DEC OSF/1 Logical Storage Manager

This document is a comprehensive guide for system administrators managing disk storage on Alpha AXP systems using the DEC OSF/1 Logical Storage Manager (LSM). It introduces LSM as a host-based tool designed to improve data availability and disk I/O performance while allowing disk management operations without interrupting users or applications.

The guide covers fundamental LSM concepts, including its architecture and key objects like volumes, plexes (mirrors), subdisks, and disk groups. It details hardware and software requirements, configuration limitations (e.g., maximum volumes, plexes, subdisks, and disk sizes), and initial setup procedures.

A significant portion is dedicated to practical operations using three interfaces: the graphical Visual Administrator (dxlsm), the menu-driven Support Operations (voldiskadm), and the command-line interface. These sections provide step-by-step instructions for tasks such as creating and accessing LSM volumes, adding/removing/renaming disks, managing disk groups, resizing volumes, and performing backups. It also offers detailed procedures for encapsulating existing user data from UNIX-style partitions, Logical Volume Manager (LVM) volumes, and Advanced File System (AdvFS) domains into LSM volumes.

The document further explores advanced volume management concepts, including plex and volume states, performance optimization strategies (e.g., I/O balancing, striping, and mirroring), and recovery procedures for various system failures, including reinstallation and configuration recovery, along with a comprehensive list of error messages.