Dell CX4 Series User Manual
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Dell CX4 Series User Manual

Fibre channel storage arrays with microsoft windows server failover clusters
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Dell/EMC CX4-series
Fibre Channel Storage Arrays
®
With Microsoft
Windows
®
Server
Failover Clusters

Hardware Installation

and Troubleshooting
Guide

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Summary of Contents for Dell CX4 Series

  • Page 1: Hardware Installation

    Dell/EMC CX4-series Fibre Channel Storage Arrays ® With Microsoft Windows ® Server Failover Clusters Hardware Installation and Troubleshooting Guide...
  • Page 2 Information in this document is subject to change without notice. © 2008 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, PowerEdge, and PowerVault are trademarks of Dell Inc.;...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents Introduction Cluster Solution Cluster Hardware Requirements Cluster Nodes Cluster Storage Supported Cluster Configurations Direct-Attached Cluster SAN-Attached Cluster Other Documents You May Need Cabling Your Cluster Hardware Cabling the Mouse, Keyboard, and Monitor Cabling the Power Supplies Cabling Your Cluster for Public and Private Networks Cabling the Public Network Cabling the Private Network...
  • Page 4 Storage Groups Using Navisphere Configuring the Hard Drives on the Shared Storage System(s) Optional Storage Features Updating a Dell/EMC Storage System for Clustering Installing and Configuring a Failover Cluster Contents ......

  • Page 5: Contents

    A Troubleshooting B Zoning Configuration Form C Cluster Data Form ....... .
  • Page 6 Contents...

  • Page 7: Introduction

    Troubleshooting Guide located on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com. For a list of recommended operating systems, hardware components, and driver or firmware versions for your Dell Failover Cluster, see the Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix on the Dell High Availability website at www.dell.com/ha.

  • Page 8: Cluster Solution

    Cluster Solution Your cluster implements a minimum of two nodes to a maximum of either eight nodes (for Windows Server 2003) or sixteen nodes (for Windows Server 2008) and provides the following features: • 8-Gbps and 4-Gbps Fibre Channel technology •...

  • Page 9: Cluster Nodes

    NOTE: For more information about supported systems, HBAs and operating system variants, see the Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix on the Dell High Availability website at www.dell.com/ha. It is recommended that the NICs on each public network...

  • Page 10: Cluster Storage

    15 hard drives NOTE: The DAE-OS is the first DAE enclosure that is connected to the CX4-series (including all of the storage systems listed above). Core software is preinstalled on the first five hard drives of the DAE-OS.
  • Page 11 LUN. • EMC SAN Copy™ — Moves data between Dell/EMC storage systems without using host CPU cycles or local area network (LAN) bandwidth. For more information about Navisphere Manager, MirrorView, SnapView, and SAN Copy, see "Installing and Configuring the Shared Storage System"...

  • Page 12: Supported Cluster Configurations

    However, the direct-attached clusters supported by Dell connect to a single port on each storage processor in the storage system. Because of the single port limitation, PowerPath can provide only failover protection, not load balancing, in a direct-attached configuration.

  • Page 13: San-Attached Cluster

    NOTE: To configure Dell blade server modules in a Dell PowerEdge cluster, see the Using Dell Blade Servers in a Dell PowerEdge High Availability Cluster document located on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.
  • Page 14 • For more information on deploying your cluster with Windows Server 2003 operating systems, see the Dell Failover Clusters with Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Installation and Troubleshooting Guide. • For more information on deploying your cluster with Windows Server 2008 operating systems, see the Dell Failover Clusters with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.

  • Page 15: Cabling Your Cluster Hardware

    Cabling Your Cluster Hardware NOTE: To configure Dell blade server modules in a Dell PowerEdge cluster, see the Using Dell Blade Servers in a Dell PowerEdge High Availability Cluster document located on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com. Cabling the Mouse, Keyboard, and Monitor When installing a cluster configuration in a rack, you must include a switch box to connect the mouse, keyboard, and monitor to the nodes.
  • Page 16 Figure 2-1. Power Cabling Example With One Power Supply in the PowerEdge Systems primary power supplies on one AC power strip (or on one AC Power Distribution Unit [not shown]) NOTE: This illustration is intended only to demonstrate the power distribution of the components.

  • Page 17: Cabling Your Cluster For Public And Private Networks

    Table 2-1. NOTE: To configure Dell blade server modules in a Dell PowerEdge cluster, see the Using Dell Blade Servers in a Dell PowerEdge High Availability Cluster document located on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

  • Page 18: Cabling The Public Network

    Table 2-1. Network Connections Network Connection Public network Private network Figure 2-3 shows an example of cabling in which dedicated network adapters in each node are connected to each other (for the private network) and the remaining network adapters are connected to the public network. Figure 2-3.

