In the comment thread of one of my old posts about Orion a reader posted an example of a problem he was having with the tool.
# ./orion10.2_linux -run simple -testname mytest -num_disks 1
ORION: ORacle IO Numbers — Version 10.2.0.1.0
Test will take approximately 9 minutes
Larger caches may take longer
storax_skgfr_openfiles: File identification failed: /mnt/1201879371/Orion, error 4
storax_skgfr_openfiles: File identification failed on /mnt/1201879371/Orion
OER 27054, Error Detail 0: please look up error in Oracle documentation
rwbase_lio_init_luns: lun_openvols failed
rwbase_rwluns: rwbase_lio_init_luns failed
orion_thread_main: rw_luns failed
Non test error occurred
Orion exiting
Carry on Wayward Googler
I didn’t work the problem with the poster of this issue, but I do know the answer to the issue and for the sake of any future wayward googlers I’ll post up the solution. The solution was to set fs.aio-max-nr in sysctl.conf file to 4194304. The value can be change through the /proc interface as well:
# echo 4194304 > /proc/sys/fs/aio-max-nr
Kevin Closson's Blog: Platforms, Databases and Storage 
I get the same error on AIX 5.3 TL10 when trying to run against raw disks. Can orion be run against raw disks?
ORION: ORacle IO Numbers — Version 11.1.0.7.0
mytest_20090814_1012
Test will take approximately 9 minutes
Larger caches may take longer
storax_skgfr_openfiles: File identification failed on /dev/hdisk2
OER 27037: please look up error in Oracle documentation
Additional information: 5
rwbase_lio_init_luns: lun_openvols failed
rwbase_rwluns: rwbase_lio_init_luns failed
orion_thread_main: rw_luns failed
Non test error occurred
Orion exiting
I don’t get to touch AIX systems these days so I can’t answer that. It sure seems like you would be able to. You might care to truss the execution of Orion to see what is failing.
my fault, it works if I use raw disks (/dev/rhdiskX) but not disks (/dev/hdiskX)
Thanks, Rich…that actually makes sense since a block interface would not make Orion all that happy. I did quite a good bit of work on AIX 4.3 and very early 5L, but did not cast to memory the raw/block disk nomenclature so I missed that clue… thanks for helping future Googlers!
Kevin, I hope you remember me since I was one of your biggest fans!! I also hope things are well. I’ve been having issues with orion on Windows where, no matter what happens, we get the “File Identification…error 5”. I’m about to run another test using a linux server and raw devices. I haven’t been able to find this written anywhere, but I’m starting to assume that orion ONLY works with raw devices. Any truth to that?
Jorge,
Anyone that dines in my house on Venison I’ve taken from the field is impossible to forget! How are you doing? Good to hear from you.
As for Orion, I wouldn’t use it on anything but raw disk personally…
Great to hear from you as well!! I’m always singing your praises. Not sure if you hear, but our buddy Rozmus is now at Cray.
And yes, I’ve gone the route of Solaris and a raw device. Testing now…
Rozmus owes me a beer.
I owe you 2 beers. I know I am in […your neck of the woods…] Nov 14 for the week. Block it off so we can catch up.
Roz,
My friend, I have it blocked out. I am so looking forward to that!
I get the same error with Solaris 10. I do not know where is the AIO equivalence in Solaris.