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Clustering: Shared Disk question

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by dhouchin

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Clustering: Shared Disk question
I'm considering setting up my SQL server and my Exchange server in a Win2K cluster. These servers currently support 20 users. The Fiber Channel SANs seem to be overkill for my needs. 36GB hard drive space is ample for the forseeable future.

I've seen references to using shared SCSI disk arrays rather than SANs, but I've not been able to locate any solid configuration data.

Can I simply connect an external SCSI disk array directly to both of the serversin a cluster? That is, Server 1 connects directly to the Disk Array, and the Disk Array connects directly to Server 2. Essentially, each server would be terminating the SCSI chain. Is there something else that's needed to manage the ownership of theHard Drives?

Assuming that such a configuration is viable, is MSCS sufficient or is another product like ClusterX necessary?

Thanks for your help,

Dennis

4 replies

by frobo

Hi Dennis,
MSCS is architected to work with standard Windows NT Server storage drivers, so it can potentially support any of the current or anticipated storage interconnections available through Win32 or Windows Driver Model. However, all of the cluster configurations currently being considered for MSCS validation use standard PCI-based SCSI connections (including SCSI over fiber.)
HCL:
http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/info/hwcompatibility.htm.

If you take normal Products like an Adaptec 2940 you should deactivate some features like Reset on Boot. Since your?e runnng both SCSI-Controllers on the same Bus they sould have diffrent SCSI-ID?s and should have features like the Multiple Master Protocol .

All of the following system vendors have announced plans to offer MSCS-based clusters: Amdahl?, Compaq?, Data General?, Dell?, Digital Equipment Corporation?, Fujitsu?, Hitachi?, Hewlett-Packard?, IBM?, NCR?, Olivetti?, Siemens Nixdorf?, Stratus?, Tandem?, and Unisys?. Prior tothe release of MSCS, a list of hardware vendor announcements relative to MSCS clusters can be found in the Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition Solutions Directory at http:/microsoft.com/ntserver/info/ntsedir.htm. Following the release ofMSCS in Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition, the list of supported cluster configurations will be in the Cluster Hardware Compatibility List found from the Microsoft Windows NT Server web site at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/info/hwcompatibility.htm.

Hope it Helps

Frobo

by frobo

LAst but not Least, you don?t need anything special to or for your MSCS. If you have many Clusters in your Environment i would take Products like Vertias ClusterX to manage them, cause it?s nice to have .

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