HP-UX – allowed shells, and connecting FC Multipath to NetApp

When adding a certain shell to an HP-UX system, for example, /usr/bin/tcsh, each user set to use this shell will not be able to FTP to the machine, until there is entry in /etc/shells. The trick is that even if the file doesn’t exist, you have to create it. By default, HP-UX allows only /sbin/sh and /bin/sh shells, but as soon as you setup this file, you can allow more shells. Mind you that you have to include /sbin/sh and /bin/sh in /etc/shells, else other things might not work correctly. Taken from here.

Connecting HP-UX to SAN storage is never too simple. The actual list of actions is:

1. Install HP-UX drivers for the FC adapter

2. Map the PWWN obtained from (reading the sticker at the back of the machine, or querying the storage/SAN switch) the machine to the relevant LUNs.

3. Run “/usr/sbin/ioscan -fnC disk” and see that the new disk devices are detected.

4. Run “/usr/sbin/ioinit -i” to create the relevant device files.

A note – HP-UX might require a reboot after the initial connection. On several cases I’ve noticed that if the server was running for a while with disconnected fiber, only being connected during before startup would result in link and in SAN registration. Of course, the driver must be installed then.

If you are to connect your HP-UX to NetApp device, as we did, take a day (or more) notice and open “now” account in http://now.netapp.com. You can find documentation about HP-UX (including step-by-step), you can find the “SAN Attach Kit for HP-UX” which will make your life easier, and set of best-practice guides. Just follow these guides, and you will find it easy and simple task to do.