Dell PowerVault MD3200, PowerVault MD3220 Owner's Manual

Dell PowerVault MD3200 and

MD3220 Storage Arrays With

Microsoft Windows Server

Failover Clusters

Hardware Installation

and Troubleshooting

Guide

Notes, Cautions, and Warnings

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of

your computer.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if

instructions are not followed.

WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal

injury, or death.

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Celeron Windows trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

June 2010 Rev. A00

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1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Additional Information

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Cluster Solution With Dell PowerVault MD3200 and MD3220 Storage Arrays

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Cluster Hardware Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Cluster Storage

Cluster Storage Management Software

Introduction

This document addresses the configuration of your Dell PowerVault MD3200 and MD3220 storage arrays for use with Microsoft Clustering. It provides information and specific configuration tasks that enable you to deploy the shared storage for your cluster.

The document is intended for experienced IT professionals who configure the cluster solution and for trained service technicians who perform upgrade and maintenance procedures. This document also addresses readers who are new to clustering.

Windows Server Failover

Overview

A Dell failover cluster combines specific hardware and software components to provide enhanced availability for applications and services that 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.

NOTE: It is recommended that you use redundant components like system 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.

Additional Information

• For more information on deploying your cluster with Windows Server 2008 operating systems, see the

Windows Server 2008 Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

support.dell.com/manuals

Dell Failover Clusters with Microsoft

NOTE: Throughout this document, Windows Server 2008 refers to Windows Server

2008 x64 Enterprise Edition or Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 Enterprise Edition.

• For a list of recommended operating systems, hardware components, and driver or firmware versions for your failover cluster, see the

Configuration Support Matrices

dell.com/ha

Dell Cluster

Introduction 7

Cluster Solution With PowerVault MD3200 and MD3220 Storage Arrays

The cluster solution implements a two-node clustering technology based on the Microsoft Failover Clustering software incorporated within the Windows Server 2008 operating systems. This cluster solution provides the following features:

• 6 Gbps Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) technology

• High availability of system services and resources to network clients

• Redundant paths to the shared storage

• Failure recovery for applications and services

• Flexible maintenance capabilities—allowing you to repair, maintain, or upgrade a cluster node without taking the entire cluster offline

Cluster Hardware Requirements

Your cluster requires the following hardware components:

• Systems (nodes)

• Storage and storage management software

Table 1-1 describes the hardware requirements for your cluster nodes.

Table 1-1. Cluster Node Requirements

Component Minimum Requirement

Processor At least one processor for each cluster node.

RAM At least 1 GB RAM installed on each cluster node.

Cluster Nodes A minimum of two identical Dell PowerEdge systems are

required.

The maximum number of nodes supported is four.

Host Bus Adapter (HBA)

8 Introduction

One or two Dell 6 Gbps SAS HBA for each cluster node.

Table 1-1. Cluster Node Requirements

Component Minimum Requirement

NICs At least two NICs: one NIC for the public network and

another NIC for the private network.

(continued)

NOTE: It is recommended that the NICs on each public

network are identical and that the NICs on each private network are identical.

Internal Disk Controller

One controller connected to internal disks for each node. Use any supported RAID controller or disk controller.

Two physical disks are required for mirroring (RAID 1) and at least three are required for disk striping with parity (RAID 5).

NOTE: It is strongly recommended that you use

hardware-based RAID or software-based disk-fault tolerance for the internal drives.

Cluster Storage

Table 1-2 provides the configuration requirements for the shared storage system.

Table 1-2. Cluster Storage Requirements

Hardware Components

Supported storage systems

Power and cooling requirements

Physical disks At least two physical disks in the PowerVault MD3200 or

Cables Two SAS cables per cluster node.

Minimum Requirement

One PowerVault MD3200 or MD3220 RAID enclosure.

Up to seven PowerVault MD1200 or MD1220 expansion enclosures with a maximum of 96 disks.

Two integrated hot-pluggable power supply/cooling fan modules.

MD3220 RAID enclosure.

Two SAS cables for each additional PowerVault MD1200 or MD1220 expansion enclosure.

Introduction 9

NOTE: You can configure RAID 0 or independent disks, however such a

configuration is not recommended for a high-availability system as it does not offer data redundancy if a disk failure occurs.

Cluster Storage Management Software

The following sections describe various cluster storage management software that you can install and configure on your cluster.

Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager

The Modular Disk Storage Manager (MDSM) runs on the management station or any host attached to the array to centrally manage the PowerVault MD3200 or MD3220 RAID enclosure. You can use the PowerVault MDSM to perform tasks such as creating or managing RAID arrays, binding virtual disks, and downloading firmware.

MDSM is a graphical user interface (GUI) with wizard-guided tools and a task-based structure. MDSM is designed to:

• Reduce the complexity of installation, configuration, management, and performing diagnostic tasks for the storage arrays.

• Contain an event monitoring service that is used to send alerts when a critical problem with the storage array occurs.

• Provide a command line interface (CLI) to run commands from an operating system prompt.

Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager Agent

The MDSM Agent resides on each cluster node and collects server-based topology data that can be managed by the MDSM.

Multi-Path Software

Multi-path software (also referred to as the failover driver) is a software resident on each cluster node that provides management of the redundant data path between the server and the RAID enclosure. For the multi-path software to correctly manage a redundant path, the configuration must provide for redundant HBAs and cabling.

10 Introduction

The multi-path software identifies the existence of multiple paths to a virtual disk and establishes a preferred path to that disk. If any component in the preferred path fails, the multi-path software automatically re-routes I/O requests to the alternate path so that the storage array continues to operate without interruption.

Advanced Features

Advanced features for the PowerVault MD3200 and MD3220 RAID enclosures include:

• Snapshot Virtual Disk—Captures point-in-time images of a virtual disk for backup, testing, or data processing without affecting the contents of the source virtual disk.

• Virtual Disk Copy—Generates a full copy of data from the source virtual disk to the target virtual disk in a storage array. You can use Virtual Disk Copy to back up data, copy data from disk groups that use smaller-capacity physical disks to disk groups using greater capacity physical disks, or restore snapshot virtual disk data to the source virtual disk.

NOTE: For instructions on deploying the correct Virtual Disk options in the

cluster environment, see "Using Advanced (Premium) PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager Features" on page 49.

Supported Dell Cluster Configurations

Figure 1-1 and Figure 1-2 illustrate the various supported configurations for your cluster with PowerVault MD3200 or MD3220 RAID enclosure.

Introduction 11

Figure 1-1. Cluster Configuration With Single Dell 6.0-Gbps SAS HBA

Storage array

Corporate, public, or private network

PowerVault

MD32xx RAID

controller module 1

PowerVault

MD32xx RAID

controller module 0

12 Introduction

NOTE: The configuration can have up to 4 nodes. The nodes can be one

cluster, two different clusters, or one cluster and standalone server(s).

Figure 1-2. Cluster Configuration With Dual Dell 6.0-Gbps SAS HBAs

Storage Array

Corporate, public, or private network

PowerVault

MD32xx RAID

controller module 1

PowerVault

MD32xx RAID

controller module 0

NOTE: The configuration can have up to 4 nodes. The nodes can be one

cluster, two different clusters, or one cluster and standalone system(s).

Introduction 13

Cabling Your Cluster Hardware

The following sections help you connect the power, network and storage cables to your cluster. After you have connected the hardware components, the subsequent sections in this document provide instructions to configure your cluster.

Cabling the Mouse, Keyboard, and Monitor

When installing a cluster configuration in a rack, you must include a switch box to connect the mouse, keyboard, and monitor to the nodes. For instructions on cabling each node's connections to the switch box, see the documentation included with your rack.

Cabling the Power Supplies

To ensure that the specific power requirements are met, see the documentation for each component in your cluster solution.

It is recommended to follow the guidelines below to protect your cluster solution from power-related failures:

• For nodes with multiple power supplies, plug each power supply into a separate AC circuit.

• Use uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).

• For some environments, consider having backup generators and power from separate electrical substations.

Figure 2-1 and Figure 2-2 illustrate recommended methods of power cabling for a cluster solution consisting of two Dell PowerEdge systems and one storage system. To ensure redundancy, the primary power supplies of all the components are grouped onto one or two circuits and the redundant power supplies are grouped onto a different circuit.

Cabling Your Cluster Hardware 17

Figure 2-1. Power Cabling Example With One Power Supply in the

redundant power supplies on one AC power strip (or on one AC PDU not shown])

primary power supplies on one AC power strip (or on one AC PDU [not shown])

PowerVault

MD32xx RAID

controller module 1

PowerVault

MD32xx RAID

controller module 0

PowerEdge Systems

NOTE: This illustration is intended only to demonstrate the power distribution of the

components.

18 Cabling Your Cluster Hardware

Figure 2-2. Power Cabling Example With Two Power Supplies in the PowerEdge

primary power supplies on one AC power strip (or on one AC PDU [not shown])

redundant power supplies on one AC power strip (or on one AC PDU [not shown])

PowerVault

MD32xx

RAID controller module 0

PowerVault

MD32xx

RAID controller module 1

Systems

NOTE: This illustration is intended only to demonstrate the power distribution of the

components.

Cabling Your Cluster Hardware 19

+ 43 hidden pages

Dell PowerVault MD3200, PowerVault MD3220 Owner's Manual

Contents

Introduction

Overview

Additional Information

Cluster Solution With PowerVault MD3200 and MD3220 Storage Arrays

Cluster Hardware Requirements

Cluster Storage

Cluster Storage Management Software

Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager

Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager Agent

Multi-Path Software

Advanced Features

Figure 1-1. Cluster Configuration With Single Dell 6.0-Gbps SAS HBA

Figure 1-2. Cluster Configuration With Dual Dell 6.0-Gbps SAS HBAs

Other Documents You May Need

Cabling Your Cluster Hardware

Cabling the Mouse, Keyboard, and Monitor

Cabling the Power Supplies