Introduction - Dell CX4 Series User Manual

Introduction

A Dell™ Failover Cluster combines specific hardware and software components
to provide enhanced availability for applications and services that are run on the
cluster. A Failover Cluster is designed to reduce the possibility of any single
point of failure within the system that can cause the clustered applications or
services to become unavailable. It is recommended that you use redundant
components like server and storage power supplies, connections between the
nodes and the storage array(s), and connections to client systems or other
servers in a multi-tier enterprise application architecture in your cluster.
This document provides information to configure your Dell/EMC CX4-series
fibre channel storage arrays with one or more Failover Clusters. It provides
specific configuration tasks that enable you to deploy the shared storage for
your cluster.
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For more information on deploying your cluster with Microsoft Windows
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Server 2003 operating systems, see the Dell Failover Clusters with Microsoft
Windows Server 2003 Installation and Troubleshooting Guide located on the
Dell Support website at support.dell.com. 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 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.
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Introduction