Dell EMC AX4-5I Supported Cluster Configurations

Introduction 9

NOTE: Ensure that the core software version running on the storage system is

supported. For specific version requirements, see the Dell Cluster Configuration

Support Matrices located on the Dell High Availability Cluster website at

www.dell.com/ha.

The NIC controlled by iSCSI Software Initiator acts as an I/O adapter to

connect the system's expansion bus and the storage components. Failover

Cluster solutions that are configured with the AX4-5i storage array require

two iSCSI NICs or NIC ports in each PowerEdge system to provide

redundant paths and load balance the I/O data transfer to the storage system.

The Gigabit switch for iSCSI access functions as a regular network switch

that provides extension and dedicated interconnection between the node and

the storage system(s).

Supported Cluster Configurations

In a direct-attached cluster, both nodes of the cluster are directly attached to

a single storage system. In this configuration, the RAID controllers (or storage

processors) on the storage systems are connected by cables directly to the

iSCSI NIC ports in the nodes.

Figure1-1 shows a basic direct-attached, single-cluster configuration.

Table 1-3. Dell|EMC Storage System Requirements

Processor

Enclosure

Minimum Required

Storage

Possible Storage

Expansion

SPS

AX4-5i One DPE with at least

4 and up to 12 hard

drives

Up to three DAE with a

maximum of 12 hard

drives each

1 (required) and 2

(optional)