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New Cluster Hardware

I intend to setup a Windows 2003 and SQL Server 2000 cluster for a client with 2 HP ML370 G3 servers. Apparently there is no shared storage. Any advice on a good quality shared storage device (RAID 5) outside there for this kind of server? I don’t expect to exceed 400 GB of data over 2 years and the servers each have 2 free SCSI ports (VHDCI). Nathan H.O.
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The key thing in your case would be selecting a vendor that is on the Microsoft HCL and has good support in your area. This will significantly reduce your choices. After that, I would choose the array that offered the best overall performance/cost benefit. —————————–
Brad M. McGehee, MVP
Webmaster
SQL-Server-Performance.Com
Brad, The HCL offers a confusing array of stuff for a guy who is not very hardware savvy. I was hoping that you would just give me a name or two based on the hardware that I have or something that you are using or have seen successfully used.
Nathan H.O.
Moderator
SQL-Server-Performance.com
At our shop, we use an IBM ESS SAN device, which would not be appropriate for you. Although the HCL is very confusing, you need to take the time to figure it out, as it is very critical that all the pieces of the cluster be certified as an entire system. Start here:http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ca…d=22&pgn=8b712458-b91c-4a7d-8695-23e9cd3ae95b (for Windows 2003) Then do a search for "Hewlett" as "Manufacturer". From this list, find the current servers, and then check to see which array is approved for them to work under Windows 2003. —————————–
Brad M. McGehee, MVP
Webmaster
SQL-Server-Performance.Com
Thanks for the link. Got some digging to do. Nathan H.O.
Moderator
SQL-Server-Performance.com
I nailed down a number of possible candidates for the shared storage. But since the client’s budget was already inappropriately overspent, I will have to wait a while to buy the stuff. Funnily enough, the client had a third brand new ML370 server. I decided to go on and create a majority node set cluster (Windows 2003 Enterprise) since it doesn’t necessarily need a shared disk. Of course, SQL Server requires a shared disk and clustering it is not possible. I will have to make do a Windows Cluster and SQL Server log shipping plus replication (plus Tape backup + RAID 5 disks + a big UPS) for the time being. Now for the totally unintelligent part of the post. Anyone ever conjured up a way of using one server’s RAID 5 disk array (4 disks) as shared storage for two other servers? The server has two SCSCI ports (Ultra SCSI 3). Let’s forget about the HCL for now. I am just curious if it is at all possible and if not, why. Nathan H.O.
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SQL-Server-Performance.com
quote:Originally posted by vbkenya I nailed down a number of possible candidates for the shared storage. But since the client’s budget was already inappropriately overspent, I will have to wait a while to buy the stuff.
Sorry I’m not a hardware guy. I’m just wondering. Why, you the HP customer, must sort out this HCL stuff? Can you just call HP and require them to answer/suggest something HCL compatible? And then from there, possibly extend your researches by asking quotes from some alternate vendors?
I am not aware of anyway to use an array in a third server as a shared array. I don’t think it is supported by Microsoft. I don’t know the technical reasons why. —————————–
Brad M. McGehee, MVP
Webmaster
SQL-Server-Performance.Com
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