SYMPTOM:
The "vxdisk -px list" CLI does not support some basic vxvm attributes, nor does it allow a user to specify multiple attributes in a specific sequence. The display layout was not presented in a readable or
parsable manner.

DESCRIPTION:
Some basic vxvm disk attributes are not supported by the "vxdisk -px list" CLI which are useful for customizing the command output.  The display output is also not aligned by column or suitable for parsing by a
utility.   In addition, the CLI does not allow multiple attributes to be specified in a usable manner.

RESOLUTION:
Support for the following vxvm disk attributes were added to the CLI:

 SETTINGS              ALERTS                INFO
 HOSTID                DISK_TYPE             FORMAT
 DA_INFO               PRIV_OFF              PRIV_LEN
 PUB_OFF               PUB_LEN               PRIV_UDID
 DG_NAME               DGID                  DG_STATE
 DISKID                DISK_TIMESTAMP        STATE

The CLI has been enhanced to support multiple attributes separated by a comma, and to align the display output by a column, separable by a comma for
parsability.

 For example:

 # vxdisk -px ENCLOSURE_NAME,DG_NAME,LUN_SIZE,SETTINGS,state list
 DEVICE ENCLOSURE_NAME DG_NAME LUN_SIZE   SETTINGS             STATE
 sda    disk           -       143374650  -                    online
 sdb    disk           -       143374650  -                    online
 sdc    storwizev70000 fencedg 10485760   thinrclm,coordinator online
 

It is now possible to list hardware clone and replicated based content using the VxVM "vxdisk -px LIST_CLONE list" command when using Veritas Dynamic Multi-Pathing (DMP) . The attribute view is just one of the many new attribute views provided by the "vxdisk -px list" interface.


Example:

# vxdisk -px LIST_CLONE list

DEVICE           DG_NAME   REPLICATED REPLICATED_TYPE HARDWARE_MIRROR LUN_SIZE  NR_DEVICE DEVICE_TYPE DDL_DEVICE_ATTR
disk_0           root50dg  -          -               -               143374738 -         -           -
emc_clariion0_5  oracledg  -          -               no              62914560  -         -           lun,RAID_5
emc_clariion0_78 orazonedg -          -               no              146800640 -         -           lun,RAID_5
emc0_00eb        testdg    -          -               yes             4419840   no        -           bcv,RAID
emc0_00e7        testdg    -          -               no              4419840   no        -           RAID
emc0_00e8        testdg    -          -               no              4419840   no        -           RAID
emc0_00e9        testdg    -          -               no              4419840   no        -           RAID
emc0_01da        newsrdf   -          -               yes             4287360   no        -           bcv
emc0_01db        newsrdf   -          -               yes             4287360   no        -           bcv
emc0_01dc        -         -          -               no              4287360   no        -           RAID
emc0_01dd        -         -          -               no              4287360   no        -           RAID
emc0_01d8        newsrdf   yes        rep_pri         no              4287360   no        -           srdf-r1,Mirror
emc0_01d9        newsrdf   yes        rep_pri         no              4287360   no        -           srdf-r1,Mirror
emc0_001d        vxfendg   -          -               no              40320     no        -           Mirror
emc0_02df        srdfdg    -          -               yes             4128000   no        -           bcv
emc0_02e0        srdfdg    -          -               yes             4128000   no        -           bcv
emc0_02e1        srdfdg    -          -               yes             4128000   no        -           bcv
emc0_02e2        -         -          -               yes             4128000   no        -           bcv
emc0_003d        vxfendg   -          -               no              65280     no        -           Mirror
emc0_0033        pankajdg  -          -               yes             4419840   no        -           bcv,RAID
emc0_033a        testdg    -          -               no              2092800   no        -           RAID
emc0_0034        testdg    -          -               yes             4419840   no        -           bcv,RAID
emc0_0035        testdg    -          -               yes             4419840   no        -           bcv,RAID
emc0_0052        srdfdg    yes        rep_sec         yes             4128000   no        -           srdf-r2
emc0_0053        srdfdg    yes        rep_sec         yes             4128000   no        -           WD,srdf-r2
emc0_0054        srdfdg    yes        rep_sec         yes             4128000   no        -           WD,srdf-r2
emc0_0055        -         yes        rep_pri         no              4128000   no        -           srdf-r1
emc0_0056        vxfendg   -          -               no              122880    no        -           Mirror
emc0_0081        fsdg      -          -               no              14400000  no        -           RAID
emc0_0176        wd_dg     -          -               no              4128000   no        -           WD,RAID
emc0_0177        -         -          -               no              -         yes       -           nr,RAID
emc0_0178        -         -          -               no              4128000   no        -           RAID
emc0_0179        -         -          -               no              4128000   no        -           RAID
 

To enable Veritas Volume Manager (VxVM) in connection with Veritas DMP to make such LUN characteristics available and consistent, specific steps are required.
 

Veritas recommend taking the device offline before detecting changed LUN properties. Once the LUN attributes have changed to the required state, the device can then be brought back online again.

 
Steps

1.] # vxdisk offline

2.] Perform array activity

3.] # vxdisk online


Intelligent LUNs


In certain cases, such device types as EMC BCV (Hardware Clone) and SRDF (Hardware Replicated) can remain online as DMP is fully aware of the LUN characteristics via the intelligence provided via the EMC ASL.
The DMP extended attribute content can be displayed in many ways for such intelligent storage arrays using the VxVM "vxdisk -e list" CLI command, and in later versions using the "vxdisk -px LIST_CLONE list" command.

With such intelligent device types, the DMP extended attribute may still require a manual refresh using the VxVM "vxdisk scandisks" CLI command. 
Once the device status reflects the required state, DMP should be manually updated with the new LUN details to ensure the appropriate VxVM command outputs do reflect the current LUN characteristics.

Steps

1.] The H/W Clone/Replicate device state is being intentionally modified/changed.

2.] The H/W related activity i s complete .

3.] Refresh VxVM and DMP extended attribute content.

# vxdisk scandisks

In a clustered environment, the manual refresh of the extended attributes needs to be performed across all nodes in the cluster.


Recommendation: VxVM product releases 6.0.5 and 6.1.1 (MR1) or higher should be deployed where possible to benefit from additional functionality enhancements.

Example:

For AIX deployments, a minimum of 6.05 must be installed for VxVM to correctly detect H/W device states.
 
Veritas also recommends applying the latest VRTSaslapm updates posted on https://sort.Veritas.com/land.