If a GPFS filesystem is changed (e.g. a disk error or caused by adding a disk) it is possible that a filesystem becomes no longer properly "balanced" or "replicated" (see the output of the mmlsdisk command). In GPFS 2.2 you could resolve this issue by running the mmrestripefs command. From GPFS 2.3 and onwards, the GPFS filesystems will balance themselves in a period of several weeks when data was changed. The messages about unbalanced file systems have disappeared in GPFS 3.2 alltogether. Because of this, do not run the mmrestripefs -b command on GPFS filesystems in GPFS 2.3. This may cause an unstable situation in which nodes could become unreachable.
A not properly replicated filesystem does need to be restriped however. Do this by running the mmrestripefs -r command.
If you found this useful, here's more on the same topic(s) in our blog:
- GPFS / IBM Spectrum Scale links
- Viewing and modifying GPFS file systems
- View the GPFS file systems
- Oracle RAC introduction
- View the GPFS nodes
Interested in learning more?