HP Windows Server 2012 Cluster Pre-Planning Guide

2 Microsoft Failover Clustering Storage Dependencies

HP Storage functionality allows initiator logins and SCSI-3 persistent reservations. These mechanisms

are used to facilitate clustering functions such as:

• Cluster membership

• I/O fencing

• Disk resources state change (online/offline)

• Disk failover and arbitration

Services such as file shares and virtual machines can be housed on external storage arrays. Only

one cluster node at a time will provide these services. SCSI-3 persistent reservations, in conjunction

with HP Storage functionality, ensure that access to the storage device is granted only to those

cluster nodes that require it.

All storage arrays have quantifiable capabilities in regards to the number of nodes in a cluster,

initiator logins, registrations, and reservations that can be managed. These capabilities should be

considered when creating large scale clusters with Windows Server 2012.