to boot or not to boot (Solaris)

[Bicknell, Frank]

Try unplumbing the interface.  Something like -

ifconfig <interface> unplumb

If you have to use the box, just replumb it - it should come up with the
right parameters.

Of course, this means you have to shut down the other box while you boot the
backup unless you leave the interface unconfigured.  If you do the latter,
configure the interface manually and immediately unplumb it.

For the long term, try looking into Veritas Clustering Software (VCS) or the
like.  That will make things a little more automatic and sysadmin-friendly.

Hope this helps.

-----Original Message-----
From: Lisa Lorenzin [mailto:lorenzin@1000plus.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2002 12:45
To: ncsa-discussion@ncsysadmin.org
Subject: to boot or not to boot (Solaris)



Hi all,

I have a quick question for the Solaris geeks in the house...

I'm running Solaris 2.7 on a new Sun E220R.  This server is a hot backup
for another server, but can't be connected to the network (same IP
addresses configured on the NICs).

SO - what's the best state to keep this box in while it's offline?

Options I've come up with are:

* Powered off.  This was my first impulse - no wear on the hardware, no
cluttering of system logfiles, no potential for accumulation of memory
leaks, etc.  However, a concern was raised about filesystems failing when
it was powered back on, so another alternative was:

* Powered on, but with the ethernet NICs unplugged.  Seems to me that
we'll end up with lots of log entries about various ethernet NICs being
offline.  One way around that is:

* Powered on, ethernet NICs unplugged and down.  But then if we have to
slap the box online in a hurry, somebody has to remember to bring them up
again...  Not really acceptable in our environment.

Which would you recommend, and why?  Is there a better alternative that I
haven't thought of yet?

(I'm particularly curious whether disk issues are still considered that
much of a concern when powering-cycling a Sun box.  I know that was an
issue for Solaris boxen several years ago, but I haven't seen those
problems recently, and I thought Sun was over that that.  Am I just lucky?
:) )

Thanks in advance for any advice!

					Lisa



-- 
lisa lorenzin  |  lorenzin@1000plus.com  |  http://www.1000plus.com/lisa/
of what avail is an open eye if the heart is blind? - solomon ibn gavirol

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