5.5 HP StorageWorks X9300 Network Storage Gateway Administrator Guide (AW539-96007, March 2011)

4 Configuring failover
This chapter describes how to configure failover for agile management consoles, file serving nodes,
network interfaces, and HBAs.
Agile management consoles
The management console maintains the cluster configuration and provides graphical and command-line
user interfaces for managing and monitoring the cluster. Typically, one active management console
and one passive management console are installed when the cluster is installed. This is called an
agile management console configuration.
NOTE:
Optionally, the management console can be installed on a dedicated Management Server. This section
describes the agile management console configuration.
Agile management console modes
An agile management console can be in one of the following modes:
• active. In this mode, the management console controls console operations. All cluster administration
and configuration commands must be run from the active management console.
• passive. In this mode, the management console monitors the health of the active management
console. If the active management console fails, the passive management console becomes the
active console.
• maintenance. In this mode, the management console does not participate in console operations.
Maintenance mode should be used for operations such as manual failover of the active management
console, X9000 Software upgrades, and blade replacements.
Agile management consoles and failover
Using an agile management console configuration provides high availability for management console
services. If the active management console fails, the cluster virtual interface will go down. When the
passive management console detects that the cluster virtual interface is down, it will become the active
console. This management console rebuilds the cluster virtual interface, starts management console
services locally, transitions into active mode, and take over management console operation.
Failover of the active management console affects the following features:
• User networks. The virtual interface used by clients will also fail over. Users may notice a brief
reconnect while the newly active management console takes over management of the virtual inter-
face.
• Support tickets. The existing support ticket information is not moved to the newly active management
console. Support Ticket operations are always handled by the active management console and
the final output of the operations is stored there.
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