Compaq ProLiant Clusters HA/F100 Administrator's Manual page 49

Designing the Compaq ProLiant Clusters HA/F100 and HA/F200 2-15
Microsoft clustering software configuration
Microsoft Cluster Server for Windows NTS/E and Cluster Service for
Windows 2000 Advanced Server (MSCS) allow you to configure a primary
and backup path for intracluster communication, which will reduce the
possibility of an intracluster communication disruption. Any network interface
card (NIC) in the nodes can be configured to serve as a backup path for node-
to-node communication. When the primary path is disrupted, the transfer of
communication responsibilities goes undetected by applications running on the
cluster. Whether a dedicated or public interconnect has been set up, a separate
NIC should be configured to act as a redundant interconnect. This is an easy
and inexpensive way to add redundancy to intracluster communication.
Redundant Interconnect Card
Another strategy to increase availability is to use a redundant interconnect
card. This may be done for either the dedicated intracluster communication
path, or for the client LAN. If you are using a dedicated, direct-connection
interconnect configuration, you can install a second dedicated,
direct-connection interconnect.
NOTE: If you are using the ServerNet option as the interconnect, the card itself has a
built-in level of redundancy. Each ServerNet PCI adapter has two data ports, thereby
allowing two separate cables to be run to and from each cluster node. If the ServerNet
adapter determines that data is being sent from one adapter but not received by the
other, it will automatically route the information through its other port.
There are two implementations that provide identical redundant NIC
capability. The implementation you choose will depend on your hardware. The
Compaq TLAN Teaming and Configuration Utility is supported on all
Compaq TI-based Ethernet and Fast Ethernet NICs, such as NetFlex-3 and
Netelligent 10/100 TX PCI Ethernet NICs. The Compaq Network Teaming
and Configuration Utility is designed to operate with the Compaq Intel-based
10/100 NICs. Combining these utilities with the appropriate NICs will enable
a seamless, undetectable failover of the primary interconnect to the redundant
interconnect.
NOTE: These two methods of NIC redundancy cannot be combined in a single redundant
NIC pair: TI-based NICs may not be paired with Intel-based NICs to create a redundant
pair. For more information, refer to the Compaq White Paper, "High Availability Options
Supported by Compaq Network Interface Controllers," available at the Compaq High
Availability website (http://www.compaq.com/).