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NEC 320Fc User Manual

NEC 320Fc User Manual

Nec server user's guide
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Express5800/320Fc:
Active Upgrade
User's Guide
™
NEC Corporation of America
456-01720-000

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Summary of Contents for NEC 320Fc

  • Page 1 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade User’s Guide ™ NEC Corporation of America 456-01720-000...
  • Page 2 Software described in NEC (a) is the property of NEC and/or its licensees, (b) is furnished only under license, and (c) may be copied or used only as expressly permitted under the terms of the license.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Preface 1. Overview v i t v i t 2. Preparing for the Active Upgrade Process i s i Managing Critical Applications During the Upgrade Process n i l Configuring Windows Firewall for the Active Upgrade Process 2-10 Configuring a UPS-Protected System for the Active Upgrade Process Installing Java Runtime Environment Copying Software Installation Packages to the System...
  • Page 4 Finishing the Upgrade Viewing Active Upgrade Process Status Activity Log Status Bar 5. Troubleshooting Saving the Activity Log to a File Verifying the Status of Application Services Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide able Files 3-10 3-12 3-15 3-15 3-16 3-17...
  • Page 5 Verifying the Status of Installed Software Verifying If RDR Disks Are Resynchronizing General Problems and Solutions Glossary Index Contents Glossary-1 Index-1 Contents...
  • Page 6 Figure 4-5. Remote Activity Log Figure 4-6. Activity Log Detail Figure 4-7. Status Bar Figure 5-1. Service Control Manager Figure 5-2. Add or Remove Programs Control Panel Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide Figures 2-11 2-17 2-18 2-20 2-21 2-22 2-23 2-24...
  • Page 7 Table 2-1. Active Upgrade Process Worksheet Table 3-1. Hard Disk Color Coding Table 3-2. Selection of Application Services Table 3-3. Control Types for Custom Actions Table 3-4. Timing for the Advanced Control Type Table 3-5. Environment Variables for Custom Actions Table 4-1.
  • Page 8 Tables Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide...

  • Page 9: Preface

    Audience This manual is intended for system administrators who will prepare for and execute an Active Upgrade on an Express5800/320Fc system. It assumes that you are familiar with administering Express5800/320Fc systems. Notation Conventions This document uses the notation conventions described in this section.
  • Page 10 A note provides important information about the operation of a system. Typographical Conventions The following typographical conventions are used in Express5800/320Fc system documents: • The bold font emphasizes words in text or indicates text that you type, the name of a screen object, or the name of a programming element.

  • Page 11: Getting Help

    Getting Help If you have a technical question about Express5800/320Fc hardware or software, try these online resources first: Online support from NEC Technical Support. You can find the latest technical • information about an Express5800/320Fc through online product support at the NEC Technical Support Web http://support.necam.com/servers/ft...
  • Page 12 Preface Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide...

  • Page 13: Overview

    Active Upgrade™ technology allows you to upgrade system and application software on an Express5800/320Fc system with minimal downtime. Instead of taking your system offline to run upgrade procedures, you can use Active Upgrade technology to split the system into two independently running systems, one side of which you upgrade while the other side continues to run your applications without interruption.

  • Page 14: Figure

    4. You start the upgrade process by initiating split mode, which divides the fault-tolerant, duplexed system systems (Figure applications, and an Upgrade Side, on which you can run software installation packages. Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide (Figure 1-1) into two independent, simplexed 1-2) — a Production Side, which continues to run your...

  • Page 15: Figure 1-1. Duplexed System

    Figure 1-1. Duplexed System Console Duplexed System Network Figure 1-2. Splitting the System Console Duplexed System Remote Connection Overview of the Active Upgrade Process External Storage Production Side (Live) External Network Storage Connection Upgrade Side (Isolated) Software Installation Internal Storage System Data Mirror...

  • Page 16: Figure

    With the exception of the internal disks, all critical system resources return to duplex mode Express5800/320Fc Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide 1-2, when you split the system, the Active Upgrade console (Figure 1-3).

  • Page 17: Figure 1-3. Merged System

    Figure 1-3. Merged System Console Duplexed System Network Finally, the system restarts your applications, including the Active Upgrade console, from the Upgrade Side system disk. Depending on the complexity of your applications and the upgrade you performed, your applications may be back up and running in under a minute.

