Subject: Re: sharing disks on the same bus with multiple hosts
To: Curt Sampson <cjs@cynic.net>
From: Bill Studenmund <wrstuden@netbsd.org>
List: tech-kern
Date: 04/11/2004 12:39:25
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On Sun, Apr 11, 2004 at 06:50:48PM +0900, Curt Sampson wrote:
> On Fri, 9 Apr 2004, Bill Studenmund wrote:
>=20
> > A simple example is a failover
> > configuration, where the hot-spare computer can grab the disk on failur=
e.
>=20
> That is not quite so simple as it seems, actually, because for this to
> work reliably (as opposed to trash the entire disk :-)) the takover host
> needs to have some way to ensure that the allegedly failed host cannot,
> even if it wants to, use that disk any more. Basically, the host taking
> over the device needs some sort of "cutoff switch" under its control that
> cuts off the other host from the system in question.
>=20
> The issue is, of course, that the allegedly malfunctioning host may seem
> to be down, but may not really be down (or down enough), and may still
> try to use that device.

Check out RESERVE, RELEASE (both now obsolete), PERSISTENT RESERVE OUT,=20
and PERSISTENT RESERVE IN. SCSI has primitives, these commands and the=20
associated reservation system), that handle the problem you describe.

Take care,

Bill

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