About DataCore MPIO

DataCore MPIO is a high availability software product that provides fault-tolerance to multipath virtual disks presented by DataCore Servers over Fibre Channel or iSCSI. MPIO manages multiple paths to virtual disks, differentiates between preferred and non-preferred paths, and provides intelligent failover and failback over those paths. Asymmetric Logical Unit Access (ALUA) is supported and required for hosts. See Monitoring MPIO for notes pertaining to ALUA and DataCoreMPIO.

In an MPIO software configuration, virtual disks with redundant front-end paths are served from DataCore Servers to hosts. Hosts will see each virtual disk as one storage device with multiple paths. MPIO identifies when virtual disks or paths are detected, removed, or lost. A failure on the active path of a virtual disk will result in a failover to a passive path. The software will continue to monitor and failback when possible if it is required. Path management is automatic and controlled in DataCore SANsymphony through host settings.

The MPIO Console is used to monitor MPIO software on the MPIO host server. Refer to Monitoring MPIO for more information.