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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.
NICs Dedicated to iSCSI
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.
Ethernet Switches Dedicated to iSCSI
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
Direct-Attached Cluster
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.
Figure 1-1 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)