HP Serviceguard for Linux Version A.11.19 Release Notes, April 2009

NOTE: If the target version of Serviceguard does not support the version of the
operating system currently on the node, then you must upgrade the operating
system before upgrading Serviceguard.
• The OS upgrade for the node must be from and to the same Linux distribution
(Example: Red Hat EL 4 to Red Hat EL 5; not Red Hat EL 4 to SLES 10)
• All members of the cluster must be upgraded to the same version of OS and the
Serviceguard.
• Make sure that all applications that run on the current OS will also be supported
with the new OS.
• Verify that the new OS supports the current cluster hardware configuration and
drivers (network interfaces, bonding driver, shared disk storage. etc.).
NOTE: If there is no HP bonding driver for the Linux version you are using, use
the bonding driver supplied with the Linux distribution.
• Do a full backup on each node.
NOTE: HP recommends you use the rolling upgrade process if possible, because it
keeps your mission-critical applications running; and also that you update the software
(rather than do a cold install) if possible, because updating preserves the current OS
and cluster configuration. But make sure you read the “Special Considerations for
Upgrade to Serviceguard A.11.19” below, as well as the “Limitations ” (page 51) before
you start the upgrade, and keep in mind that the entire upgrade process has to complete
successfully before you can use any Serviceguard commands.
CAUTION: If a failure occurs on one node while you are upgrading another, packages
— and the applications they contain — may not be able fail over to the node being
upgraded.
Special Considerations for Upgrade to Serviceguard A.11.19
Serviceguard A.11.19 introduces a new cluster manager; see “New Cluster Manager”
(page 11). In a running cluster, this affects node timeout and failover and cluster
re-formation; see the discussion of MEMBER_TIMEOUT under “Cluster Configuration
Parameters” in Chapter 4 of the latest edition of Managing Serviceguard for Linux for
more information. There is also a one-time effect on upgrade to Serviceguard A.11.19.
Upgrade will trigger a cluster membership transition from the old to the new cluster
manager when the last node in the cluster has been upgraded to A.11.19. This transition
50 Serviceguard for Linux Version A.11.19 Release Notes