Database Software

I support a 10gR2 RAC database (10.2.0.4) running Oracle Clusterware and ASM (also 10.2.0.4) on an IBM P-Series server, AIX OS 5.3 tech level 12. Our data center team recently replaced an network card that controls communication between the database server hardware and our IBM DS4800 SAN storage device. This was to fix an issue with the primary network channel. Replacing the card did not fix the problem. IBM support is now telling them to reconfigure all of the disk drives attached to the server, including the ASM raw disk devices where our database files, control files, redo logs and archive logs are stored.

The AIX command IBM is asking them to use is "rmdev +devicename+" where devicename = the associated hdisk. The hdisk devices will then be added back to the server configuration using the "cnfgmgr" command (tool?).

I am concerned that this may cause the ASM disk headers to be overwritten by AIX, resulting in the loss of our ASM disk groups?

Can anyone advise me on whether or not this may happen? I have spoken with IBM support and they say it won't overwrite the disk headers, but I am still uncomfortable with the solution.

Any information or insights that can be given are greatly appreciated. Thank you!