Converting to a VxVM Root Disk

From the September 2004 HP-UX 11i version 2.0 release, it is possible to select VxVM as a choice for your root disk when performing a new installation using Ignite-UX. Alternatively, you can use the following procedure to achieve VxVM rootability by cloning your LVM root disk using the vxcp_lvmroot command.

  To convert to a VxVM root disk

1. Select the disk to be used as your new VxVM root disk. It is recommended that this disk is internal to the main computer cabinet. If this is currently an LVM disk, then it must be removed from LVM control as follows:
   1. Use the vgreduce command to remove the disk from any LVM volume groups to which it belongs.
   2. Use the lvremove command to remove any LVM volumes that are using the disk.
   3. Use the pvremove command to erase the LVM disk headers

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     Note    If the disk to be removed is the last disk in the volume group, use the vgremove command to remove the volume group, and then use pvremove to erase the LVM disk headers.
   
   If the disk is not currently in use by any volume or volume group, but has been initialized by pvcreate, you must still use the pvremove command to remove LVM disk headers.
   
   If you want to mirror the root disk across multiple disks, make sure that all the disks are free from LVM control.

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2. While booted on the newly upgraded LVM root disk, invoke the vxcp_lvmroot command to clone the LVM root disk to the disk(s) you have designated to be the new VxVM root disks. In the following example, c1t0d0 is used for the target VxVM root disk:
   # /etc/vx/bin/vxcp_lvmroot -v c1t0d0

   To additionally create a mirror of the root disk on c2t0d0:

   
   # /etc/vx/bin/vxcp_lvmroot -v -m c2t0d0 c1t0d0

   Use of the -v (verbose) option is highly recommended. The cloning of the root disk is a lengthy operation, and this option gives a time-stamped progress indication as each volume is copied, and other major events.

3. Use the setboot (1M) command to save the hardware path of the new VxVM root disk in the system NVRAM. The disk hardware paths can be found using this command:
   # ioscan -kfnC disk
4. Reboot from the new VxVM root disk. If you created a mirrored root disk, then there is nothing more to do. The LVM root disk safely co-exists with your VxVM root disk, and provides a backup boot target.
5. If desired, you can convert the original LVM root disk into a mirror of your VxVM root disk by using the following commands:
   # /etc/vx/bin/vxdestroy_lvmroot -v c2t0d0
   # /etc/vx/bin/vxrootmir -v c2t0d0

   Once this operation is complete, the system is running on a completely mirrored VxVM root disk.

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     Note    If later required, you can use the vxres_lvmroot command to restore the LVM root disk.

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