  • Page 18: Figure 1-4. Committing The Upgrade

    If you abort the upgrade session while the system is in split mode, no downtime is incurred. Your applications continue to run on the Production Side while the Active Upgrade console restores the system to duplex mode. Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide Duplexed System External...

  • Page 19: Aborting The Upgrade

    If you abort the upgrade session while the system is in merge mode, a short period of downtime is incurred while the Active Upgrade console initiates a system restart. The Active Upgrade console shuts down the Upgrade Side and restarts the system from the Production Side, which automatically restarts your applications from the Production Side.

  • Page 20: Figure 1-6. Active Upgrade State Model

    If the system is ready, the console immediately switches to the Split state and proceeds to divide the system into two independently running systems. Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide shows all of the possible Active Upgrade states, and the Idle...
  • Page 21 N O T E After the upgrade session leaves the Idle state, you must complete the full upgrade process in sequence or abort the process altogether. You cannot go back to a previous state or skip states, and you cannot proceed to the next state if the upgrade is in a Broken or Busy operational state.
  • Page 22 Overview of the Active Upgrade Process 1-10 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide...

  • Page 23: Software Upgrade Support

    Understanding the Active Upgrade Software Upgrade Support Active Upgrade technology currently supports the installation of (also known as hotfixes) for the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 operating system. It also supports the installation or upgrade of application software that meets the following criteria: •...

  • Page 24: System Prerequisites

    BIOS, BMC, or VTM firmware updates, which you can already perform while the • system is duplexed and online. See the Express5800/320Fc: User Guide for more information. Related Topics Overview •...

  • Page 25: Preparing For The Active Upgrade Process

    You should schedule this work to minimize impact to your critical applications. See the Express5800/320Fc: User Guide for more information about configuring Ethernet PCI adapters and Ethernet teams. Contain Virtual Technician Modules (VTMs).

  • Page 26: Figure

    Upgrade Side lose access to the network. • Are running Express5800/320Fc System Software Release 5.0 or higher. • Have been updated with the latest firmware to support Active Upgrade technology, including required BMC and VTM updates.
  • Page 27 Do not install other types of hotfixes, such as Microsoft patches that fix a • particular problem, before obtaining validation from NEC Corporation of America. Please refer to NEC Corporation of America's support website for infromation pertaining to the application of Microsoft Windows patches, hotfixes, and service packs. 2-10.

  • Page 28: Managing Critical Applications During The Upgrade Process

    Active Upgrade process. If your system runs business-critical applications, such as Microsoft Exchange Server or SQL Server, these applications can run on only one side of the system—the Production Side—when you split the system. They must be stopped on the other side—...
  • Page 29 If your application runs as a standard service that already accounts for interdependencies (with other services) and requires no special handling, you can specify it on the Application Services page of the Active Upgrade console during the configuration process. On the Application Services page, you can select each service you want to manage from the list of services on your system, and, when you start the upgrade process, the Active Upgrade console automatically starts and stops these services at the appropriate times.

  • Page 30: Configuring A Ups-Protected System For The Active Upgrade Process 2

    12. Gather information about your system using the worksheet in Information” on page 13. If necessary, copy any required software installation packages to the system, as described in “Copying Software Installation Packages to the System” on page Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide 2-9. 4-6.) 2-15. “Installing Java Runtime “Installing the Active Upgrade...

  • Page 31: Figure

    When you are finished preparing for the upgrade, Follow the on-screen instructions (and this document) to configure the process, then run a Readiness Check Related Topics • “Installing the Active Upgrade Software” • “Software Upgrade Support” on page 2-1 • “System Prerequisites”...

  • Page 32: Configuring Windows Firewall For The Active Upgrade Process

    Pre-Upgrade Tasks Configuring Windows Firewall for the Active Upgrade Process The Active Upgrade console requires network access to: • Communicate with system components and underlying services in the ftServer System Software. • Allow communication between the Production Side and the Upgrade Side while the system is split, so you can perform upgrade tasks.

