RedHat and IBM DS3400

After trouble shooting for a few days, I'd like to share how to get the IBM storage array (DS3400) properly talking with a redhat host. I had started out using the builtin multipathd software from redhat just like I've been using with HP Dl360's and MSA 1000's (as long as you do the active/active firmware update that's labeled as a msa1500 .. it works and is supported.. just the file says msa1500 instead of like msa1000_1500... it works on both).
I found that the DS3400 doesn't support active/active so one path always reports as being down. The builtin REDHAT multipath software will report buffer I/O errors during boot up and constantly fill the syslog with "path is down" type errors. It should be noted that you can still access the DS3400 and create data on it.. it's just not very clean..

This is where IBM RDAC comes in. You can find it at IBM's support site, but it looks to just link out to http://www.lsi.com/rdac/ds3000.html .
While following the readme file I had a problem with the very first "make" command (and none of the following make commands would work either). Long story a little shorter, I had to use add/remove programs to get kernel-devel. The source code for the kernel doesn't get put on a server by default, although it's needed for this software to work. What the RDAC install does is rebuild the current kernel with the addition of it's multipath module. I reconfigured grub.conf and vuala... working multipath without 5 billion error messages everywhere. now.. getting storage manager working through the fiber rather then from my pc over Ethernet to the controllers... but that's another blog.

Linux Certified (LPIC 1)

Linux certifications.. are they worth anything? Well I doubt anyone would argue that the red hat backed certs (RHCT RHCE) are worth something. I've taken and passed the LPIC 1 tests while a co-worker went to red hat training. The co-worker had basic knowledge of HPUX and the 4 day redhat class. That proved to not be enough for even the first level RHCT test. The hands on lab is the start of the test. From what I hear the proctor gives you 4 broken systems and you are to fix them. An example maybe a system with seemingly no network connectivity. Upon investigation you notice a few config files are missing. What do you do? Do you remember enough of the syntax to recreate them from memory? Is there a setup you can rerun to get the default config files back? Sounds like tough stuff to me.

All natural cosmetics

www.elementcosmetics.com
Who would have thought I would make a post about makeup. Well truth be told, it's my g/f's site. I put it together on her old desktop pc with centos, php, mysql, on our cable internet. I'm proud of the techie side of it, and proud of her for her entrepreneurial prowess. She started making it for herself after being fed up with expensive makeup that was bad for her skin. Her friends and family like what she made and started "placing orders" for what they wanted. After esthetician school she opened her own salon and by accident started selling the mineral makeup. Even if nothing comes of it, I am proud of her. (and if I'm really lucky she'll read this and I'll get brownie points ;P)