hp proliant dl380 harware clustering

[189garfield]

I will be setting up virtual servers on a hp dl380 using VMWARE. since the dl380 will become there single point of failure i want to set up a hardware clustering solution. I'v been told that it is possible to set up clustering straight from the harware without going through the OS. If any one has ever done this and can lead me in the right direction that would help. I've been up and down the net and no luck yet.

[Doug de Werd]

Most clusters are software based, but there is a hardware based solution for the DL380. It is called the Recovery Server Option (RSO). It uses 2 DL380 servers connected to an MSA500 storage box. The servers act in an active/passive role. This is only supported under Windows 2000 though.

Here are some links to more info on both the DL380 Packaged Cluster (2 servers + MSA500) and RSO.

http://h18022.www1.hp.com/solutions/enterprise/highavailability/dl380/index.html

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/proliantstorage/options/rso/index.html

Thanks,
Doug

[189garfield]

thanks the web site helps alot...

[Steven Clementi]

Hope your still reading this.... Simple answer is VMware ESX on a DL380 Cluster solution. Possibly Virtual Center as well, depending on how much you already have invested.

As for "hardware solution", it is still software based. You need to have some OS installed (the software piece) to create the cluster. VMware, Linux, Windows, take your pick.

Steven