External storage array needed for clustering

External storage array needed for clustering

We are implementing a small Windows 2003 cluster at work. We are at the initial stages and are designing the system.

To implement a cluster, do we need to use a Fibre Channel shared storage box or can we build a third server for the centralized storage? I know this is elementary, but that's where I am at the moment.

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You need an external storage array that can be connected to all servers in the cluster so clustered resources can be failed over to surviving members if a server fails. If you are creating a simple two-node cluster, you can use external SCSI shelves to keep it cheap. You just need Y adapters with external terminators on each end of the SCSI chain. Fibre Channel makes it simpler and faster.

Click here for more details.

Chris

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This was first published in February 2004