topic Re: Mixed VMS Cluster Configurations in Operating System - OpenVMS

Mixed VMS Cluster Configurations

SANJAY MUNDHRA — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:40:07 GMT

Is there any restrictions on forming mixed VMS clusters configurations involving Alpha and Integrity server?

Re: Mixed VMS Cluster Configurations

Hoff — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:30:41 GMT

Well, of course there are restrictions. There are always restrictions. That's, well, life.

You'll learn about the restrictions and the requirements after reading through the OpenVMS and particularly the Cluster software product description (SPD), and the OpenVMS documentation. Start with the OpenVMS Cluster SPD.

SPDs: http://docs.hp.com/
Docs: http://www.hp.com/go/openvms/doc/

In general, mixed-architecture clusters work just fine. Even triple-architecture, which is officially unsupported. So long as you don't go do something that is either "bad" or "excessively clever", that is. And becoming familiar with the SPDs and with the OpenVMS documentation can definitely help avoid badness.

Re: Mixed VMS Cluster Configurations

Robert Gezelter — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:05:54 GMT

Sanjay,

I would strongly recommend a thorough reading of the OpenVMS Clustering Manual.

Mixed architecture clustering works very well. Of course, each architecture requires AT LEAST a separate disk volume for system residence.

Care also needs to be taken when setting up common user utilities and command procedures, since executable utilities will have to have images for each architecture, and the appropriate logical names to point to the correct directories and images for each architecture.

Mixed architecture clusters figured in my OpenVMS Technical Journal article on the Alpha to Itanium transition (see http://www.rlgsc.com/publications/vmstechjournal/migrationstrategies.html ).

- Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com

Re: Mixed VMS Cluster Configurations

SANJAY MUNDHRA — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:31:43 GMT

Hi Hoff and Robert,

Thanks for the reply.
Regds,
Sanjay

Re: Mixed VMS Cluster Configurations

Jan van den Ende — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:40:44 GMT

Sanjay,

Take Hoff's and Bob advise seriously.
And if you should be interested in any experience: we have been running mixed cluster in production for years, without any (planned nor unplanned) down time.
But do mind the (version) compatibility matrix!

hth

Proost.

Have one on me.

jpe