Software Manual

1 Introduction

This guide provides information about installing and removing the HP 3PAR Host Explorer on the

following platforms:

• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 2008 (32-bit and 64-bit), and 2012 (64-bit)

• Linux systems running RHEL 4 update 6 or later; RHEL 5 and RHEL 6, SLES 10, and SLES 11

• SPARC and x86 systems running Solaris 10, and 11

• HP-UX Systems running 11i V3

The guide also provides information about installing, and removing the HP 3PAR Host Explorer for

VMware on Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (32-bit, and 64-bit), and 2012 (64-bit).

This guide is for Microsoft Windows, Linux (RHEL/SLES), Oracle Solaris (Sparc/x86) and HP-UX

administrators who are responsible for maintaining the operating environment and who understand

the HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage system. Also, this guide provides reference information on the

Command Line Interface (CLI) utility TpdHostAgent, which allows management of the HP 3PAR

Host Explorer on the hosts.

HP 3PAR Host Explorer

The HP 3PAR Host Explorer is a program that runs on a host connected to an HP 3PAR StoreServ

Storage system. The Host Explorer is an agent that runs as a service on Windows and as a daemon

on Linux, Solaris and HP-UX operating systems. No license is required to use the HP 3PAR Host

Explorer.

The Host Explorer communicates with the storage system over an FC or iSCSI connection and

enables the host to send detailed host configuration information to the storage system. The

information gathered from the Host Explorer is visible for uncreated hosts and assists with host

creation and diagnosing host connectivity issues.

When a host is created on the storage system, unassigned WWNs or iSCSI names are presented

to the storage system. Without the Host Explorer running on the attached hosts, the storage system

is unable to determine which host the WWN or iSCSI names belongs to and you must manually

assign each WWN or iSCSI name to a host. With Host Explorer running, the storage system

automatically groups WWNs or iSCSI names for the host together, assisting with creating the host.

The Host Explorer collects the following information and sends it to the storage system:

• Host operating system and version.

• Fibre Channel and iSCSI HBA details.

• Multipath driver and current multipath configuration.

• Cluster configuration information.

• Device and path Information.

See “Installing and removing HP 3PAR Host Explorer” (page 8) to install the HP 3PAR Host

Explorer.

See the HP 3PAR OS Configuration Matrix for a list of supported host operating systems.