  • Page 33: Configuring A Ups-Protected System For The Active Upgrade Process

    If your system is protected by a UPS, and you have configured the UPS power connections as specified in the Express5800/320Fc: Site Planning Guide, it is best to ensure that the CPU- I ⁄ O enclosure with A-side, UPS-protected power (CPU enclosure 0, I/O enclosure 10) are Primary before starting the Active Upgrade process.
  • Page 34 After this procedure, you might need to wait 5-10 minutes for the system components to stabilize and return to full duplex mode before running a readiness check. Related Topics “Pre-Upgrade Tasks” on page 2-7 • Configuring the Active Upgrade Process • 2-12 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide...

  • Page 35: Installing Java Runtime Environment

    Installing Java Runtime Environment Java Runtime Environment is necessary for running Active Upgrade. Install the following Java Runtime Environment: Sun Microsystems Java™ Runtime Environment Version 5.0 Update 8 (1.5.0_08) or later Configuring IP address in Virtual Technician Module (VTM) IP addresses must be configuredin VTM to run Active Upgrade. Configure IP addresses in VTM as described in this section.
  • Page 36 Command Prompt. 2. Run the following command in Command Prompt. > CScript//nologo “C:\Program Files\ftsys\VTM\UTMNetConfig.vbs” After running the command above, make sure that “Finished!” is displayed in Command Prompt before proceeding. 2-14 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide “192.168.1.1” “192.168.1.2” “192.168.1.3” “192.168.1.4”...

  • Page 37: Gathering Information

    Gathering Information Before you start configuring the Active Upgrade process on your system, considering the following questions: ❏ After you complete this upgrade, will you ever want to run the same type of upgrade again? If so, plan to create a you can use it again at a later date.

  • Page 38: Table 2-1. Active Upgrade Process Worksheet

    Table 2-1. Active Upgrade Process Worksheet Item Configuration files to use Disks to upgrade Disks that cannot be upgraded Software installation utilities to run Application services to start/stop 2-16 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide Value _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________...
  • Page 39 Table 2-1. Active Upgrade Process Worksheet (Continued) Item Custom actions to run Log files to back up Related Topics • “Pre-Upgrade Tasks” on page 2-7 • “Software Upgrade Support” on page 2-1 • “System Prerequisites” on page 2-2 • “Recommendations” on page 2-5 •...

  • Page 40: Copying Software Installation Packages To The System

    1. Open the Automatic Updates control panel 2. Select Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them. 3. Click OK to save the configuration. 2-18 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide “Configuring Windows Automatic (Figure 2-2). Updates”.

  • Page 41: Figure 2-2. Automatic Updates Control Panel

    Figure 2-2. Automatic Updates Control Panel If your company pushes software updates from an enterprise-wide service, like Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), you might need to override the default Automatic Update policies for your system. Typically, WSUS clients are set to install all critical updates at a time specified by the WSUS administrator.

  • Page 42: Figure 2-3. Automatic Updates Icon In System Tray

    3. Check the list of updates against the list of updates that have been evaluated by NEC Corporation of America for compatibility. Make note of the updates you can install during the Active Upgrade process.

  • Page 43: Starting And Exiting The Active Upgrade Console

    Starting and Exiting the Active Upgrade Console N O T E S 1. Your login account must be in the local Administrators group to run the Active Upgrade console. You cannot use a domain account. 2. The Active Upgrade console is not supported over remote connections.

  • Page 44: Understanding The Active Upgrade Console Interface

    “Pre-Upgrade Tasks” • Configuring the Active Upgrade Process Title Bar The title bar displays the name of the current page of the Active Upgrade console. 2-22 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide (Figure 2-4) is divided into four major parts: a title...

  • Page 45: Starting And Exiting The Active Upgrade Console

    The title bar also contains a Help button ( topic associated with the current page of the Active Upgrade console. (You can also access the Help from the Production Side or Upgrade Side by clicking Start, All Programs, ft, ftUpgrade.chm to open the Help viewer.) Related Topics •...

  • Page 46: Figure 2-6. Navigation Bar: Active Upgrade

    Figure 2-6. Navigation Bar: Active Upgrade 2-24 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide — Allows you to create or select a configuration file to modify, or to — Allows you to select the disks that contain the software you —...

