Filter
Top Products
Introduction 13
Hardware and Software Technologies
The PowerEdge Cluster SE500W solution implements the following hardware and
software technologies:
• Clustering technology based on the MSCS software in the Windows 2000 Advanced Server,
and Windows Server 2003 operating systems
• PERC 4/DC card or PERC 4e/DC card
• Storage management software
Clustering Technology
Clustering is the process of connecting multiple servers together to achieve higher availability
and performance. MSCS is a software component in Windows 2000, Advanced Server and an
integrated service in Windows Server 2003, which provides failover support for applications and
services running on each node.
See "Using MSCS" for more information on the Cluster Service.
NOTE: MSCS and network load balancing (NLB) features cannot coexist on the same cluster node, but
can be used together in a multi-tiered cluster configuration. For more information, see the PowerEdge
Clusters website located at www.dell.com/ha or the Microsoft website located at www.microsoft.com.
Cluster Components
• Two PowerEdge systems in a homogeneous pair.
NOTE: Dell or Microsoft can support only the specific configurations described in the Dell
PowerEdge Cluster SE500W Platform Guide.
• Up to four PowerVault 22
x
S storage systems, each with dual EMMs and split-bus module.
• Supported network adapters for a public and private LANs.
• Support for RAID 1, 5, 1+0, and 5+0 levels and hot spare drives. If you are using two
enclosures, Dell recommends configuring RAID 1 or 1+0 across enclosures for
additional redundancy.
NOTE: RAID 0 and independent drives are possible but are not recommended for a high-availability
system because they do not offer data redundancy if a disk failure occurs.
• PERC 4/DC or PERC 4e/DC adapter(s) for the cluster’s shared storage.
NOTE: The PowerEdge Cluster SE500W supports up to two PERC 4/DC or PERC 4e/DC adapters in a
single cluster node. Dell does not support use of PERC 4/DC and PERC 4e/DC adapters together in
the PowerEdge Cluster SE500W solution.
NOTE: PERC RAID adapter refers to a PERC 4/DC card or a PERC 4e/DC card.
• Ethernet network adapter or integrated network adapter for node-to-node
cluster communications.
• Ethernet crossover or straight cable for node-to-node cluster interconnect.
se500wbk1.book Page 13 Thursday, June 16, 2005 4:19 PM