Cluster without a shared drive array.

To set up a cluster, both systems need access to an external array.

That is by definition a cluster.

the whole purpose of a cluster is that if one machine fails, another can take over the information.

By failing I mean, if a system turns off, the cluster service fails over to the other system.

There are different types of clusters such as Active/Passive and Active/Active.

You answered your own question it looks like. I am not sure where you are going to find a external scsi drive though that is not in a drive array.

I am unsure what you mean to accomplish by this goal, as only 1 system can have control of the cluster at one time.

Even in an active active cluster. Only 1 machine can have control over it's own set of disks at any given time.

So if you have 2 systems and a 8 drive array. you would have 2 sets of 3 drives in raid 5 and 2 drives in raid 1 (quorom disk).

System a controls set 1
system b controls set 2
whoever controls the quorum disk controlsthe cluster.

If system b goes down, system a takes control over system b's set and can now write to it.

Can you repost what your actual goal is/what you need to accomplish and I will see if there is an alternitve for you.

FYI- You need adv server to do clustering.