Using Specialized Managers; Definitions; Failover Manager Overview; Failover Manager Requirements - HP StorageWorks P4000 User Manual

9 Using specialized managers

The SAN/iQ software provides two specialized managers that are used in specific situations. The
Failover Manager is used in two-system and in Multi-Site SAN configurations to support automatic
quorum management in the SAN. A virtual manager is added to a management group but is not
started on a storage system until a failure in the system causes a loss of quorum. It is designed to be
used in two-system or two-site configurations which are at risk for a loss of quorum.

Definitions

Terms used in this chapter:
• Virtual manager A manager which is added to a management group but is not started on a
storage system until a failure in the system causes a loss of quorum. The virtual manager is designed
to be used in specific system configurations which are at risk of a loss of quorum.
• Failover Manager A specialized manager running as a VMware guest operating system that can
act as a quorum tie-breaker system when installed into a third location in the network to provide
for automated failover/failback of the Multi-Site SAN clusters.
• Regular manager A manager which is started on a storage system and operates according to
the description of managers found in
• Manager any of these managers.

Failover Manager overview

The Failover Manager is a specialized version of the SAN/iQ software designed to run as a virtual
appliance in a VMware environment. The Failover Manager participates in the management group
as a real manager in the system; however, it does quorum operations only, not data movement
operations. It is especially useful in a Multi-Site SAN configuration to manage quorum for the multi-site
configuration without requiring additional physical hardware in a site.

Failover Manager requirements

• Static IP address, or a reserved IP address if using DHCP.
• Bridged connection through the VMware Console, or assigned network in VI Client.
• Server on which to install the Failover Manager.
• Only one Failover Manager per management group.
• Only a virtual manager or a Failover Manager in the same management group, not both.
• Failover Manager not inside a virtual Windows machine with VMware Server running.

Minimum system requirements for using with VMware ESX Server

• VMware ESX Server version 3.x
• 1024 MB of RAM
"Managers overview" on page 149.
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