Virtual Array 7100 and MC/ServiceGuard?

[Igor Streharski]

Does anyone have experience with connecting HP VA 7100 to 2 nodes in cluster environment?

Configuration: 2 L-class servers, 1 such disk storage, 2 shared volume groups to be defined (each one activated on one node).
I would need to do this without any fiber switches.
Would this work? Is it supported?

Thanks in advance.

[melvyn burnard]

The VA7100 array IS supported on ServiceGuard with the following restriction: If you are going to use it as a cluster lock disc, you MUST use ServiceGuard version 11.12

To use it as a cluster lock disc with versions 11.09 or 10.12, a patch will be needed which is not yet available.

[Stephen Doud]

Hello Igor,

I looked into this topic and was reminded that
the configuration aspect can become a bit complex - particularly because the VA 7100 can be shared in a heterogeneous operating system environment.

Certain connection methods are "supported" (tested) by Hewlett Packard because they make the configuration "highly available". This usually entails redundancy of paths to the disks via an additional mass storage interface card in each server. In the case of fibre channel, this then necessitates the use of a couple of FC hubs (again redundancy - no single point of failure) because the VA 7100 has only two connection points and cannot accommodate 2 connections from each server in the cluster.

While the lower cost connection methods (non-redundant connections) will physically work, they do not provide the hardware redundancy that gives the name "highly available" - and are not tested by Hewlett Packard - hence are not "supported".

In summary, if you are interested in the highest availability, consult an HP sales representative to learn what configurations are supported.