Using Cifs In A Cluster Environment - Novell OPEN ENTERPRISE SERVER 2 SP2 - ADMINISTRATION Manual

8.3.2 Using CIFS in a Cluster Environment

Keep in mind the following considerations when you prepare to use CIFS in a cluster.
Novell CIFS is not cluster-aware and is not clustered by default. You must install and configure
Novell CIFS on every node in the cluster where you plan to give users CIFS access to the
shared cluster resource.
Novell CIFS runs on all nodes in the cluster at any given time.
Novell CIFS is started at boot time on each node in the cluster. A CIFS command is added to
the load script and unload script for the shared cluster resource. This allows Novell CIFS to
provide or not to provide access to the shared resource through Virtual server IP.
NOTE: In CIFS, all the nodes should have similar server configuration, such as contexts and
authentication mode.
The following process indicates how CIFS is enabled and used in a cluster environment:
1. Creating Shared Pools: To access the shared resources in the cluster environment through the
CIFS protocol, you create the shared pools either by using the NSSMU utility or the iManager
tool and selecting CIFS as an advertising protocol. For requirements and details about
configuring shared NSS pools and volumes on Linux, see
Shared NSS Pools and
Administration Guide.
2. Creating a Virtual Server: When you cluster-enable an NSS pool, an NCS:NCP Server
object is created for the virtual server. This contains the virtual server IP address, the virtual
server name, and a comment.
3. Creating a CIFS Virtual Server: When you cluster-enable an NSS pool and enable that pool
for CIFS by selecting CIFS as an advertising protocol, a virtual CIFS server is added to
eDirectory . This is the name the CIFS clients use to access the virtual server.
TM
4. Loading the CIFS Service: When you enable CIFS for a shared NSS pool and when Novell
CIFS is started at system boot, the following line is automatically added to the cluster load
script for the pool's cluster resource:
novcifs --add --vserver=virtualserverFDN --ip-addr=virtualserverip
This command is executed when the cluster resource is brought online on an active node. You
can view the load script for a cluster resource by using the Clusters plug-in for iManager. Do
not manually modify the load script.
5. Unloading the CIFS Service: When you CIFS-enable for a shared NSS pool, the following
line is automatically added to the cluster unload script for the pool's cluster resource:
novcifs --remove --vserver=virtualserverFDN --ip-addr=virtualserverip
This command is executed when the cluster resource is taken offline on a node. The virtual
server is no longer bound to the Novell CIFS service on that node. You can view the unload
script for a cluster resource by using the Clusters plug-in for iManager. Do not manually
modify the unload script
6. CIFS Attributes for the Virtual Server: When you CIFS-enable a shared NSS pool, the
following CIFS attributes are added to the NCS:NCP Server object for the virtual server:
nfapCIFSServerName (read access)
nfapCIFSAttach (read access)
Volumes" in the OES 2 SP2: Novell Cluster Services 1.8.7 for Linux
Configuring CIFS with Novell Cluster Services for an NSS File System
"Configuring Cluster Resources for
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