Interconnects

Compaq DIGITAL Server Cluster Kits for Windows NT manual Interconnects, Tools, Solution Sizer

Cluster Kits

Compaq provides complete clustering solutions with hardware, tools, services, and support for the Windows NT environment. To ensure proper configuration and implementation of the clustering hardware and software infrastructure, Compaq provides a series of Cluster Kits, which include:

∙Storage array with RAID controllers

∙Ultra SCSI or Fibre Channel adapters

∙RAID software and firmware

∙Private network adapters between servers

∙Cables and terminators

∙ServerWORKS Manager software

∙Cluster documentation

Compaq provides a range of interconnect solutions to meet the needs of high availability clustering requirements from entry level to enterprise-level environments. As clusters move from two-node high availability to multi-node high performance scalable clusters, the need to support the infrastructure for both storage and cluster node communication becomes critical. Clusters use two types of interconnects:

∙Storage Interconnects

For two-node clusters, Compaq provides ultra-SCSI interconnects. For more than two-node clusters, SCSI Hub technology eliminates multi-node and bus length restrictions. For high performance multi- node environments, Fibre Channel and fault tolerant solutions will be provided.

∙Cluster Interconnects

For two-node clusters, Ethernet provides sufficient bandwidth to support failover between servers. As the number of servers in a cluster grows, (OPS, multi-node clustering) Compaq plans to offer support for high performance, low latency interconnects.

Tools

Solution Sizer and ServerMaker tools provide sizing and configuration assistance for Windows NT Clustering Solutions. These tools are provided to Compaq’s Business Partners, sales people and systems engineers.

Solution Sizer

Solution Sizer eliminates the guesswork involved with sizing servers and clusters by determining the key server characteristics that will ensure a successful business solution. Through a “wizard” style interview process, the user provides customer-specific information about their business needs and environment.

Solution Sizer acts as a personal characterization consultant, analyzing the data to determine key sizing metrics for the specific application. Solution Sizer draws on vast characterization data compiled by Compaq’s performance labs, to recommend an appropriate server configuration.

Solution Sizer is capable of sizing server solutions for popular internet/intranet, mail and messaging, and other business applications. The tool is updated frequently to add to the portfolio of application solutions

DIGITAL Server Cluster Kits for Windows NT Configuration Guide