Starting ServiceGuard packages with degraded volumes

If you use ServiceGuard and PVLinks in an HP 9000 or HP Integrity system environment, the package startup time can take 20 - 60 minutes when you use the vgchange -a e VolumeGroupName command to start a package that contains a degraded volume.

Note: If you have a degraded volume but all of the associated nodes and MDisks are online, call the IBM® Support Center for assistance.

To avoid a lengthy startup time, complete the following actions:

Do not start packages on an HP 9000 or HP Integrity system while you are updating the system.
Configure your HP 9000 or HP Integrity system so that each node is running a package that contains a volume from each I/O group. With this configuration, any automatic failover and failback to complete within a reasonable amount of time.

Note: The lengthy startup time does not occur under the following circumstances:

If the host already has an active volume group that contains a degraded volume from the same I/O group
If the host started while the volume was degraded