PowerPath plugin installation on ESXi hosts via PPMA fails with an ‘Failed to unclaim Path from Array Vendor EMC’ error
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PowerPath plugin installation on ESXi hosts via PPMA fails with an ‘Failed to unclaim Path from Array Vendor EMC’ error

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Article ID: 313965

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article addresses the errors that may occur during the installation of the PowerPath plugin and provides guidance on how to successfully install it.


Symptoms:
  • Installation of Powerpath plugin on ESXi hosts using PowerPath Management Appliance (PPMA) fails with the following error message
# esxcli software vib install -d /tmp/DellPower.VMWARE.8.0.b055.ESX7.Live.zip

[LiveInstallationError]

DEL_bootbank_powerpath.cim.esx7.live_8.0.0.00.00-1DEL.700.0.0.15525992: Error in running [/etc/init.d/PowerPathCIMConfig.sh start install]:

Return code: 1

Output: PowerPath[2345806]: EIUE001: Failed to unclaim Path from Array Vendor EMC .Please check log file for more details

........PowerPath[2345807]: Note: PowerPath/VE Live Bundle is not supported on BFS setup
  • All the datastores have SIOC enabled and storageRM services are running. To verify if the storageRM service is running, execute the command 
# esxcli storage core device world list -d naa.xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Example: 

esxcli storage core device world list -d naa.60000970000197602997533030303245

Device        World ID Open Count World Name

------------------- -------- ---------- ----------
naa.60000970000197602997533030303245  131083      1 idle0
naa.60000970000197602997533030303245  131518      1 Vol3JournalExtendMgrWorld
naa.60000970000197602997533030303245  132333      1 storageRM
naa.60000970000197602997533030303245  132426      1 sdrsInjector

naa.60000970000197602997533030303245  132678      1 hostd


Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0

Cause

  • The vmkernel.log shows that all devices are busy and unable to unclaim from the NMP plugin.
  • The storageRM daemon is accessing files on all available datastores, preventing the unclaim operation necessary for the installation of PowerPath
  • This process is related to SIOC (Storage IO Control), which monitors backend devices for performance.
2023-06-06T04:18:30.896Z cpu10:2097743)ScsiClaimrule: 2518: Error claiming path vmhba1:C0:T13:L0. Failure.
2023-06-06T04:18:30.896Z cpu10:2097743)WARNING: ScsiClaimrule: 1977: Path vmhba1:C0:T13:L1 is claimed by plugin NMP, but current claimrule number 260 indicates that it should be claimed by plugin PowerPath.
2023-06-06T04:18:30.896Z cpu10:2097743)ScsiClaimrule: 2518: Error claiming path vmhba1:C0:T13:L1. Failure.
2023-06-06T04:18:30.896Z cpu10:2097743)WARNING: ScsiClaimrule: 1977: Path vmhba1:C0:T13:L2 is claimed by plugin NMP, but current claimrule number 260 indicates that it should be claimed by plugin PowerPath.
2023-06-06T04:18:30.896Z cpu10:2097743)ScsiClaimrule: 2518: Error claiming path vmhba1:C0:T13:L2. Failure.
2023-06-06T04:18:30.896Z cpu10:2097743)WARNING: ScsiClaimrule: 1977: Path vmhba1:C0:T13:L3 is claimed by plugin NMP, but current claimrule number 260 indicates that it should be claimed by plugin PowerPath.

Resolution

To install the PowerPath plugin, follow these steps:

  • Stop the SIOC/storageRM service by running the command
# /etc/init.d/storageRM stop
  • Install the PowerPath VIB
  • Unclaim all devices and reclaim them using the PowerPath plugin by running the command
# esxcli storage core claiming unclaim -t location
Note that the above command may return an error stating ‘Unable to unclaim paths: busy or in use device detected’. This occurs because the command attempts to unclaim all devices, including the boot disk, which cannot be unclaimed. The vmkernel.log will show that unclaiming the boot device failed due to an open count.
2023-06-19T08:53:51.840Z cpu44:2100405 opID=908be990)HPP: HppUnclaimPath:4002: Unclaiming path vmhba2:C3:T111:L0
2023-06-19T08:53:51.840Z cpu44:2100405 opID=908be990)WARNING: HPP: HppUnclaimPath:4013: Cannot unclaim path 'vmhba2:C3:T111:L0': device 'naa.62cf89bd41f7cb202bef7132cedfd6e8' is open.
2023-06-19T08:53:51.840Z cpu44:2100405 opID=908be990)ScsiPath: 8779: Path vmhba2:C3:T111:L0 could not be unclaimed from plugin, status Busy. Cotinue path unclaimingn
  • The following commands are used to claim the path using the PowerPath plugin: 
# esxcli storage core claimrule load

# esxcli storage core claimrule run
  • Restart SIOC/storageRM service
# /etc/init.d/storageRM start
  • Verify that the devices are claimed using PowerPath by running 
# esxcli storage core path list


Additional Information

Impact/Risks:
The installation of PowerPath on ESXi hosts is failing, preventing the use of the EMC PowerPath solution for backend LUNs

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