  • Page 47: Figure 2-7. Navigation Bar: Links

    You can click Active Upgrade to perform a readiness check, and, if you are still modifying a configuration file, you can click any page in the Configuration section to go back and make additional changes. After you initiate an upgrade session (by clicking Split on the Active Upgrade page), the navigation bar reverts to a static mode, in which it only indicates where you are in the upgrade process and does not allow you to skip between pages.

  • Page 48: D O W

    During the configuration phase, the main window allows you to specify settings for your system (Figure 2-8), which you can save to a Figure 2-8. Main Window: Configuring the Active Upgrade Process 2-26 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide — Allows you to establish a Remote Desktop Connection configuration file.

  • Page 49: Figure 2-9. Main Window: Activity Log

    When you perform a readiness test and begin the upgrade process, the configuration settings in the main window are replaced with an activity log you to track the progress and success of the upgrade process. Figure 2-9. Main Window: Activity Log For more information about viewing and interpreting items in the activity log, see “Viewing Active Upgrade Process Status”...

  • Page 50: Figure 2-10. Status Bar

    Upgrade Process Status” on page Related Topics • “Starting and Exiting the Active Upgrade Console” • “Understanding the Active Upgrade Console Interface” • “Pre-Upgrade Tasks” • Configuring the Active Upgrade Process 2-28 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide Operational State Partner State 4-21. “Viewing Active...

  • Page 51: Configuring The Active Upgrade Process

    Configuring the Active Upgrade process involves the following tasks: • Creating and managing configuration files • Selecting disks to upgrade • Selecting other configuration files to include • Selecting application services to control • Selecting event log files to back up •...

  • Page 52: Creating A Configuration File

    Active Upgrade console uses the new directory the next time you create or open a file. 4. Click Save to start editing the configuration. After you create a configuration file, the configuration process opens on the Selection page. Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide Disk...

  • Page 53: Loading A Configuration File

    Related Topics • “Creating and Managing Configuration Files” on page 3-1 • “Saving a Configuration File” on page 3-5 • “Providing a Description for a Configuration File” on page 3-19 • “Selecting Disks to Upgrade” on page 3-5 Loading a Configuration File Loading a configuration file allows you to open an existing configuration file for use.

  • Page 54: Editing An Existing Configuration File

    Configuration page. The Active Upgrade console immediately displays the Active Upgrade page and runs a readiness check. If your system meets the the Active Upgrade process, you can split the system at this time. Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide Disk Selection page.

  • Page 55: Saving A Configuration File

    Related Topics • “Creating and Managing Configuration Files” on page 3-1 • Performing the Upgrade Saving a Configuration File The Active Upgrade console automatically prompts you to save your configuration file if you leave the Configuration section of the application, or exit the application. (To save the configuration file, click Yes, otherwise click No or Cancel.) You can also optionally click Save or Save As on the Upgrade Summary page, as described in the following procedure.

  • Page 56: Glossary

    System disk Dark Green Mandatory system disk Disk is currently simplexed because it is being resynchronized with Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide mandatory system disk glossary entry.) You cannot change a for information about the steps of the Active for the Active Upgrade process for additional restrictions.) Table 3-1.

  • Page 57: Selecting Other Configurations To Include

    For more information about any volume, move your cursor over the volume to display ToolTip help. To select system and data disks • For any disk you want to mark as a system disk, click System. (This automatically marks any volume that the disk contains as a System volume.) •...
  • Page 58 (If you need to remove a child configuration from another configuration file, you must edit that configuration file separately.) When you have finished specifying child configuration files, you can click Next to proceed with the next configuration step. Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide save the configuration file.

  • Page 59: Selecting Application Services To Control

    Related Topics • “Creating and Managing Configuration Files” on page 3-1 • “Saving a Configuration File” on page 3-5 • “Displaying the Upgrade Summary” on page 3-19 Selecting Application Services to Control Use the Application Services page to select the critical application services you want the Active Upgrade console to automatically stop and restart during the upgrade process.

  • Page 60: Selecting Event Log Files To Back Up

    “Displaying the Upgrade Summary” on page 3-19 Selecting Event Log Files to Back Up Use the Log File Backup page to optionally preserve Windows Event Viewer log files from the Production Side of your system during the Active Upgrade process. 3-10 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide...
  • Page 61 When you commit an upgrade, the system reestablishes the RDR mirrors of any system disks by overwriting the Production Side disks (which contain the old version of your software) with the newer Upgrade Side disks (which contain your newly-upgraded software). Because the event log files on the Production Side are lost during this process, you might want to preserve them for future reference.

