IBM SQL Cluster

  • I am trying to cluster two IBM 330 servers with an EXP300 as shared storage(2 x 36GB RAID 1 drives as 2 logical drives "Q:" for Quorum and "R:" for Trans Logs. 3 x 72GB RAID 5 drives as shared storage"S:"). Both servers are running MSW2KAS and MSSQL2KEE. The servers both have IBM ServerRAID 4mX 2 channel raid controlers in them. Twice now, I have setup the Advavnced Server Cluster, both times, at different points in the proceedure, One of the servers looses the shared storage, and the drives register as defunct in the RAID manager. The first time, this happened, the AS cluster had been setup, today, I had SQL installed and it happened after I ran comclust.exe(should have done this first...I know). After the drives go defunct, the only way to get them back is to rebuild the arrays, and start over. I would appreciate any help or thoughts.

    Thanks,

    Ryan

  • I personally haven't done alot of work with IBM servers. I would recommend calling IBM and getting their recommended setup for a cluster.

  • If I recall right this is really a SCSI issue, it has to do with the details of the SCSI setup on each card and the EXP. They aren't defunct, you need to reboot a certain way. Somewhere I have a write up on how to do this, if I can find it I'll post it.

    Because of the problems with a SCSI cluster we have moved to fiber channel. Move expensive up front, but much cheaper in the long run. (I know this doesn't help you, but !!)

    KlK, MCSE


    KlK

  • Thanks for the help gang,

    After aprox. 45 hrs I have solved my problems. The issues were many, and all IBM related. 1) IBM's Clustering how to is Wrong. It both leaves out critical information and tells you to perform incorrect proceedures. 2)The most current driver release for the ServerRAID 4Mx controller has the wrong driver. 3)In an IBM environment, you need to run a setup utility from their ServerRAID cd, which will envoke the install of MSCS. and 4) The dip switches on the backplane of the EXP300 external storage are mis-labled...so on is really off and vice versa. Most of this information was news to IBM of course. I just hope that this saves someone some time in the future....because I can't get back the 18 hrs I lost on Saturday.

    Thanks,

    Ryan

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