Dell EMC AX4-5I Manual

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Dell|EMC AX4-5i iSCSI Storage Arrays
With Microsoft®Windows Server®
Failover Clusters
Hardware Installation and
Troubleshooting Guide

Notes, Notices, and Cautions
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___________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2008 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
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trademarksofDellInc.;ActiveDirectory,Microsoft,Windows,WindowsServer,and Windows NT
areeithertrademarksorregisteredtrademarksofMicrosoftCorporationintheUnitedStatesand/or
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Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities
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April 2008 Rev A00

Contents 3
Contents
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Cluster Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Cluster Hardware Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Cluster Nodes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Cluster Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
NICs Dedicated to iSCSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Ethernet Switches Dedicated to iSCSI . . . . . . . . 9
Supported Cluster Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Direct-Attached Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
iSCSI SAN-Attached Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Other Documents You May Need . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2 Cabling Your Cluster Hardware . . . . . . . . 13
Cabling the Mouse, Keyboard, and Monitor . . . . . . 13
Cabling the Power Supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Cabling Your Cluster for Public and
Private Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Cabling the Public Network . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Cabling the Private Network . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
NIC Teaming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Cabling the Storage Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Cabling Storage for Your
Direct-Attached Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Cabling Storage for Your
iSCSI SAN-Attached Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

4Contents
3 Preparing Your Systems
for Clustering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Cluster Configuration Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Installation Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Installing the iSCSI NICs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Installing the Microsoft iSCSI
Software Initiator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Modifying the TCP Registry Settings . . . . . . . . 31
Installing EMC®PowerPath®. . . . . . . . . . . 31
Configuring the Shared Storage System . . . . . . 32
Installing and Configuring a Failover Cluster . . . . 41
A Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
B Cluster Data Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
C iSCSI Configuration Worksheet . . . . . . . 51
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Introduction 5
Introduction
A Dell™ Failover Cluster combines specific hardware and software
components to provide enhanced availability for applications and services
that run on your cluster. A Failover Cluster reduces the possibility of any
single point of failure within the system that can cause the clustered
applications or services to become unavailable. It is recommended that you
use redundant components like servers, storage power supplies, connections
between the nodes and the storage array(s), connections to client systems or
other servers in a multi-tier enterprise application architecture in your cluster.
This document provides information and specific configuration tasks that
enable you to configure your Failover Cluster with Dell|EMC AX4-5i
Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) storage array(s).
For more information on deploying your cluster with Windows Server 2003
operating systems, see the Dell™ Failover Clusters with Microsoft Windows
Server 2003 Installation and Troubleshooting Guide located on the Dell
Support website at support.dell.com.For more information on deploying
your cluster with Windows Server 2008 operating systems, see the Dell
Failover Clusters with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Installation and
Troubleshooting Guide located on the Dell Support website at
support.dell.com.
For a list of recommended operating systems, hardware components, and
driver or firmware versions for your Failover Cluster, see the Dell Cluster
Configuration Support Matrices located on the Dell High Availability
Clustering website at www.dell.com/ha.

6Introduction
Cluster Solution
Your cluster supports a minimum of two nodes to a maximum of either eight
nodes (with Windows Server 2003 operating systems) or sixteen nodes (with
Windows Server 2008 operating systems) and provides the following features:
• Gigabit Ethernet technology for iSCSI clusters
• High availability of resources to network clients
• Redundant paths to the shared storage
• Failure recovery for applications and services
• Flexible maintenance capabilities, allowing you to repair, maintain, or
upgrade a node or storage system without taking the entire cluster offline
The iSCSI protocol encapsulates SCSI frames that include commands, data,
status and so on to Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
packets to be transported over Ethernet networks. The iSCSI data blocks are
sent between the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator that resides in the host and the
iSCSI target, which is usually a storage device. Implementing iSCSI in a
cluster provides the following advantages:
• Geographic distribution — Wider coverage of Ethernet technology allows
cluster nodes and storage systems to be located in different sites.
• Low cost for Availability — Redundant connections provide multiple data
paths that are available through inexpensive TCP/IP network components.
• Connectivity — A single technology for connection of storage systems,
cluster nodes and clients within existent local area network (LAN), wide
area network (WAN), and storage network.
Cluster Hardware Requirements
Your cluster requires the following hardware components:
• Cluster nodes
• Cluster storage

