Red Hat GFS 6.0 RHEL3 U5 Release Notes

Copyright(c) 2005 Red Hat, Inc.
	-------------------------------------------------------

Introduction

   The following topics are covered in this document:
   
     o Changes to GFS 6.0

     o Major Defects Fixed in the Release

     o Related Documentation
     


Changes to GFS 6.0

   This section describes changes for GFS 6.0 RHEL3 U5 and includes the
   following information:

     o Optional usedev key

     o Updated gfs_fsck command
     
     o Use with PowerPath


   Optional usedev key
   
    An optional usedev key has been added to the nodes.ccs file
    (nodes.ccs:nodes). The value of that key is a named device from the
    ip_interfaces section. If usedev is present, GULM uses the IP address from
    that device in the ip_interfaces section. Otherwise GULM uses the IP
    address from libresolv, as it does in earlier releases.

    Note
     The IP address specified in the ip_interfaces section *must* be an IP
     address; not a name.

    The nodes.ccs format with the usedev key:
    ----------------------------------------- 

    nodes {
      NodeName {
         ip_interfaces {
             IFNAME="IPAddress"  <---- Must be an IP address; not a name
         }
         usedev = "NamedDevice"  <---- Optional parameter usedev
         fence {
         .
         .
         .
         }
      }
      NodeName {
      .
      .
      .
      }
    }
 


    An example of a nodes.ccs file with the usedev key:
    ---------------------------------------------------

    nodes {
       n01 {
          ip_interfaces {
             wizzy = "10.0.0.1"    <---- Must be an IP address; not a name
         }
          usedev = "wizzy"  <---- Optional parameter usedev set to "wizzy"
          fence {
          .
          .
          .
          }
       }
       n02 {
       .
       .
       .
       }
    }
 

    Parameter descriptions for use with the usedev key:
    ---------------------------------------------------
    Parameter: IPAddress
    Description: For the ip_interfaces section: The IP address of the node on
    the interface specified. GULM uses this parameter only if the optional
    usedev parameter is specified in the nodes.ccs file. Note: This parameter
    *must* be an IP address; not a node name.
   
    Parameter: usedev
    Description: If usedev is present, GULM uses the IP address from that device
    in the ip_interfaces section. Otherwise GULM uses the IP address from
    libresolv (as it does in earlier releases).
                                                                                
    Parameter: NamedDevice
    Description: Used with usedev. NamedDevice indicates that the IP address is
    specified by the optional parameter usedev, and *not* by the IP address
    pulled from libresolv.


   Updated gfs_fsck command

    The gfs_fsck command for RHEL3 Update 5 and
    later has changed in the following ways:
                                                                                
      o You can no longer set the interactive mode with Ctrl+C. Pressing
        Ctrl+C now cancels the gfs_fsck command. Do *not* press Ctrl+C unless
        you want to cancel the command.
                                                                                
      o You can increase the level of verbosity by using the -v flag. Adding a
        second -v flag increases the level again.
                                                                                
      o You can decrease the level of verbosity by using the -q flag. Adding a
        second -q flag decreases the level again.
                                                                                
      o The -n option opens a file system as read-only and answers 'no' to any
        queries automatically. It provides a way to try the command to reveal
        errors without actually trying to change anything.
                                                                                
    Refer to the gfs_fsck man page, gfs_fsck(8), for additional information
    about other command options.
    
    
   Use with PowerPath
   
    In this release, the GFS volume manager (pool) has been enhanced to not
    recognize the underlying physical devices accessed via EMC PowerPath. The
    result of the enhancement reduces delays caused by seeking alternate paths
    through both PowerPath and the underlying physical devices. Instead, GFS pool
    relies on redundant path selection provided by PowerPath. In addition, GFS
    pool is not designed to allow mixing or concatenating PowerPath devices with
    non-PowerPath devices. Attempting to do so prevents activation of a GFS pool
    volume composed of a PowerPath and a non-PowerPath device.



Major Defects Fixed in the Release
 
   For a list of defects fixed in this release, refer to Red Hat Errata
   "RHBA-2005:466 GFS bug fix update" on Red Hat Network (RHN):
   https://rhn.redhat.com/

 
Related Documentation

   Refer to the Red Hat GFS 6.0 Administrator's Guide for more information
   about installation and configuration of Red Hat GFS 6.0. The Red Hat GFS
   6.0 Administrator's Guide is available at
   http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/csgfs/.

   Refer to the Red Hat documentation errata for updates to the
   Red Hat GFS 6.0 Administrator's Guide. Documentation errata for 
   the Red Hat GFS 6.0 Administrator's Guide is available at
   http://www.redhat.com/docs/errata/csgfs/.