  • Page 62: Configuring Custom Actions

    Active Upgrade process, and ensure that it completes in a timely manner. 3-12 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide “Executing Visual Basic Scripts and Other Types of Executable “Selecting Event Log Files to Back...

  • Page 63: Table 3-3. Control Types For Custom Actions

    2. Executable files for custom actions must be located on a system disk. If a executable file is located on an external or network disk, the Upgrade Side loses access to the file while the system is in split mode. 3.

  • Page 64: Table 3-4. Timing For The Advanced Control Type

    Executes the custom action late in the list of custom actions, after items marked as Early or Default. 3-14 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide Purpose Executes the custom action during every step of the Active Upgrade process, including interim steps such as PrepareSplit and PrepareMerge, which occur prior to the Split and Merge operations.

  • Page 65: Programming Notes For Custom Actions

    Custom actions run consecutively according to their timing options. Subsequent custom actions do not start until the current custom action terminates. 5. Click Add to accept the custom action. (If the Add button is inactive, ensure that you typed the File path name and file name correctly. The executable file must exist to be added.) You can view the custom actions you have created at the bottom of the Custom Actions page.

  • Page 66: Using Active Upgrade Environment Variables

    For example, to pass only the ACTIVE_UPGRADE_SIDE variable to an executable file, append the following string to the Arguments for the custom action on the Custom Actions page: %ACTIVE_UPGRADE_SIDE% 3-16 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide Table 3-5 Description Describes the side of the system on which the program is running.

  • Page 67: Generating Exit Values

    To pass multiple variables, add a space between each variable, as follows: %ACTIVE_UPGRADE_SIDE% %ACTIVE_UPGRADE_REQUEST% Related Topics • “Active Upgrade State Model” on page 1-8 • “Programming Notes for Custom Actions” on page 3-15 • “Configuring Custom Actions” on page 3-12 Generating Exit Values An exit value of 0 indicates that the executable file exited normally.

  • Page 68: Executing Visual Basic Scripts And Other Types Of Executable Files

    For more information about the cscript command, open a Command Prompt session and enter cscript /?. Related Topics • “Programming Notes for Custom Actions” on page 3-15 • “Configuring Custom Actions” on page 3-12 3-18 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide “Configuring Custom Actions” on...

  • Page 69: Providing A Description For A Configuration File

    Providing a Description for a Configuration File Use the Description page to specify a title and comments for your configuration file. These items appear on the Other Configurations page, the Upgrade Summary page, and in the Locate Configuration File dialog box when you are selecting a configuration file to load or edit.
  • Page 70 (or at any point up until you commit the upgrade). Related Topics • “Saving a Configuration File” on page 3-5 • “Performing a Readiness Check” on page 4-1 • “Aborting the Upgrade” on page 4-19 3-20 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide save the current configuration file from the Upgrade...

  • Page 71: Performing The Upgrade

    Performing the Active Upgrade process can involve the following tasks: • Performing a readiness check • Splitting the system • Merging the System • Committing the upgrade • Aborting the upgrade (if necessary) • Finishing the upgrade • Viewing Active Upgrade process status Performing a Readiness Check Before you can initiate split mode on a system, the system must pass a readiness check.

  • Page 72: Table 4-1. Activity Log Entries

    If one of the readiness tests fails, you must resolve the problem, then click Retry to run the readiness test again. When the problem is resolved, you can click Split to proceed with splitting the system. Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide Table 4-1 describes the general meaning of the activity log...

  • Page 73: Splitting The System

    “Aborting the Upgrade” on page 4-19 • Troubleshooting Splitting the System Splitting an Express5800/320Fc system divides it into two independently-functioning systems: the Production Side, which continues to run your applications, and the Upgrade Side, which you can safely upgrade. Splitting the system: Disables RDR mirroring between the internal disks in each CPU- I ⁄...

  • Page 74: Figure

    2. If your system is running EMC for an external storage system, you might experience a brief delay (10-15 seconds) when the system splits, as PowerPath reroutes storage operations through the Production Side. Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide ® ® PowerPath software...

