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SCSI Clusters
Overview
A PowerEdge SCSI Cluster is an integrated system of components, including a pair of PowerEdge servers, up to 4 PowerVault storage systems, a cluster interconnect, and Microsoft's failover cluster software. Microsoft Cluster Server for Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition and Windows® 2000 Advanced Server implements a two-node failover cluster that delivers high availability for applications and services. Optional features of a PowerEdge Cluster include Dell OpenManageTM , installation services, consulting services, proof-of-concept testing.
Active/Active and Active/Passive Configurations
Microsoft Cluster Service (MSCS) and all PowerEdge Clusters support both active/active and active/passive cluster configurations. The term active/active refers to a cluster with at least one virtual server running on each node. For example, in a 2-node cluster configuration, when an application is running on Node 1, Node 2 does not need to remain idle waiting for Node 1 to fail. Node 2 can run its own cluster-aware applications (or another instance of the same application) while providing failover capabilities for resources on Node 1. Node 1 in turn can provide failover capabilities for resources on Node 2. An active/active cluster node must be sized appropriately to handle the load of both nodes (in the event of a failover).
The term active/passive refers to failover cluster configurations in which one or more cluster nodes is actively processing requests for cluster applications while at least one cluster node simply waits for an active node to fail. An active/passive configuration is more costly in terms of price/performance because one or more servers sit idle most of the time. It is appropriate for business-critical systems since the applications can use the full power of another server in case of a failure.
PowerEdge S-Series clusters, including the SE400 and SE500, support direct-attach configurations comprising the two cluster server nodes and one to four PowerVault storage systems. In direct-attach configurations, one or two PERC 3/DC RAID controllers (SE400), or one or two PERC 4/DC or PERC 4/eDC RAID controllers (SE500) in each server have cluster-mode enabled. A separate RAID controller can be used for each of the servers' internal drives. A channel from each server's cluster-enabled RAID controller attaches to one side of the PowerVault 22xS SCSI enclosure. These RAID controllers and storage components were designed with clustering in mind. For example, there are enhancements to the following products that allow for SCSI clustering at no additional cost:
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The PowerEdge Cluster SE500 & SE400 use PowerEdge Servers and PowerVault SCSI storage components. These components include the PERC 3/DC, PERC 4/DC, and PERC 4/eDC RAID Controller and PowerVault 22xS storage systems with dual EMM modules installed.
Configuration Details
Basic SE500 SCSI Clustering
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Latest page update: made by Bryant_Vo
, May 24 2007, 10:56 AM EDT
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Edited by Bryant_Vo
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