Metrocluster question

[Matt Palmer_2]

Hi,

I have a 2 node HPUX cluster which uses a 3rd physical server as the quorum server(currently running HPUX as well) for the cluster.

Currently all 3 machines reside in the same comms room, but we are planning to move 1 node to a second site. This gives us a problem of the quorum server having to be in one room which is bad.

I want to know if it is possible to use Linux to make the quorum server and to create an RDP image of the quorum node, so that we could do a bare metal restore of the quorum node at the second site if we lost the primary site/the site which must hold the quorum server.

How are other people that dont have 3 sites get around the issue? - I know you can have 2 quorum servers at each end 'active', but I am concerned that may risk split brain if the connectivity between sites is broken.

any help appreciated. thanks

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

Yes Linux is a valid platform for quorum server. I'm certain that product runs on Red Hat and probably Suse.

Your plan will work.


SEP

[Olivier Masse]

Your plan will work but keep in mind that the only time the QS is required is when a cluster goes up or needs to be reformed. Your clusters are dependent on the QS and there are some corner cases where you could end up loosing them until you can get the QS back up. Better have a functional (and tested) DR plan to get it back up quickly. On the upside, it's a small piece of software so it's easy to move around.

The only disaster-proof way of doing this is hosting the Quorum Server at a third site, preferrably in a local cluster, with redundant telecommunication links to your two data centers. Think of this as a triangle, but it can be a really, really expensive one. This is not always possible, for cost and practical reasons.

[Matt Palmer_2]

thanks both, I really just wanted to sanity check whether its technically feasible, as we dont have a 3rd site, and as you say Oliver due to cost,etc. I am looking for an easy way to bolster speedy recovery of the quorum node in the event of some issue with one site. thanks again.

[Matt Palmer_2]

thats great thanks both. Now all I need to do is plan it!!