MS Clusters and Zones (and Brocade/EVA5000/VCS4.007)

[Adam Garsha]

Is there any requirement for MS Cluster nodes to share a single zone with their storage target vs. using single initiator zoning?

We've got an old exchange cluster that has multiple hosts sharing a single zone with an EVA5000 and we've got a new exchange cluster with each host zoned to an EVA5000 independently.

i.e. one cluster has multiple initiators zoned to targe while the new cluster has single initiator (single target) zoning.

The new cluster seems to be more tempermental to SAN perturbations. Both clusters are Windows Server 2003, fairly recent firmware, PSP, fairly recent MPIO FF, fairly recent storport.

I am not looking to troubleshoot the issue here, I am just looking for an answer to the zoning question: is single initiator, single target OK for MS Windows Server 2003 clusters?

[Frantisek Kysela · Accepted solution]

Hi,
single initiator design is OK, if all nodes has access to shared LUNs. Both designs are equalbut multiple host zone can be more simply to manage.

Frantisek