Clustering concepts

About cluster concepts

There are two types of clusters you can install in your site. The following table lists the cluster types and gives a brief description.

Cluster type	Description
Standard cluster	Appliances are physically close and directly connected to each other. There is no mirroring of the data in this type of cluster.
Mirrored cluster and nonswitched MetroCluster	Mirrored clusters have appliances separated by up to 30 meters. Nonswitched MetroClusters have appliances and disk shelves separated by more than 30 meters and up to 500 meters away from each other. Mirrored and nonswitched MetroClusters require different cables from each other and standard clusters. Data on the local node is mirrored (synchronized copy) on the partner node, and vice versa. The local and partner nodes are directly connected to each other.
Fabric Attached MetroCluster	Appliances and disk shelves are cabled directly to switches and not to each other. Unlike a traditional cluster, each node and set of associated disk shelves are directly connected to a set of switches, and not to each other. Disk ownership is determined by where the FC HBA (FC HBA for Disk) is cabled to the switch and where the disks are cabled. Data on the cluster is mirrored. This cluster type only supports the DS-14 series disk shelves.

Cluster type

Description

Standard cluster

Appliances are physically close and directly connected to each other. There is no mirroring of the data in this type of cluster.

Mirrored cluster and nonswitched MetroCluster

Mirrored clusters have appliances separated by up to 30 meters. Nonswitched MetroClusters have appliances and disk shelves separated by more than 30 meters and up to 500 meters away from each other. Mirrored and nonswitched MetroClusters require different cables from each other and standard clusters.

Data on the local node is mirrored (synchronized copy) on the partner node, and vice versa. The local and partner nodes are directly connected to each other.

Fabric Attached MetroCluster

Appliances and disk shelves are cabled directly to switches and not to each other. Unlike a traditional cluster, each node and set of associated disk shelves are directly connected to a set of switches, and not to each other. Disk ownership is determined by where the FC HBA (FC HBA for Disk) is cabled to the switch and where the disks are cabled. Data on the cluster is mirrored. This cluster type only supports the DS-14 series disk shelves.

For detailed information

For details about these cluster types, see the following sections: