Check sync on metadata controllers

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Check sync on metadata controllers

I've got an Xsan that was installed by some consultants long before I started working here. The mount time for the volume is 1,000(ish) days on the primdc and the secmdc. That's some impressive uptime but I'm wanting to go in there and run some updates and patches. I want to make sure both of the controllers are in sync before I start rebooting them for maintinance. How can I go about doing this? Is there a document out there somewhere that decsribes a process for regular maintinance on the controllers?

TIA

Xsan Server-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Feb 13, 2013 6:58 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 16, 2013 6:43 PM in response to Skroo

Congrats. And good luck.

The best advice at this point will be to advise all client mounts to be unmounted. If the faile to unmount, shut down the workstations. Leave them off for the duration of the service. Next, unmount from all backup meta data controllers. Finally, unmount from the controller. If you are successful, then shut the volume down so you can do the maintainance you need. Note that a reboot of the MDC and MDB will start the volume and it may automount on units with client side mount records. When rebooting, make sure the volume is turned back off before doing any service. Run cvfsck on a stopped volume. When you are starting everything backup up, reverse the shutdown order. In other words, mount to the MDC first, then the MDBs, then the clients. And beware Spotlight if it is enabled. The reboot will likely force you to reindex. Please note, using mdutil is not advisable.

And I will end with the wise words of, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Xsan is a complicated beast. Upgrades can be deadly. Without knowing the details of your environment, you may be better off were you are. Oh, and make sure you have a recent backup.

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