  • Page 19: Cabling The Private Network

    Cabling the Private Network The private network connection to the nodes is provided by a different network adapter in each node. This network is used for intra-cluster communications. Table 2-2 describes three possible private network configurations. Table 2-2. Private Network Hardware Components and Connections Method Hardware Components Network...

  • Page 20: Cabling Storage For Your Direct-Attached Cluster

    Cabling Storage for Your Direct-Attached Cluster A direct-attached cluster configuration consists of redundant Fibre Channel host bus adapter (HBA) ports cabled directly to a Dell/EMC storage system. Figure 2-4 shows an example of a direct-attached, single cluster configuration with redundant HBA ports installed in each cluster node.
  • Page 21 HBA port, SP port, or tape library port. Cabling a Two-Node Cluster to a Dell/EMC Storage System NOTE: The Dell/EMC storage system requires at least 2 front-end fibre channel ports available on each storage processor. 1 Connect cluster node 1 to the storage system: Install a cable from cluster node 1 HBA port 0 to the first front-end fibre channel port on SP-A.
  • Page 22 Figure 2-5. Cabling a Two-Node Cluster to a CX4-120 or CX4-240 Storage System cluster node 2 cluster node 1 HBA ports (2) HBA ports (2) SP-A SP-B CX4-120 or CX4-240 storage system Figure 2-6. Cabling a Two-Node Cluster to a CX4-480 Storage System...
  • Page 23 Dell/EMC storage system, depending on the availability of front-end fibre channel ports. The CX4-120 and CX4-240 storage systems can support up to 6-node cluster, the CX4-480 storage system can support up to 8-node cluster, and the CX4-960 can support up to 12-node cluster.
  • Page 24 SP-B. Cabling Multiple Clusters to a Dell/EMC Storage System The high number of available front-end fibre channel ports on the CX4-series storage system also allows you to configure multiple clusters or a mix of cluster(s) and non-clustered server(s) in a direct-attached configuration.

  • Page 25: Cabling Storage For Your San-Attached Cluster

    Cabling Two Two-Node Clusters to a Dell/EMC Storage System The following steps are an example of how to cable a two two-node cluster. The Dell/EMC storage system needs to have at least 4 front-end fibre channel ports available on each storage processor.
  • Page 26 Figure 2-8 shows an example of a two node SAN-attached cluster. Figure 2-9 shows an example of an eight-node SAN-attached cluster. Similar cabling concepts can be applied to clusters that contain a different number of nodes. NOTE: The connections listed in this section are representative of one proven method of ensuring redundancy in the connections between the cluster nodes and the storage system.
  • Page 27 Figure 2-9. Eight-Node SAN-Attached Cluster Fibre Channel switch public network private network cluster nodes (2-8) storage system Cabling Your Cluster Hardware Fibre Channel switch...
  • Page 28 Adding more cables from the storage system to the switches can increase the I/O bandwidth and high availability of data. Although the CX4-960 has a maximum of 12 front-end fibre channel ports per SP, only 8 of them can be connected to fibre channel switches.
  • Page 29 Cabling a SAN-Attached Cluster to a Dell/EMC CX4-120 or CX4-240 Storage System 1 Connect cluster node 1 to the SAN: Connect a cable from HBA port 0 to Fibre Channel switch 0 (sw0). Connect a cable from HBA port 1 to Fibre Channel switch 1 (sw1).
  • Page 30 Figure 2-10. Cabling a SAN-Attached Cluster to the Dell/EMC CX4-120 or CX4-240 cluster node 1 HBA ports (2) CX4-120 or CX4-240 storage system Cabling a SAN-Attached Cluster to the Dell/EMC CX4-480 or CX4-960 Storage System 1 Connect cluster node 1 to the SAN: Connect a cable from HBA port 0 to Fibre Channel switch 0 (sw0).
  • Page 31 Additional cables can be connected from the fibre channel switches to the storage system if there are available front-end fibre channel ports on the storage processors. Figure 2-11. Cabling a SAN-Attached Cluster to the Dell/EMC CX4-480 cluster node 1 HBA ports (2)
  • Page 32 Figure 2-12. Cabling a SAN-Attached Cluster to the Dell\EMC CX4-960 cluster node 1 HBA ports (2) Fibre Channel switch Cabling Multiple SAN-Attached Clusters to a Dell/EMC Storage System To cable multiple clusters to the storage system, connect the cluster nodes to the appropriate Fibre Channel switches and then connect the Fibre Channel switches to the appropriate storage processors on the processor enclosure.
  • Page 33 Cabling Multiple SAN-Attached Clusters to the CX4-480 or CX4-960Storage System 1 In the first cluster, connect cluster node 1 to the SAN: Connect a cable from HBA port 0 to Fibre Channel switch 0 (sw0).
  • Page 34 Zoning Your Dell/EMC Storage System in a Switched Environment Dell only supports single-initiator zoning for connecting clusters to a Dell/EMC storage system in a switched environment. When using EMC PowerPath, a separate zone is created from each HBA port to the SPE.
  • Page 35 Connecting a PowerEdge Cluster to a Tape Library To provide additional backup for your cluster, you can add tape backup devices to your cluster configuration. The Dell PowerVault™ tape libraries may contain an integrated Fibre Channel bridge or Storage Network Controller (SNC) that connects directly to your Fibre Channel switch.
  • Page 36 NOTE: While tape libraries can be connected to multiple fabrics, they do not provide path failover. Figure 2-14. Cabling a Storage System and a Tape Library cluster node Fibre Channel switch tape library Obtaining More Information See the storage and tape backup documentation for more information on configuring these components.
  • Page 37 Figure 2-15. Cluster Configuration Using SAN-Based Backup cluster 1 cluster 2 Fibre Channel switch Fibre Channel switch storage systems tape library Cabling Your Cluster Hardware...
  • Page 38 Cabling Your Cluster Hardware...

