Cluster installation types

Types of cluster installations

There are two types of cluster installations:

Clusters in a system cabinet
Clusters in an equipment rack

Clusters in a system cabinet

If you ordered a cluster in a system cabinet, it comes in one or more NetApp System Cabinets. The number of system cabinets you receive depends on how much storage you ordered. All internal adapters, such as networking adapters, Fibre Channel adapters, and other adapters, arrive preinstalled in the nodes.

Single system cabinet cluster

If the cluster you ordered has six or fewer disk shelves, it arrives in a single system cabinet. This system cabinet has both the Channel A and Channel B disk shelves cabled, and also has the cluster adapters cabled.

Multiple system cabinet cluster

If the cluster you ordered has more than six disk shelves, the cluster arrives in two or more system cabinets. You must complete the cabling by cabling the local node to the partner node's disk shelves and the partner node to the local node's disk shelves. You must also cable the nodes together by cabling the cluster adapters. The system cabinets might also need to be connected to each other. See the 42U System Cabinet Guide for information about connecting your system cabinets together for clustering.

Clusters in an equipment rack

Depending on the amount of storage you ordered, you need to install the equipment in one or more telco-style equipment racks. These racks can hold one or two nodes on the bottom and eight or more disk shelves. For information about how to install the disk shelves and nodes into the equipment racks, see the appropriate Fibre Channel disk shelf guide, hardware guide, or Quick Start guide that came with your equipment.