Compaq ProLiant Cluster HA/F500 for Enterprise Virtual Array Setup and Installation Guide

Overview of the ProLiant Cluster HA/F500 for Enterprise Virtual Array

ProLiant Cluster HA/F500 for Enterprise Virtual Array Setup and Installation Guide 1-9

COMPAQ CONFIDENTIAL

Writer: Woody Jernigan File Name: b-ch1

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The cluster nodes use the interconnect data path to:

• Communicate individual resource and overall cluster status.

• Send and receive heartbeat signals.

• Update modified registry information.

IMPORTANT: TCP/IP must be used as the cluster communication protocol. When

configuring the interconnects, be sure to enable TCP/IP.

Redundant Interconnects

To reduce potential disruptions of intracluster communication, connect a redundant

path over which communication can continue if the primary path is disrupted.

Compaq recommends that you configure the client LAN as a backup path for

intracluster communication.

Compaq offers a feature that configures two Compaq Ethernet adapters (or two ports

on a single adapter) so that one is a hot backup for the other. This feature, called NIC

Teaming, is available on all Compaq 10/100 Fast Ethernet products. The Compaq

NIC Teaming software is available on the Compaq Server Support for Microsoft

Windows NT 4.0 or on the Compaq Support Paq for Microsoft Windows 2000. This

software can be downloaded from the Compaq website and is included with each

server as part of the SmartStart utilities.

NIC Teaming should only be used with NICs that connect to the client LAN. This

feature should not be used with NICs used for the dedicated intracluster

communication link. For detailed information about interconnect redundancy, refer to

the Compaq white paper Increasing Network Availability in a Microsoft Windows

Cluster, available from