Supported Cluster Configurations; Direct-Attached Cluster - Dell CX4 Series User Manual

Supported Cluster Configurations

The following sections describe the supported cluster configurations.

Direct-Attached Cluster

In a direct-attached cluster, all the nodes of the cluster are directly attached
to a single storage system. In this configuration, the RAID controllers (or
storage processors) on the storage system are connected by cables directly to
the Fibre Channel HBA ports in the nodes.
Figure 1-1 shows a basic direct-attached, single-cluster configuration.
Figure 1-1. Direct-Attached, Single-Cluster Configuration
cluster node
EMC PowerPath Limitations in a Direct-Attached Cluster
EMC PowerPath
dynamic load balancing between multiple ports on the same storage
processor. 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.
12
Introduction
Fibre Channel
connections
®
provides failover capabilities, multiple path detection, and
public network
private network
storage system
cluster node
Fibre Channel
connections