How To Install and Configure EMC PowerPath on Linux

Question: How do I install and configure EMC Powerpath software on Linux environment?

Answer: Before you start EMC powerpath installation and configuration, make sure HBA cards are installed on the server and Fiber channel switches are zoned properly.

1. Install EMC Powerpath on Linux

Download the Powerpath software from EMC powerlink website. If you’ve purchased EMC support, you should have access to powerlink.

In the following example, EMC Powerpath 5 ( EMCpower.LINUX-5.3.0.00.00-185.rhel5.i386.rpm ) is installed on Red Hat 5. (for CLARiiON Array)

# rpm -ivh EMCpower.LINUX-5.3.0.00.00-185.rhel5.i386.rpm --test
Preparing...                ########################################### [100%]

# rpm -ivh EMCpower.LINUX-5.3.0.00.00-185.rhel5.i386.rpm
Preparing...                ########################################### [100%]
   1:EMCpower.LINUX         ########################################### [100%]
All trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.
NOTE:License registration is not required to manage the CLARiiON AX series array.

2. Register EMC Powerpath

Before you can use the EMC powerpath software, you should register it using the EMC Powerpath License key received when you purchased the software from EMC.

Use emcpreg tool to install EMC Powerpath license key as shown below.

# emcpreg -install

===========   EMC PowerPath Registration ===========
Do you have a new registration key or keys to enter?[n] y
Enter the registration keys(s) for your product(s),
one per line, pressing Enter after each key.
After typing all keys, press Enter again.

Key (Enter if done): **emc-powerpath-license-key**
1 key(s) successfully added.
Key successfully installed.

Key (Enter if done):
Key  is invalid, ignored.
Try again or press Enter if done.
1 key(s) successfully registered.

3. Verify EMC Powerpath Registration

Use EMC powermt command to check the registration as shown below.

# powermt check_registration

Key **emc-powerpath-license-key**
  Product: PowerPath
  Capabilities: All

4. Verify Multiple Paths

Once you’ve installed EMC powerpath, execute powermt display dev=all as shown below to verify whether multiple paths as displayed accordingly.

# powermt display dev=all
Pseudo name=emcpowera
CLARiiON ID=00000000000 [db-server]
Logical device ID=12121212121212 [LUN 1]
state=alive; policy=CLAROpt; priority=0; queued-IOs=0
Owner: default=SP A, current=SP A
==============================================================================
---------------- Host ---------------   - Stor -   -- I/O Path -  -- Stats ---
### HW Path                 I/O Paths    Interf.   Mode    State  Q-IOs Errors
==============================================================================
  1 QLogic Fibre Channel 2300 sdb        SP A4     active  alive      0      0
  1 QLogic Fibre Channel 2300 sdd        SP B4     active  alive      0      0
  2 QLogic Fibre Channel 2300 sdf        SP A5     active  alive      0      0
  2 QLogic Fibre Channel 2300 sdh        SP B5     active  alive      0      0