Compaq AA-RHGWB-TE TruCluster Server Member System Requirements, Memory Channel Restrictions

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Hardware Requirements and Restrictions

This chapter describes the hardware requirements and restrictions for a TruCluster Server cluster. It includes lists of supported cables, trilink connectors, Y cables, and terminators.

See the TruCluster Server Software Product Description (SPD) for the latest information about supported hardware.

2.1 TruCluster Server Member System Requirements

The requirements for member systems in a TruCluster Server cluster are as follows:

•Each supported member system requires a minimum firmware revision. See the Release Notes Overview supplied with the Alpha Systems Firmware Update CD-ROM.

You can also obtain firmware information from the Web at http://www.compaq.com/support/. Select Alpha Systems from the downloadable drivers & utilities menu. Check the release notes for the appropriate system type to determine the firmware version required.

•TruCluster Server Version 5.0A supports eight-member cluster configurations as follows:

–Fibre Channel: Eight-member systems may be connected to common storage over Fibre Channel in a fabric (switch) configuration.

–Parallel SCSI: Only four of the member systems may be connected to any one SCSI bus, but you can have multiple SCSI buses connected to different sets of nodes, and the sets of nodes may overlap. We recommend you use a DS-DWZZH-05 UltraSCSI hub with fair arbitration enabled when connecting four-member systems to a common SCSI bus.

•TruCluster Server does not support the XMI CIXCD on an AlphaServer 8x00, GS60, GS60E, or GS140 system.

2.2Memory Channel Restrictions

The Memory Channel interconnect is used for cluster communications between the member systems.

Hardware Requirements and Restrictions 2–1