Conference decwet::winnt-clusters

776.0. "Windows NT Clustering with mirrored disksets?" by COPCLU::JACOBSEN () Tue Apr 29 1997 08:23

    hi,
    
    I have a large prospect who we would like to selle into. The customer
    is a lerge IBM account, but are very interested in Digital's WindowsNT
    clustering technology. IBM is competing with Vinca StandbyServer.
    
    The customer has, however, are specific requirement, which is related
    to disastertolerance, i.e. duplicated systems, and disks in particular.
    
    I have been informed that Wolfpack beta2 will provide support for
    software mirroring, which we don7't. The customer is very reluctant on
    starting on new technology, as Wolfpack is, and would like to go with
    our solution. Is there any way og providing this? (hardware wise, as
    3rd party solutions as Octopus are not valid proposals).
    
    We would like to see a solution such as:
    
    +-------+                                              +-------+
    !       !                                              !       !
    ! Alpha !                                              ! Alpha !
    ! 1000A !                                              ! 1000A !
    !       !                                              !       !
    +-------+                                              +-------+
        \                                                      /
         \                                                    /
          \                                                  /
           +-------+                                +-------+
           !       !          app 80 meters         !       !
           ! SW450 !--------------------------------! SW450 !
           !       !                                !       !
           +-------+                                +-------+
    
    
    Questions are:
    
    1. Can we support this configuration? The disks in each cabinet must 
    be mirrored. Either bu HW or by SW. Any addotional HW components which
    may be needed are welcome.
    
    2. When, or how long time after Wolfpack release can we expect Alpha
    1000A's to be certified?
    
    3. When do we expect Digital Nt Clusters to contain the Wolfpack 
    productset?
    
    4. Do we have a list of the additional components we expect to add to
    Wolfpack in our offering?
    
    any fast answers would be greatly appreciated.
    
    best regards
    
    Preben Jacobsen
    
    SBU technical support - Denmark
    

>    1. Can we support this configuration? The disks in each cabinet must 
>    be mirrored. Either bu HW or by SW. Any addotional HW components which
>    may be needed are welcome.
 
     In a word, No.  Octopus with Digital Cluster would have worked
     if the customer wanted that type of configuration.

     Note, there are product plans by storageworks to provide
     hardware based HSZ mirroring but that quite a ways off.


>    2. When, or how long time after Wolfpack release can we expect Alpha
>    1000A's to be certified?

     It's up the SBU to perform the certification. I believe Digital's
     plans are to qualify ALL the servers (alpha and prioris) that
     are currrently on Digital's NT cluster HCL. Thus, making the
     migration to Wolfpack possible.

>    3. When do we expect Digital Nt Clusters to contain the Wolfpack 
>    productset?

     The plan is to have a seamless migration from Digital's cluster
     to Wolfpack.

>    4. Do we have a list of the additional components we expect to add to
>    Wolfpack in our offering?

     This is being defined. Sally Anderson is the program Manager.