[Info-vax] Cluster node fails to boot from shadow-set member

[Richard B]

On Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at 8:22:57 AM UTC-4, Richard B wrote:
> HI all,
> 
> I'm having a serious issue trying to boot a node of a three-node cluster.  The cluster is comprised of 2x rx2600 i2 machines and 1x rx2660.  Each node is running VMS v8.4 and has internal-only storage.  Each node has its own SYSTEM disk but the 2 rx2600 i2's system disk is shadowed between the two nodes:
> 
> Node 1:  DSA0:  $1$DKA0:
> Node 2: DSA0:  $2$DKA0:
> 
> Node 2 boots fine and mounts the virtual device DSA0: with its physical unit at $2$DKA0:
> 
> It then forms a cluster just fine with the third, rx2660, node.
> 
> When I try to boot Node 1 I get a bugcheck during boot.  The output is:
> 
> %CNXMAN,  Now a VMScluster member -- system RYEIP1
> %SHADOW-F-/-CONFIGSCAN, enabled automatic disk serving
> 
> **** OpenVMS I64 Operating System V8.4     - BUGCHECK ****
> 
> ** Bugcheck code = 000008CC: SHADBOOTFAIL, SHADOWING failed to boot from system disk shadow set
> ** Crash CPU: 00000001    Primary CPU: 00000000    Node Name: RYEIP1
> ** Highest CPU number:    00000003
> ** Active CPUs:           00000000.0000000F
> ** Current Process:       NULL
> 
> 
> As you can see Node 1, the one with the bugcheck, sends the cluster request to the third node and the three-node cluster is formed.  (Kinda/sorta). Then immediately the bug check.
> 
> Obviously there is something Node 1 doesn't like about the SYSTEM shadow-set.  For the life of me I can't figure out a: why and b: how to get around this.
> 
> All SYSGEN parameters are set appropriately as far as shadowing is concerned.  (SHADOWING, SHADOW_SYS_UNIT, etc.)
> 
> Anyone have any ideas what is going on here and what I might do to fix this?
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> Richard


Steve,

I think I'm going to go along with Volker's suggestion: one which I had contemplated anyway.
On Node 1 I'm going to have an HBVS two-disk system disk - DSA0:/shadow=($1$dka1:,$1$dka2:)
On Node 2 I'm going to have an HBVS two-disk system disk - DSA1:/shadow=)$2$dka1:,$2$dka2:)

I think this should work.  However it will require more maintenance on my part as far as the UAFs and RIGHTSLIST are concerned.

What do you think?

PS:  Yes, the P410i controllers in each of the rx2800 i2's are in RAID mode but I think I'm going to go with the HBVS for the system disks in lieu of, say, RAID 1.  Just a personal preference I suppose.