  • Page 75: Managing Upgrade Tasks On The Upgrade Side

    If the split process fails the first time, you can click Retry to try again. If the problem persists, you can click Abort to abort the upgrade process, or see information about resolving the problem. When the system is split, you can: •...

  • Page 76: Connecting To The Desktop On The Upgrade Side

    To use either connection method, click the associated link bar of the Active Upgrade console. For more information, see Related Topics. Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide abort the upgrade process from the Active “Connecting to the...

  • Page 77: Figure 4-1. Links For Connecting To Upgrade Side

    Close or OK to dismiss these messages. 4. If the browser displays a message asking you to trust the signed applet distributed by NEC Corporation of America, click Yes to continue. When the Java applet is finished loading, the Upgrade Side desktop is displayed.
  • Page 78 Splitting the System For more information about managing an AVR session, see the Express5800/320Fc Virtual Technician Module User’s Guide. To terminate a Remote KVM session with the Upgrade Side 1. Verify that any installation processes are complete, and that you have exited from any installation programs.

  • Page 79: Figure 4-2. Remote Desktop Title Bar

    N O T E S 1. If you want to refer to the Active Upgrade Help file while you are using the Upgrade Side desktop, click Start on the Upgrade Side desktop, then click All Programs, ftSYS, and Active Upgrade Help to open the Help viewer.

  • Page 80: Running Software Installation Programs

    You should install all security-related hotfixes, but do not install other types of hotfixes, such as Microsoft QFE patches that fix a particular problem, before obtaining validation from NEC Corporation of America. See “Recommendations” on page 2-5 4-10 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide 2-1.)
  • Page 81 3. Select only the updates that you previously checked for compatibility with your Express5800/320Fc system, then click Install. During the installation process, the Automatic Updates dialog box minimizes to the system tray. When the installation is complete, you can display the dialog box again. It should report that all updates were successfully installed.

  • Page 82: Restarting The Upgrade Side

    Before you restart the system, ensure that you are working on the Upgrade Side desktop (through a remote 4-12 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide connection). Do not install software on the connection). Do not restart the Production Side. for information about reconnecting to...
  • Page 83 C A U T I O N Do not shut down the Upgrade Side, otherwise, the Upgrade Side will not come back online, and you must abort the upgrade process to recover. If this happens, any changes you made on the Upgrade Side are lost. To manually restart the Upgrade Side 1.

  • Page 84: Managing Your Applications On The Production Side

    “Managing Upgrade Tasks on the Upgrade Side” on page 4-5 • “Viewing Active Upgrade Process Status” on page 4-21 • “Merging the System” on page 4-15 • “Aborting the Upgrade” on page 4-19 • Troubleshooting 4-14 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide...

  • Page 85: Verifying The Upgrade Side Before Merging The System

    Verifying the Upgrade Side Before Merging the System After you have upgraded or installed software on the Upgrade Side, you can perform limited testing on the Upgrade Side system disks, as long as your activities do not require access to the following resources, which are currently unavailable: Network •...
  • Page 86 If the merge process fails the first time, you can click Retry to try again. If the problem persists, you can click Abort to abort the upgrade process, or see information about resolving the problem. 4-16 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide abort the upgrade. test your applications...

  • Page 87: Verifying The Upgrade Side Before Committing The Upgrade

    Related Topics “Verifying the Upgrade Side Before Committing the Upgrade” • “Committing the Upgrade” on page 4-18 • “Viewing Active Upgrade Process Status” on page 4-21 • “Aborting the Upgrade” on page 4-19 • Troubleshooting • Verifying the Upgrade Side Before Committing the Upgrade After you have merged the system, your critical applications (including the Active Upgrade console) are running from the software on the Upgrade Side system disks.

  • Page 88: Committing The Upgrade

    The commit process should take only a few minutes. After it completes, the upgrade state is Fault Tolerant | Commit | Ready. You can click Finish to clean up system resources, as described in 4-18 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide “Finishing the Upgrade” on page 4-20.

  • Page 89: Aborting The Upgrade

    If the commit process fails the first time, you can click Retry to try again. If the problem persists, see Troubleshooting Related Topics • “Finishing the Upgrade” on page 4-20 • “Viewing Active Upgrade Process Status” on page 4-21 • “Verifying If RDR Disks Are Resynchronizing”...

