monitoring of system resources, enabling administrators to identify bottlenecks and optimize performance.

The software also boasts an advanced security framework, including features such as Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Secure Shell (SSH) for secure data transmission. Security patches and updates can be managed through HP’s Service Pack for HP-UX, which provides a streamlined method for maintaining system integrity and compliance with various regulatory standards.

Another notable aspect is the extensive support for virtualization technologies. HP-UX supports HP’s Integrity Virtual Machines (IVMs) and vPars, allowing administrators to create multiple isolated environments on a single physical server. This not only enhances resource utilization but also improves disaster recovery planning by enabling easier backup and restore processes.

For storage management, HP-UX offers tools that enable easy setup and management of Logical Volume Managers (LVM). This allows simplified disk space allocation and management, ensuring that critical applications have the necessary resources without manual intervention.

Furthermore, HP-UX is designed with compatibility in mind, supporting a wide range of third-party applications and frameworks. Integration with management platforms like HP System Insight Manager enhances the ability to monitor and manage systems from a centralized perspective, providing alerts and reports that help in proactive decision-making.

In summary, HP-UX System Management Software delivers a streamlined approach to system administration, focusing on performance, security, and ease of management. Its advanced features, combined with an emphasis on virtualization and storage management, make it a powerful tool for organizations seeking reliability and efficiency in their Unix-based environments. As businesses continue to evolve, tools like HP-UX will remain crucial for ensuring consistent performance and operational excellence.
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