How to Setup root Solstice DiskSuite / Solaris Volume Manager

Common to both options below:
1. Create identical partitioning on the second disk
dd if=/dev/rdsk/c0t0d0s2 of=/dev/rdsk/c0t1d0s2 count=16
Or
prtvtoc /dev/rdsk/c0t0d0s2|fmthard -s - /dev/rdsk/c0t1d0s2
2. Setup the state databases with 3 backups per slice on each disk(create s7 before create new metadevice state database on s7)
metadb -a -f -c 3 c0t0d0s7 c0t1d0s7

For all slices except root
--------------------------
Description Mirror Name Device Name
1st mirror d4 c0t0d0s4
2nd mirror d5 c0t1d0s4
Metamirror d3 /dev/md/dsk/d3

1. Create submirrors for the mirrors
a) metainit -f d4 1 1 c0t0d0s4
b) metainit d3 -m d4
c) metainit d5 1 1 c0t1d0s4
2. Make a backup of the /etc/vfstab file before editing it
3. Make the following change in the /etc/vfstab file
/dev/md/dsk/d3 /dev/md/rdsk/d3 /usr ufs 1 no -
4. Reboot
5. Attach the submirror to the metamirror
metattach d3 d5 (NOTE: There will be lots of disk I/O)

For the root slice only
-----------------------
Description Mirror Name Device Name
1st mirror d1 c0t0d0s0
2nd mirror d2 c0t1d0s0
Metamirror d0 /dev/md/dsk/d0

1. Create submirrors for the mirrors
a) metainit -f d1 1 1 c0t0d0s0
b) metainit d0 -m d1
c) metainit d2 1 1 c0t1d0s0
2. Make a backup of the /etc/vfstab file
3. Let the metaroot command make the /etc/vfstab and /etc/system changes for you
metaroot d0
4. Run lockfs to prevent problems
lockfs -fa
5. Shutdown the server
/usr/sbin/shutdown -y -g0 -i0
6. From the boot prompt, run
show-disks
7. Pick your mirrored disk from the list and then setup an alias like so
nvalias mirror ^y (that is a -y to paste the device path)
8. Change your boot-device to first try the normal disk alias, then use your mirror disk
setenv boot-device disk mirror
9. Reset/reboot the server
reset-all
10. Attach the submirror to the metamirror
metattach d0 d2 (NOTE: There will be lots of disk I/O)
11. Do an ls and copy the info down as this is the alternate boot path
ls -l /dev/rdsk/c0t1d0s0


If you only have two mirrored root disks (DiskSuite 4.2.1, Solaris 8), put this setting in your /etc/system:
set md:mirrored_root_flag=1

For more information, go check out this handy tip:
http://www.sysunconfig.net/unixtips/ignore_quorum.txt