  • Page 90: Finishing The Upgrade

    Click Exit to close the Active Upgrade console. • Click Save Log to save the activity log to a file. 4-20 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide “Finishing the Upgrade”. for information about resolving the problem. for information about resolving the problem.

  • Page 91: Viewing Active Upgrade Process Status

    • Click Active Upgrade in the navigation bar to initiate another readiness test and upgrade with the same configuration. • Click Configuration in the navigation bar to create, edit, or load another configuration file. N O T E Though the Active Upgrade process is complete, your RDR disks continue to resynchronize in the background.

  • Page 92: Figure 4-4. Activity Log (In Active Upgrade Console)

    Upgrade Side of the system (while in split mode), you can also double-click the Active Upgrade icon ( ) in the system tray to open the remote activity log Figure 4-5. Remote Activity Log 4-22 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide (Figure 4-5).

  • Page 93: Table 4-2. Activity Log Entries

    N O T E You can only view status in the remote activity log. To control the remaining steps of the Active Upgrade process, you must minimize or close the connection to the Upgrade Side and use the Active Upgrade console on the Production Side.

  • Page 94: Figure 4-6. Activity Log Detail

    If necessary, you can save the items from the activity log in the Active Upgrade console to a file. For example, you might need to send this file to NEC Technical Support or your authorized service representative for troubleshooting purposes. See Activity Log to a File”...

  • Page 95: Figure 4-7. Status Bar

    Status Bar The status bar (Figure console window, reports a quick summary of the status of the upgrade. Figure 4-7. Status Bar Configuration file name Hardware State Upgrade State Operational State Partner State The Hardware State reports whether or not your critical applications are running in lockstep.

  • Page 96: Table 4-4. Status: Upgrade State

    Upgrade Side of the system. the possible partner states. 4-26 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide Description The current upgrade session is idle. The Active Upgrade process has just finished, or it has not been initiated yet.

  • Page 97: Table 4-6. Status: Partner State

    Table 4-6. Status: Partner State Partner State Description DC On The partner operating system is shut down, but system power is still on. DC Off The partner operating system is shut down and system power is off (but the system still has housekeeping power). BIOS POST The partner system is performing a BIOS Power On Self Test (POST).
  • Page 98 Viewing Active Upgrade Process Status 4-28 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide...

  • Page 99: Troubleshooting

    If necessary, you can collect information about the Active Upgrade process and resolve problems by: • Saving the activity log to a file • Viewing the status of application services • Viewing the status of installed software • Verifying If RDR disks are resynchronizing •...

  • Page 100: Verifying The Status Of Application Services

    Active Upgrade console should be stopped (blank Status field) and its Startup Type should be Disabled on the Upgrade Side of the system, as shown with the MSSQLSERVER service in Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide Application Services Figure 5-1.

  • Page 101: Figure 5-1. Service Control Manager

    Figure 5-1. Service Control Manager Related Topics • “Managing Critical Applications During the Upgrade Process” on page 2-6 • “Selecting Application Services to Control” on page 3-9 • “Viewing Active Upgrade Process Status” on page 4-21 • Troubleshooting Verifying the Status of Installed Software While you are running in split or merge mode, or after you have finished the Active Upgrade process, you might want to verify the status of the software packages that you installed.

  • Page 102: Figure 5-2. Add Or Remove Programs Control Panel

    Upgrade Side. The same control panel on the Production Side does not list the new software you installed on the Upgrade Side. Related Topics • “Running Software Installation Programs” on page 4-10 • “Viewing Active Upgrade Process Status” on page 4-21 • Troubleshooting Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide...
  • Page 103 Verifying If RDR Disks Are Resynchronizing When you complete or abort the Active Upgrade process, the system reestablishes the mirrors between the RDR partner disks in each CPU- I ⁄ O enclosure. If you intend to initiate another upgrade process, you must wait for the full resynchronization to complete before you do so.

  • Page 104: Table 5-1. Troubleshooting: Readiness Check

    If you cannot abort an upgrade session, contact NEC Technical Support or your authorized support representative for assistance. N O T E...
  • Page 105 Ethernet PCI adapters Active Upgrade may The Active Upgrade console cannot obtain IP adresses from fail. Check DHCP your DHCP server. If possible, assign static IP addresses to server. your Ethernet teams and VTMs to avoid problems during the Active Upgrade process.