Introduction 7
Cluster Nodes
Table 1-1 lists the hardware requirements for the cluster nodes.
Table 1-1. Cluster Node Requirements
Component Minimum Requirement
Cluster nodes A minimum of two identical PowerEdge servers are required.
The maximum number of nodes that is supported depends
on the variant of the Windows Server operating system used
in your cluster, and on the physical topology in which the
storage system and nodes are interconnected.
RAM The variant of the Windows Server operating system that is
installed on your cluster nodes determines the minimum
required amount of system RAM.
iSCSI Initiator Install the iSCSI port driver, Initiator Service, and Software
Initiator on each node.
Network Interface
Cards (NICs) for
iSCSI access
Two iSCSI NICs or two iSCSI NIC ports per node. Configure
the NICs on separate PCI buses to improve availability and
performance. TCP/IP Offload Engine (TOE) NICs are also
supported for iSCSI traffic.
NICs (public and
private networks)
At least two NICs: one NIC for the public network and
another NIC for the private network.
NOTE: It is recommended that the NICs on each public network
are identical, and that the NICs on each private network are
identical.
Internal disk
controller
One controller connected to at least two internal hard drives
for each node. Use any supported RAID controller or disk
controller.
Two hard drives are required for mirroring (RAID 1) and at
least three are required for disk striping with parity (RAID 5).
NOTE: It is strongly recommended that you use hardware-based
RAID or software-based disk-fault tolerance for the internal drives.

8Introduction
Cluster Storage
Cluster nodes can share access to external storage systems. However, only one
of the nodes can own any RAID volume in the external storage system at any
time. Microsoft Cluster Services (MSCS) controls which node has access to
each RAID volume in the shared storage system.
Table 1-2 lists the supported storage systems and the configuration
requirements for the cluster nodes and stand-alone systems connected to the
storage systems.
The storage systems work together with the following hardware components:
• Disk Processor Enclosure (DPE)—Configured with storage processors that
control the RAID arrays in the storage system and provide storage
functionalities such as snapshots, LUN masking, and remote mirroring.
• Disk Array Enclosure (DAE)—Provides additional storage and is attached
to the disk processor enclosure.
• Standby Power Supply (SPS)—Provides backup power to protect the
integrity of the disk processor write cache. The SPS is connected to the
disk processor enclosure.
Table 1-3 lists hardware requirements for the AX4-5i storage array.
Table 1-2. Cluster Storage Requirements
Hardware Components Requirement
Supported storage
systems
One to four supported Dell|EMC storage systems.
For specific storage system requirements, see Table 1-3.
Cluster nodes All nodes must be directly attached to a single storage
system or attached to one or more storage systems
through a SAN.
Multiple clusters and
stand-alone systems
Can share one or more supported storage systems.

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)

10 Introduction
Figure 1-1. Direct-Attached, Single-Cluster Configuration
EMC PowerPath Limitations in a Direct-Attached Cluster
EMC PowerPath provides failover capabilities and multiple path detection as
well as dynamic load balancing between multiple ports on the same storage
processor. However, direct-attached clusters supported by Dell connect to a
single port on each storage processor in the storage system. Because of the
single port limitation, PowerPath can provide only failover protection, not
load balancing, in a direct-attached configuration.
iSCSI SAN-Attached Cluster
In an iSCSI switch-attached cluster, all of the nodes are attached to a single
storage system or to multiple storage systems through redundant LANs for
high-availability. iSCSI SAN-attached clusters are superior to direct-attached
clusters in configuration flexibility, expandability, and performance.
Figure 1-2 shows an iSCSI SAN-attached cluster.
cluster node
private network
public network
cluster node
storage system
iSCSI connections
iSCSI connections

Introduction 11
Figure 1-2. iSCSI SAN-Attached Cluster
Other Documents You May Need
CAUTION: For important safety and regulatory information, see the safety
information that shipped with your system. Warranty information may be included
within this document or as a separate document.
NOTE: To configure Dell blade server modules in a Dell PowerEdge cluster, see the
Using Dell Blade Servers in a Dell PowerEdge High Availability Cluster document
located on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.
NOTE: All documentation in the list below, unless indicated otherwise, is available
on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.
• The Rack Installation Guide included with your rack solution describes
how to install your system into a rack.
• The
Getting Started Guide provides an overview of initially setting up your
system.
• The
Dell Failover Clusters with Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Installation
and Troubleshooting Guide
provides more information on deploying your
cluster with the Windows Server 2003 operating system.
cluster node cluster node
private network iSCSI
connections
storage system
Ethernet switch
Ethernet switch
public network
iSCSI
connections