  • Page 39: Preparing Your Systems For Clustering

    NOTE: For more information on step 3 to step 7 and step 10 to step 13, see the "Preparing your systems for clustering" section of Dell Failover Clusters with Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Installation and Troubleshooting Guide or Dell Failover Clusters with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Installation and Troubleshooting Guide located on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.
  • Page 40 NOTE: You can configure the cluster nodes as Domain Controllers. For more information, see the “Selecting a Domain Model” section of Dell Failover Clusters with Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Installation and Troubleshooting Guide or Dell Failover Clusters with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Installation and Troubleshooting Guide located on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

  • Page 41: Installation Overview

    Installation Overview Each node in your Dell Failover Cluster must be installed with the same release, edition, service pack, and processor architecture of the Windows Server operating system. For example, all nodes in your cluster may be configured with Windows Server 2003 R2, Enterprise x64 Edition.

  • Page 42: Installing The Fibre Channel Hbas

    Placing the adapters on separate buses improves availability and performance. For more information about your system's PCI bus configuration and supported HBAs, see the Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix on the Dell High Availability website at www.dell.com/ha. Installing the Fibre Channel HBA Drivers For more information, see the EMC documentation that is included with your HBA kit.

  • Page 43: Using Zoning In San Configurations Containing Multiple Hosts

    Zoning automatically and transparently enforces access of information to the zone devices. More than one PowerEdge cluster configuration can share Dell/EMC storage system(s) in a switched fabric using Fibre Channel switch zoning and with Access Control enabled. By using Fibre Channel switches to implement zoning, you can segment the SANs to isolate heterogeneous servers and storage systems from each other.
  • Page 44 • Create a zone for each HBA port and its target storage devices. • Each CX4-series storage processor port can be connected to a maximum of 64 HBA ports in a SAN-attached environment. • Each host can be connected to a maximum of four storage systems.

  • Page 45: Installing And Configuring The Shared Storage System

    Fibre Channel topologies allow multiple clusters and stand-alone systems to share a single storage system. However, if you cannot control access to the shared storage system, you can corrupt your data. To share your Dell/EMC storage system with multiple heterogeneous host systems and restrict access to the shared storage system, you need to enable Access Control.

  • Page 46: Storage Groups

    Access Control is enabled using Navisphere Manager. After you enable Access Control and connect to the storage system from a management station, Access Control appears in the Storage System Properties window of Navisphere Manager. After you enable Access Control, the host system can only read from and write to specific LUNs on the storage system.
  • Page 47 An additional storage group feature that performs the following tasks: • Lists all of the paths from the host server to the storage group • Displays whether the path is enabled or disabled Each path contains the following fields: –...

  • Page 48: Navisphere Manager

    You can access Navisphere Manager through a web browser. Using Navisphere Manager, you can manage a Dell/EMC storage system either locally on the same LAN or through an Internet connection. Navisphere components (Navisphere Manager user interface (UI) and Storage Management Server) are installed on a Dell/EMC storage system.

  • Page 49: Emc Powerpath

    EMC PowerPath automatically reroutes Fibre Channel I/O traffic from the host system and a Dell/EMC CX4-series storage system to any available path if a primary path fails for any reason. Additionally, PowerPath provides multiple path load balancing, allowing you to balance the I/O traffic across multiple SP ports.
  • Page 50 3 Enter the IP address of the storage management server on your storage system and then press <Enter>. NOTE: The storage management server is usually one of the SPs on your storage system. 4 In the Enterprise Storage window, click the Storage tab.

