support.dell.com Getting Started 1-1
CHAPTER 1
Getting Started
This chapter provides an overview of the following information for the
Dell
™
PowerEdge
™
Cluster FE100/FL100 Datacenter Server configuration:
• Microsoft
®
Windows
®
2000 Datacenter Server operating system
• Configuration and operation
• Cluster identification
• Failover options
• Minimum system requirements
• Support configuration requirements
Overview of Microsoft Windows 2000
Datacenter Server
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server is geared specifically for organizations implement-
ing and managing enterprise applications that require high availability and high
performance. Typical application usages include large data warehouses, server con-
solidation, online transaction processing (OLTP), and modeling/simulation.
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server provides all of the features included with Microsoft
Windows 2000 Advanced Server, along with the following additional features:
• Two-to-four-node clustering—provides high availability of applications through
failover to another node in the cluster
• Support for up to 32-way symmetrical multiprocessing (SMP)—the operating sys-
tem distributes the processing workload with up to 32 central processing units
(CPUs)
• Support for up to 32 gigabyte (GB) random access memory (RAM) on the physi-
cal address extension (PAE)-capable PowerEdge 8450 system—improves
multiple application performance
• Winsock Direct—optimizes Internet protocol (IP) performance
• Process Control management tool—improves server resource management