12 Introduction
•The Dell Failover Clusters with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Installation
and Troubleshooting Guide
provides more information on deploying your
cluster with the Windows Server 2008 operating system.
•The
Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrices provides a list of
recommended operating systems, hardware components, and driver or
firmware versions for your Failover Cluster.
• Operating system documentation describes how to install (if necessary),
configure, and use the operating system software.
• Documentation for any hardware and software components you purchased
separately provides information to configure and install those options.
• The Dell PowerVault™ tape library documentation provides information
for installing, troubleshooting, and upgrading the tape library.
• The EMC PowerPath documentation and Dell|EMC Storage Enclosure
User’s Guides.
NOTE: Always read the updates first because they often supersede
information in other documents.
• Release notes or readme files may be included to provide last-minute
updates to the system or documentation, or advanced technical reference
material intended for experienced users or technicians.

Cabling Your Cluster Hardware 13
Cabling Your Cluster Hardware
NOTE: To configure Dell blade server modules in a Dell™ PowerEdge™ cluster, see
the Using Dell Blade Servers in a Dell PowerEdge High Availability Cluster
document located on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.
Cabling the Mouse, Keyboard, and Monitor
When installing a cluster configuration in a rack, you must include a switch
box to connect the mouse, keyboard, and monitor to the nodes. For
instructions on cabling each node’s connections to the switch box, see the
documentation included with your rack.
Cabling the Power Supplies
Refer to the documentation for each component in your cluster solution to
ensure that the specific power requirements are satisfied.
The following guidelines are recommended to protect your cluster solution
from power-related failures:
• For nodes with multiple power supplies, plug each power supply into a
separate AC circuit.
• Use uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
• For some environments, consider having backup generators and power
from separate electrical substations.
Figure 2-1, and Figure 2-2 illustrate recommended methods for power cabling
for a cluster solution consisting of two PowerEdge systems and two storage
systems. To ensure redundancy, the primary power supplies of all the
components are grouped onto one or two circuits and the redundant power
supplies are grouped onto a different circuit.

14 Cabling Your Cluster Hardware
Figure 2-1. Power Cabling Example With One Power Supply in the PowerEdge Systems
and One SPS in the AX4-5i Storage Array
redundant power supplies on
one AC power strip (or on
one AC PDU [not shown])
primary power supplies on
one AC power strip (or on
one AC PDU [not shown])
NOTE: This illustration is intended only to demonstrate the power
distribution of the components.
SPS

Cabling Your Cluster Hardware 15
Figure 2-2. Power Cabling Example With Two Power Supplies in the PowerEdge
Systems and Two SPSs in the AX4-5i Storage Array
Cabling Your Cluster for Public and Private
Networks
The network adapters in the cluster nodes provide at least two network
connections for each node, as described in Table 2-1.
NOTE: To configure Dell blade server modules in a Dell PowerEdge cluster, see the
Using Dell Blade Servers in a Dell PowerEdge High Availability Cluster document
located on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.
redundant power supplies
on one AC power strip (or
on one AC PDU [not
shown])
NOTE: This illustration is intended only to demonstrate the power
distribution of the components.
primary power supplies
on one AC power strip
(or on one AC PDU [not
shown])
SPS

16 Cabling Your Cluster Hardware
Figure 2-3 shows an example of cabling in which dedicated network adapters
in each node are connected to each other (for the private network) and the
remaining network adapters are connected to the public network.
Figure 2-3. Example of Network Cabling Connection
Cabling the Public Network
Any network adapter supported by a system running TCP/IP may be used to
connect to the public network segments. You can install additional network
adapters to support additional public network segments or to provide
redundancy in the event of a faulty primary network adapter or switch port.
Table 2-1. Network Connections
Network Connection Description
Public network All connections to the client LAN.
At least one public network must be configured for Mixed
mode for private network failover.
Private network A dedicated connection for sharing cluster health and
status information only.
cluster node 1 cluster node 2
public network
public network
adapter
private network
private network
adapter

