6.0 HP X9720 Network Storage System Administrator Guide (AW549-96034, December 2011)

4 Configuring failover
This chapter describes how to configure failover for agile management consoles, file serving nodes,
network interfaces, and HBAs.
Agile management consoles
The management console maintains the cluster configuration and provides graphical and
command-line user interfaces for managing and monitoring the cluster. The agile management
console is installed on all file serving nodes when the cluster is installed. The management console
is active on one node, and is passive on the other nodes. This is called an agile management
console configuration.
Agile management console modes
An agile management console can be in one of the following modes:
• active. In this mode, the management console controls console operations. All cluster
administration and configuration commands must be run from the active management console.
• passive. In this mode, the management console monitors the health of the active management
console. If the active management console fails, the a passive management console is selected
to become the active console.
• maintenance. In this mode, the management console does not participate in console operations.
Maintenance mode should be used for operations such as manual failover of the active
management console, X9000 Software upgrades, and blade replacements.
Changing the mode
Use the following command to move a management console to passive or maintenance mode:
ibrix_fm -m passive | maintenance [-A | -h <FMLIST>]
If the management console was previously the active console, X9000 Software will select a new
active console. A management console currently in active mode can be moved to either passive
or maintenance mode. A management console in maintenance mode can be moved only to passive
mode.
With the exception of the local node running the active management console, the -A option moves
all instances of the management console to the specified mode. The -h option moves the
management console instances in <FMLIST> to the specified mode.
Agile management consoles and failover
Using an agile management console configuration provides high availability for management
console services. If the active management console fails, the cluster virtual interface will go down.
When the passive management console detects that the cluster virtual interface is down, it will
become the active console. This management console rebuilds the cluster virtual interface, starts
management console services locally, transitions into active mode, and take over management
console operation.
Failover of the active management console affects the following features:
• User networks. The virtual interface used by clients will also fail over. Users may notice a brief
reconnect while the newly active management console takes over management of the virtual
interface.
• Management console GUI. You will need to reconnect to the management console VIF after
the failover.
28 Configuring failover