topic Active/Active backend paths in ONTAP Hardware

Active/Active backend paths

GRANGARAJAN1 — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 06:19:49 GMT

I am currently using a NetApp v6280 cluster connected to a HDS storage system via a Fabric. How can I make all the backend paths to the storage system be Active/Active? Currently the system is treating them as Active/Passive and thus potentially using only half the paths. The V-series best practices guide points out this path information as well and I am wondering if there's a way to fix this?

v6280-top> storage array show-config

LUN Group Array Name Array Target Ports Switch Port Initiator

Group 0 (18 LUNS) HITACHI_DF600F_1 50:06:0e:80:10:13:8c:22 bs32_testbed1:29 0d

50:06:0e:80:10:13:8c:2a BS33_testbed2:23 0b

Group 1 (22 LUNS) HITACHI_DF600F_1 50:06:0e:80:10:13:8c:28 bs32_testbed1:31 0c

50:06:0e:80:10:13:8c:20 BS33_testbed2:22 0a

v6280-top> storage load summary

Port Total Load Switch Array Port #Blocks Array LUN Count

0c 50% bs32_testbed1:32 50060e8010138c28 1127 22

0d 49% bs32_testbed1:33 50060e8010138c22 1091 18

0a 0% BS33_testbed2:32 50060e8010138c20 0 22

0b 0% BS33_testbed2:35 50060e8010138c2a 0 18

As you could see above, the array target ports ending with 8c:22/2a and 8c:28/20 are the redundant paths. But all the I/O ends up in just one of the paths to the LUN. Appreciate your feedback. Cheers!

Re: Active/Active backend paths

isaacs — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 17:36:24 GMT

Hi Gokula,

DataONTAP will prefer the paths the arrays tells it to. Unless the array is an active/active array, only the paths to one array controller will be active. If the array is active/active, and the paths are therefore equal, then DataONTAP will split the LUN access across both paths.

When running DataONTAP 8.1 and later in Cluster Mode, you are able to use 4 paths per array LUN group. This allows you to have 2 path to the active controller in on an active/passive controller. Or all 4 on an active/active array.

In your case, ensure that your AMS is running in symmetric active/active multipathing mode, and you should then observe a fairly equal # of array LUNs being accessed on both available paths.

Thanks!

Dan Isaacs

isaacs@netapp.com

Re: Active/Active backend paths

GRANGARAJAN1 — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:48:35 GMT

Thanks Dan for the response and feedback. You mentioned "ensure that your AMS is running in symmetric active/active multipathing mode". Is there a specific setting in the AMS that needs to be changed to reflect this mode? If yes, could you please give more details? Thank you again!

Re: Active/Active backend paths

isaacs — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 18:57:14 GMT

Unfortunately, I do not have much experience with the newer AMS models. You should be able to contact HDS support and get an answer.

Good luck!

Re: Active/Active backend paths

olgac — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:42:35 GMT

Hi Daniel,

What is the biggest speed that one path can work? Does It depend on what?

Thanks.

Olga.

Re: Active/Active backend paths

isaacs — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:27:27 GMT

Hi Olga,

We can run on 8Gbps Fibre Channel. That's is currently the highest bandwidth initiator we support.

Thanks!