Cabling Your Cluster Hardware 17
Cabling the Private Network
The private network connection to the nodes is provided by a different
network adapter in each node. This network is used for intra-cluster
communications. Table 2-2 describes three possible private network
configurations.
NOTE: Throughout this document, the term Gigabit Ethernet refers to either Gigabit
Ethernet or 10 Gigabit Ethernet.
Using Dual-Port Network Adapters
You can configure your cluster to use the public network as a failover for
private network communications. If dual-port network adapters are used, do
not use both ports simultaneously to support both the public and private
networks.
NIC Teaming
NIC teaming combines two or more NICs to provide load balancing and fault
tolerance. Your cluster supports NIC teaming, but only in a public network;
NIC teaming is not supported in a private network and an iSCSI network.
You should use the same brand of NICs in a team, and you cannot mix brands
of teaming drivers.
Table 2-2. Private Network Hardware Components and Connections
Method Hardware Components Connection
Network
switch
Fast Ethernet or Gigabit
Ethernet network adapters
and switches
Connect standard Ethernet cables
from the network adapters in the
nodes to a Fast Ethernet or Gigabit
Ethernet switch.
Point-to-Point
Fast Ethernet
(two-node
clusters only)
Fast Ethernet network
adapters
Connect a crossover Ethernet cable
between the Fast Ethernet network
adapters in both nodes.
Point-to-Point
Gigabit
Ethernet
(two-node
clusters only)
Copper Gigabit Ethernet
network adapters
Connect a standard Ethernet cable
between the Gigabit Ethernet network
adapters in both nodes.

18 Cabling Your Cluster Hardware
Cabling the Storage Systems
This section provides information for connecting your cluster to a storage
system in a direct-attached configuration, or to one or more storage systems
in an iSCSI SAN-attached configuration.
Connect the management port on each storage processor to the network
where the management station resides on using an Ethernet network cable.
Cabling Storage for Your Direct-Attached Cluster
A direct-attached cluster configuration consists of redundant iSCSI NIC
ports cabled directly to a Dell|EMC storage system. Direct-attached
configurations are self-contained and do not share any physical resources with
other cluster nodes or storage systems outside of the cluster.
Figure 2-4 shows an example of a direct-attached, single cluster configuration
with redundant NIC ports installed in each cluster node.
Figure 2-4. Direct-Attached Cluster Configuration
cluster node
private network
public network
cluster node
storage system
iSCSI connections
iSCSI connections

Cabling Your Cluster Hardware 19
Each cluster node attaches to the storage system using CAT5e or CAT6 LAN
cables with RJ45 connectors that attach to Gigabit Ethernet NICs in the
cluster nodes and the Gigabit iSCSI storage processor (SP) ports in the
Dell|EMC storage system.
NOTE: The connections listed in this section are representative of one proven
method of ensuring redundancy in the connections between the cluster nodes and
the storage system. Other methods that achieve the same type of redundant
connectivity may be acceptable.
Cabling a Two-Node Cluster to an AX4-5i Storage System
Figure 2-5 illustrates methods of cabling a two-node direct-attached cluster to
an AX4-5i storage array.
1
Connect cluster node 1 to the storage system.
a Install a cable from cluster node 1 iSCSI NIC 0 (or NIC port 0) to
SP-A iSCSI port 0.
b Install a cable from cluster node 1 iSCSI NIC 1 (or NIC port 1) to
SP-B iSCSI port 0.
2 Connect cluster node 2 to the storage system.
a Install a cable from cluster node 2 iSCSI NIC 0 (or NIC port 0) to
SP-A iSCSI port 1.
b Install a cable from cluster node 2 iSCSI NIC 1 (or NIC port 1) to
SP-B iSCSI port 1.
NOTE: The cables are connected to the storage processor ports in sequential
order for illustrative purposes. While the available ports in your storage system may
vary, NIC 0 (or NIC port 0) and NIC 1 (or NIC port 1) must be connected to SP-A and
SP-B, respectively.

20 Cabling Your Cluster Hardware
Figure 2-5. Cabling the Cluster Nodes to an AX4-5i Storage System
Cabling Storage for Your iSCSI SAN-Attached Cluster
An iSCSI SAN-attached cluster is a cluster configuration where all cluster
nodes are attached to a single storage system or to multiple storage systems
through a network using a redundant switch fabric.
An iSCSI SAN-attached cluster configuration provides more flexibility,
expandability, and performance than a direct-attached configuration.
Figure 2-6 shows an example of a two node iSCSI SAN-attached cluster.
Figure 2-7 shows an example of an eight-node iSCSI SAN-attached cluster.
Similar cabling concepts can be applied to clusters that contain a different
number of nodes.
NOTE: The connections listed in this section are representative of one proven
method of ensuring redundancy in the connections between the cluster nodes and
the storage system. Other methods that achieve the same type of redundant
connectivity may be acceptable.
cluster node 1 cluster node 2
01 10
Gigabit Ethernet
ports (2)
Gigabit Ethernet
ports (2)
AX4-5i storage array
SP-B SP-A