  • Page 106: Table 5-2. Troubleshooting: Custom Actions

    Table 5-3. Troubleshooting: Miscellaneous Problems Error/Problem Active Upgrade console fails to start Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide Action Ensure that the executable file associated with your custom action is located in the directory you specified during the configuration process. Also, ensure that the custom action is...
  • Page 107 Unable to add these items to your trusted zone. For information about connect to the configuring Windows Firewall, see remote server. Firewall for the Active Upgrade Process” on page A connection attempt failed because the...
  • Page 108 “Viewing Active Upgrade Process Status” on page 4-21 • Troubleshooting Getting Help If you have a technical question about Express5800/320Fc hardware or software, try these online resources first: • Online support from NEC Technical Support. You can find the latest technical...
  • Page 109 Active Upgrade technology A process that allows you to upgrade system software and applications on an Express5800/320Fc system while its critical applications remain online and accessible to users. For more information, see the Overview. application service A program that runs in the background and performs tasks related to other programs on the local system or on remote systems.
  • Page 110 The elements in an enclosure operate with each other, or, if necessary, with elements in another enclosure, to emulate a single logical system. Glossary-2 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide Production Side system disk).
  • Page 111 enclosure A physical container that includes at least one CPU element. In a system with more than one physical enclosure, you may be able to remove or upgrade one enclosure while the other continues to run your applications uninterrupted. executable file A program file, such as a .exe, .bat, or .vbs file, that you can assign to a action.
  • Page 112 You can click the Remote KVM link in the Active Upgrade console to open an AVR session to the Upgrade Side of a Glossary-4 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide Upgrade Side. one or more existing configuration files from the configuration...
  • Page 113 service application service. session One complete Active Upgrade process, from split mode to finish. Or, a remote connection to the upgrade side of the system, as in a session. simplex mode (simplexed) The state of an ftServer system when one or more of its individual components is operating without a redundant partner component.
  • Page 114 The side of a split-mode system on which you can upgrade software. See also Production Side. volume A fixed amount of storage on a hard disk (or spanning many hard disks) that is defined and managed as a single device in the operating system. Glossary-6 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide...

  • Page 115: Index

    abort upgrade, 1-6 collecting dump files, 4-20 executing, 4-19 illustrated, 1-7 Abort Upgrade page, 4-19 Actions, 3-12 Active Upgrade console, 2-22 activity log, 4-21 installing, 2-9 main window, 2-26 navigation bar, 2-23 starting and exiting, 2-21 status bar, 4-25 title bar, 2-22 Active Upgrade page, 4-1 Active Upgrade process, 1-1 abort upgrade, 1-6, 4-19...
  • Page 116 3-6 in child configuration, 3-8 requirements for upgrade, 2-4 selecting for upgrade, 3-5 Disk Selection page, 3-5 Index-2 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide downloading software to system, 2-18 dump files, 4-20 duplex mode defined, Glossary-2 requirement for upgrade, 2-2...
  • Page 117 See hotfix host bus adapter (HBA). See external storage hotfix, 2-1 configuring Automatic Updates, 2-18 configuring WSUS server, 2-19 defined, Glossary-3 downloading before split mode, 2-18 installing with Automatic Updates, 4-10 recommendations for ftServer system, 2-5 restarting system after installation, 4-12...
  • Page 118 Production Side, 4-14 Upgrade Side, 4-12 SANsurfer software, 2-5, 5-9 saving activity log to file, 5-1 configuration file, 3-5 Index-4 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide service defined, Glossary-1 managing during upgrade, 2-6, 3-9 startup type, 3-9, 3-15 verifying status of, 5-2 session...
  • Page 119 Visual Basic script (VBS), 3-12, 3-18 volume defined, Glossary-6 VTM. See Virtual Technician Module Windows Automatic Updates downloading before upgrade session, 2-18 installing updates, 4-10 restarting system for update, 4-12 Windows Firewall, 2-10 Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), 2-19 Index Index-5...
  • Page 120 Index Index-6 Express5800/320Fc: Active Upgrade™ User’s Guide...

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