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8

Platform Guide

Rules and Guidelines

The rules and guidelines described in Table 1-2 apply to direct-attached clusters.

Table 1-2.

Direct-Attached Clusters Rules and Guidelines

Rule/Guideline

Description

Operating system

Each direct-attached cluster must run Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 
2003, x64 operating system. 

Windows Server 2003 
service pack

Windows Server 2003 is supported with all CX-series and AX-series storage 
systems. See 

"Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix" on page 10

 for the 

supported versions.

Windows Server 2003, 
x64 service pack

Windows Server 2003, x64 is supported with CX-series storage systems only. See 

"Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix" on page 10

 for the supported versions.

Primary storage

Only one storage system (AX150i, AX150SCi, CX3-10c, CX3-20c, or CX3-40c) can 
be directly attached to the cluster.

NOTE: 

The PowerEdge cluster FE655Wi solution does not support Windows Server 2003, 

x64 with the Dell|EMC AX-series storage systems.

Each Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2003 x64 cluster can support up to 
22 unique drive letters for shared logical drives and additional physical drives 
through mount points.

iSCSI Initiator

Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator

iSCSI Initiator version

See "Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix" on page 10 for the supported 
versions.

NICs for iSCSI traffic

Ethernet daughter cards: Intel PRO/1000 MB dual-port server adapter for 
PowerEdge 1855 systems only.

TOE NICs for iSCSI traffic

Ethernet daughter card: Broadcom 5708 Gigabit dual-port NIC controller for 
PowerEdge 1955 systems only. 

NIC driver version

See "Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix" on page 10 for the supported 
versions.

SNP

Microsoft Scalable Networking Pack (SNP) required to enable TOE capability on 
the PowerEdge 1955 systems.

Ethernet modules

Two Gigabit Ethernet pass-through modules.

Dell|EMC AX150SCi and 
AX150i core software (EMC 
FLARE

®

)

See "Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix" on page 10 for the supported 
versions.

Dell|EMC CX3-10c, CX3-20c 
and, CX3-40c core software

See 

"Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix" on page 10

 for the supported 

versions.

Summary of Contents for POWEREDGE Cluster FE655WI

Page 1: ...w w w d e l l c o m s u p p o r t d e l l c o m Dell PowerEdge Cluster FE655Wi Systems Platform Guide ...

Page 2: ...t the written permission of Dell Inc is strictly forbidden Trademarks used in this text Dell the DELL logo OpenManage PowerConnect and PowerEdge are trademarks of Dell Inc Microsoft and Windows Server are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and or other countries EMC FLARE and Navisphere are registered trademarks of EMC Corporation Intel is a re...

Page 3: ...ork 6 System Configurations Support 6 Rules and Guidelines 7 Attaching Your Cluster to a Shared Storage System Through Direct Attached Configuration 7 Rules and Guidelines 8 Attaching Your Cluster Shared Storage System through iSCSI Switch Attached Configuration 9 Rules and Guidelines 9 Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix 10 ...

Page 4: ...4 Contents ...

Page 5: ...ell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix NOTE Configurations not listed in this document may not be certified or supported by Dell or Microsoft Overview The PowerEdge cluster FE655Wi solution is attached to a self contained iSCSI storage area network formed by server modules from one or more PowerEdge 1855 1955 server enclosure s The server modules are interconnected to one or more storage systems...

Page 6: ...dge cluster FE655Wi solution supports Ethernet switches for iSCSI network External Gigabit Ethernet switches are supported Dual redundant iSCSI networks configuration is required System Configurations Support The PowerEdge cluster FE655Wi solution supports the following direct attached and switch attached system configurations Ethernet embedded switches connected to one or two storage systems Ethe...

Page 7: ...5 server enclosure and a storage system or between two PowerEdge 1855 1955 server enclosures with Fibre Channel pass through modules may be increased through the use of single mode or multi mode switch Inter Switch Links ISLs The maximum cable length for Fast Ethernet and copper Gigabit Ethernet is 100 meters 328 feet and for optical Gigabit Ethernet is 550 meters 1804 feet This distance may be ex...

Page 8: ...es storage systems Each Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2003 x64 cluster can support up to 22 unique drive letters for shared logical drives and additional physical drives through mount points iSCSI Initiator Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator iSCSI Initiator version See Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix on page 10 for the supported versions NICs for iSCSI traffic Ethernet daughter c...

Page 9: ...and AX series storage systems See Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix on page 10 for the supported versions Windows Server 2003 x64 service pack Windows Server 2003 x64 is supported on CX series storage systems only See Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix on page 10 for the supported versions Primary storage Up to two supported Dell EMC storage systems can be connected in a configurati...

Page 10: ...opriate drivers and firmware that are supported on your hardware and software components and the operating system version TOE NIC for iSCSI traffic Ethernet daughter card Broadcom 5708 Gigabit dual port NIC controller for PowerEdge 1955 systems only NIC driver version See Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrix on page 10 for the supported versions SNP Microsoft SNP required to enable TOE capabi...

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