  • Page 51: Configuring The Hard Drives On The Shared Storage System(S)

    Repeat step b and step c to add additional hosts. Click Apply. 16 Click OK to exit the Storage Group Properties dialog box. Configuring the Hard Drives on the Shared Storage System(s) This section provides information for configuring the hard drives on the shared storage systems.

  • Page 52: Optional Storage Features

    LUNs to the proper host systems. Optional Storage Features Your Dell/EMC CX4-series storage array may be configured to provide optional features that can be used in conjunction with your cluster. These features include MirrorView, SnapView, and SANCopy.

  • Page 53: Updating A Dell/Emc Storage System For Clustering

    Updating a Dell/EMC Storage System for Clustering If you are updating an existing Dell/EMC storage system to meet the cluster requirements for the shared storage subsystem, you may need to install additional Fibre Channel disk drives in the shared storage system. The size and number of drives you add depend on the RAID level you want to use and the number of Fibre Channel disk drives currently in your system.
  • Page 54 Preparing Your Systems for Clustering...

  • Page 55: Troubleshooting

    Troubleshooting This appendix provides troubleshooting information for your cluster configuration. Table A-1 describes general cluster problems you may encounter and the probable causes and solutions for each problem. Table A-1. General Cluster Troubleshooting Problem Probable Cause The nodes cannot The storage system is access the storage not cabled properly to system, or the...
  • Page 56 Table A-1. General Cluster Troubleshooting (continued) Problem Probable Cause One of the nodes The node-to-node takes a long time to network has failed due join the cluster. to a cabling or hardware failure. One or more nodes One of the nodes may have the Internet fail to join Connection Firewall...
  • Page 57 Table A-1. General Cluster Troubleshooting (continued) Problem Probable Cause Attempts to The Cluster Service connect to a cluster has not been started. using Cluster A cluster has not been Administrator fail. formed on the system. The system has just been booted and services are still starting.
  • Page 58 IP Addresses to Cluster Resources and Components" of Dell Failover Clusters with Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Installation and Troubleshooting Guide or Dell Failover Clusters with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Installation and Troubleshooting Guide. Ensure that all systems are powered on so that the NICs in the private network are available.
  • Page 59 Cluster Service. If unreadable or you are running uninitialized in Windows Server 2003, Windows Disk this situation is Administration normal if the cluster node does not own the cluster disk. Corrective Action...
  • Page 60 Internet Connection Firewall enabled, see Microsoft Base (KB) articles 258469 and 883398 at the Microsoft Support website at support.microsoft.com and the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Technet website at www.microsoft.com/technet. Configure the Internet Connection Firewall to allow communications that are required by the MSCS and the clustered applications or services.
  • Page 61 Zoning Configuration Form Node HBA WWPNs or Alias Names Storage Zone Name WWPNs or Alias Names Zoning Configuration Form Zone Set for Configuration Name...
  • Page 62 Zoning Configuration Form...
  • Page 63 Use the form when you call for technical support. Table C-1. Cluster Information Cluster Information Cluster Solution Cluster name and IP address Server type Installer Date installed Applications Location Notes Table C-2. Cluster Node Information...
  • Page 64 Additional Networks Table C-3. Storage Array Information Array Array xPE Type Cluster Data Form Array Service Tag Number of Attached Number or World Wide DAEs Name Seed...
  • Page 65 12 direct-attached, 12, 20 SAN-attached, 13 cluster storage requirements, 10 clustering overview, 7 Dell/EMC CX4-series, 7 Cabling a Multi-Node Cluster, 23 Cabling a Two-Node Cluster, 21 Cabling Description, 28 Cabling Multiple Clusters, 24 Cabling Multiple SAN-Attached Clusters, 32 Cabling Storage, 25...
  • Page 66 11, 48 hardware view, 11 storage view, 11 network adapters cabling the private network, 18-19 cabling the public network, 18 operating system Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition installing , 41 power supplies cabling, 15 PowerPath about, 49 private network...
  • Page 67 configuring SAN backup in your cluster, 36 SAN-Attached Cluster, 13 SAN-attached cluster about, 25 configurations, 12 shared storage assigning LUNs to hosts, 52 single initiator zoning about, 44 SnapView about, 11 storage groups about, 46 storage management software Access Control, 45 Navisphere Agent, 48 Navisphere Manager, 48 PowerPath, 49...
  • Page 68 Index...

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