Clustering on DL380 G2?

[Matt Giordano]

I have two DL380 G2 machines with a 6 SCSI disk external drive array. Both DL380's contain the Smart Array 5i controller. The local hard drive on each machine is configured on Port 1 of the 5i controller and the shared storage drives are on Port 2 of the same 5i controller.

This is a test system so I've created three physical arrays on the shared storage, and attempted to load the clustering services in Win2k Adv Srvr. The configuration does not recognize any of the drives I've created in the ACU and Windows Disk Mgmt.

I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas or if I'm simply trying to do something that's not possible.

[Terry Hutchings]

What kind of enclosure do you have? Is this some kind of external enclosure?

You said you created 3 arrays, but did you create logical drives on these as well?

[Doug de Werd]

Is it a standard JBOD external disk storage box (like a StorageWorks 4314)?

If so, you will not be able to set up clustering with it. The only way you can make it work is to use a Smart Array Cluster Storage cabinet for your external storage (you will still connect the external storage via the 2nd port of the Smart 5i).

This configuration would end up being like what is called a "Packaged Cluster". Here is a link to that product:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/solutions/enterprise/highavailability/dl380/index-g2.html

However, since you already have the 2 servers, you would just have to purchase the Smart Array Cluster Storage box:
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/proliantstorage/sharedstorage/sacluster/index.html

You can use the same 6 drives that you already have in your current external storage. You just put them into the Smart Array Cluster Storage system and run the Array Config Utility (ACU) and the RAID sets and logical volumes will automatically be recognized.

Here is a link to the general ProLiant Cluster page:
http://www.hp.com/servers/proliant/highavailability

Lots of good info in the "Information Center"

Hope this helps,
Doug

[Matt Giordano]

It's a standard drive storage box. The label on the front says "Storage System U2". It's not the cluster storage system mentioned in the other replies.

I was beginning to wonder if it was a hardware issue. I had created the arrays on the external drives and built the appropriate logical drives as well. In my attempt to make this work, I was making sure I followed a very solid, step by step process to make things work, but this issue really threw me.

[Doug de Werd]

The bottom line is that clustering will not work properly with a U2 enclosure connceted to 5i controllers. The Smart 5i in each server does not have the multi-initiator capability required to do clustering with that storage box. When you use a Smart Array Cluster Storage (SACS) for external storage, the 2nd port of the 5i converts to a SCSI pass thru, and the RAID functionality is performed by the RAID controllers that are in the external SACS storage. This is a primary difference between a JBOD like the U2 and the SACS - the RAID controlelrs are actually external to the servers and located in the SACS.

Thanks,
Doug

[Stephen Anderson]

Doug,

You indicated that a StorageWorks cabinet would not be compatible with this clustered application. Can you help me understand why the product comparison matrix says that the StorageWorks supports clustering & ha? I am talking about the matrix located at:

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/proliantstorage/sharedstorage/sacluster/description.html

Thanks!
Steve

[Doug de Werd]

Hi Steve,

Sorry for the confusion. "Storageworks" is the umbrella HP brand name for HP's storage products, so it's really the model number after the name that tells you what you have.

So when I said a Storageworks 4314 won't work, it's the "4314" part that's important. The same applies to your system - you have a "Storage System U2" and that system cannot be clustered with the 5i controllers on the DL380 G2.

On the matrix that you referenced, each of the 3 storage boxes mentioned does support clustering - the SACS is a SCSI based cluster (which does use the 5i controllers, so no additional controllers are necessary), and the RA4100 (now discontinued) and the MSA 1000 are both fibre channel based systems that require the addition of at least one FC Host Bus Adapter (HBA) in each server (plus FC switches, cables, etc.)

Hope this clears things up, let me know if it doesn't.

Thanks,
Doug

[Stephen Anderson]

Doug,

Thanks for the clarification. Our supplier wanted to replace the generic 2U with a 4314. In response to your information,
I told them that was not a solution. They are now asking what is the part number of something that will work. I am unable to find any part number for the SACS. Do you know where we could find one?

Thanks!
Steve

[Stephen Anderson]

Doug,

Thanks for the clarification. Our supplier wanted to replace the generic 2U with a 4314. In response to your information,
I told them that was not a solution. They are now asking what is the part number of something that will work. I am unable to find any part number for the SACS. Do you know where we could find one?

Thanks!
Steve

[Doug de Werd]

Check the QuickSpecs at http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/proliantstorage/sharedstorage/sacluster/index.html

You may also want to check the "Packaged Cluster" link, as that is what you are really building.
http://h18022.www1.hp.com/solutions/enterprise/highavailability/dl380/index.html

The Packaged Cluster is 2 DL380 servers plus the SACS, but since you already have the servers, you can just get the SACS separately - but there is a lot of documentation (install checklists, etc.) on the ProLiant Cluster site in the "Answer Center" - look in Deployment and Installation.
http://h18022.www1.hp.com/solutions/enterprise/highavailability/index.html

Thanks,
Doug