Skip to main content

Fibre Channel Express Setup

  1. Verify the Linux configuration is supported
    To ensure reliable operation, you create an implementation plan and then verify that the entire configuration is supported.
  2. Configure management port IP addresses
    Configure the management port for communication between the management station and array controllers.
  3. Install ThinkSystem Storage Manager for SMcli and Host Context Agent (HCA)
    When you install the ThinkSystem Storage Manager software on your management station, the command line interface (CLI) is installed to help you manage your array. By also installing the software on the host, the Host Context Agent is installed that helps the host push configuration information to the storage array controllers through the I/O path.
  4. Access ThinkSystem System Manager and use the Setup wizard
    You use the Setup wizard in ThinkSystem System Manager to configure your storage array.
  5. Configure the multipath software
    Multipath software provides a redundant path to the storage array in case one of the physical paths is disrupted. The multipath software presents the operating system with a single virtual device that represents the active physical paths to the storage. The multipath software also manages the failover process that updates the virtual device. You use the device mapper multipath (DM-MP) tool for Linux installations.
  6. Setting up the multipath.conf file
    The multipath.conf file is the configuration file for the multipath daemon, multipathd. The multipath.conf file overrides the built-in configuration table for multipathd. Any line in the file whose first non-white-space character is # is considered a comment line. Empty lines are ignored.
  7. Configure the FC switches
    Configuring (zoning) the Fibre Channel (FC) switches enables the hosts to connect to the storage array and limits the number of paths. You zone the switches using the management interface for the switches.
  8. Determine host WWPNs and make the recommended settings
    You install an FC HBA utility so you can view the worldwide port name (WWPN) of each host port. Additionally, you can use the HBA utility to change any settings recommended in the Interoperability Matrix document for the supported configuration.
  9. Create partitions and filesystems
    A new LUN has no partition or file system when the Linux host first discovers it. You must format the LUN before it can be used. Optionally, you can create a file system on the LUN.
  10. Verify storage access on the host
    Before using the volume, you verify that the host can write data to the volume and read it back.
  11. Record FC-specifc information for Linux
    Select the FC worksheet to record your protocol-specific storage configuration information. You need this information to perform provisioning tasks.