CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Preface

  1      Overview of VMScluster System Configuration
    1.1 Overview of VMScluster Systems
      1.1.1      AXP and VAX Computers in a VMScluster System
      1.1.2      VMScluster Benefits
    1.2 Hardware Components
      1.2.1      Introduction
    1.3 Software Components
      1.3.1      Types of VMScluster System Software
      1.3.2      OpenVMS Operating System Components
      1.3.3      Networking Components
      1.3.4      Storage Enhancement Software
      1.3.5      System Management Software
      1.3.6      Business Applications
    1.4 Configuring a VMScluster System
      1.4.1      Introduction
      1.4.2      General Configuration Rules
      1.4.3      For More Information
      1.4.4      If You Need More Help

  2      Determining Business and Application Requirements
    2.1 Determining Business Requirements
      2.1.1      Typical Business Requirements
      2.1.2      Budget
      2.1.3      Availability
      2.1.4      Scalability and Future Growth
      2.1.5      Physical Location Requirements
      2.1.6      Security
    2.2 Determining Application Requirements
      2.2.1      Processor, Memory, and I/O Resources
      2.2.2      Adding Memory
      2.2.3      Balancing Processor, Memory, and I/O Resources
      2.2.4      Tools and Utilities

  3      Choosing VMScluster Computers
    3.1 Overview
      3.1.1      Introduction
      3.1.2      AXP and VAX Architectures
      3.1.3      Types of Systems
    3.2 Choosing Systems
      3.2.1      Comparison of System Types
      3.2.2      Scalability Considerations
      3.2.3      Availability Considerations
      3.2.4      Performance Considerations
    3.3 System Specifications
      3.3.1      Introduction
      3.3.2      Workstations
      3.3.3      Departmental Systems
      3.3.4      Data Center Systems

  4      Choosing VMScluster Interconnects
    4.1 Overview
      4.1.1      Types of Interconnects
      4.1.2      Characteristics
      4.1.3      Comparison of Interconnect Types
      4.1.4      Multiple Interconnects
      4.1.5      Mixed Interconnects
      4.1.6      Choosing Interconnects
    4.2 CI Interconnect
      4.2.1      Definition
      4.2.2      Advantages
      4.2.3      Throughput
      4.2.4      Supported Computers and Adapters
      4.2.5      Multiple CI Adapters
    4.3 Digital Storage Systems Interconnect (DSSI)
      4.3.1      Definition
      4.3.2      Advantages
      4.3.3      Maintenance Consideration
      4.3.4      Throughput
      4.3.5      DSSI Adapter Types
      4.3.6      Supported Adapters and Computer Types
      4.3.7      DSSI-Connected Storage
      4.3.8      Multiple DSSIs
    4.4 Ethernet Interconnect
      4.4.1      Definition
      4.4.2      Advantages
      4.4.3      Throughput
      4.4.4      Multiple Ethernet Load Balancing
      4.4.5      Supported Adapters and Computers
      4.4.6      Ethernet-to-FDDI Bridges
    4.5 Fiber Distributed Data Interconnect (FDDI)
      4.5.1      Definition
      4.5.2      Advantages
      4.5.3      Types of FDDI Nodes
      4.5.4      Distance
      4.5.5      Throughput
      4.5.6      Supported Adapters and Computers
      4.5.7      Multiple FDDI Adapters
      4.5.8      Multiple FDDI Load Balancing

  5      Choosing VMScluster Storage Subsystems
    5.1 Overview
    5.2 Understanding Storage Product Choices
      5.2.1      StorageWorks Family of Products
      5.2.2      Criteria for Choosing Devices
      5.2.3      How Interconnects Affect Storage Choices
      5.2.4      How Floor Space Affects Storage Choices
    5.3 Determining Storage Capacity Requirements
      5.3.1      What Is Storage Capacity?
      5.3.2      Estimating Disk Capacity Requirements
      5.3.3      Additional Disk Capacity Requirements
    5.4 Choosing Disk Performance Optimizers
      5.4.1      Introduction
      5.4.2      Performance Optimizers
    5.5 Determining Disk Availability Requirements
      5.5.1      Introduction
      5.5.2      Availability Requirements
      5.5.3      Device and Data Availability Optimizers
    5.6 CI Based Storage
      5.6.1      Introduction
      5.6.2      Supported Controllers and Devices
      5.6.3      Disk Attributes
      5.6.4      Tape Attributes
      5.6.5      Storage Array Attributes
      5.6.6      HSC and HSJ Capacity and I/O Rates
    5.7 DSSI-Based Storage
      5.7.1      Introduction
      5.7.2      Supported Devices
      5.7.3      Disk Attributes
      5.7.4      Tape Attributes
      5.7.5      Storage Array Attributes
      5.7.6      HSD Capacity and I/O Rates
    5.8 SCSI-Based Storage
      5.8.1      Introduction
      5.8.2      Supported Devices
      5.8.3      Disk Attributes
      5.8.4      Tape Attributes
      5.8.5      HSZ Capacity and I/O Rates
    5.9 Host-Based Storage
      5.9.1      Introduction
      5.9.2      Internal Buses
      5.9.3      Local Adapter Attributes
      5.9.4      Configuring for Multiple Access Paths
    5.10 LAN InfoServer
      5.10.1     Introduction
      5.10.2     InfoServer Products

  6      Configuring VMSclusters for Availability
    6.1 Introduction
      6.1.1      What Is Availability?
      6.1.2      Availability Requirements
    6.2 How VMSclusters Provide Availability
      6.2.1      Introduction
      6.2.2      Shared Access to Storage
      6.2.3      Component Redundancy
      6.2.4      Failover Mechanisms
      6.2.5      Related Software Products
    6.3 Strategies for Configuring Highly Available VMSclusters
      6.3.1      Introduction
      6.3.2      Availability Strategies
    6.4 Strategies for Maintaining Highly Available VMSclusters
      6.4.1      Introduction
      6.4.2      Strategies for Maintaining Availability
    6.5 Availability in a LAN VMScluster
      6.5.1      Introduction
      6.5.2      Components
      6.5.3      Advantages
      6.5.4      Disadvantages
      6.5.5      Key Availability Strategies
    6.6 Availability in a DSSI VMScluster
      6.6.1      Introduction
      6.6.2      Components
      6.6.3      Advantages
      6.6.4      Disadvantages
      6.6.5      Key Availability Strategies
    6.7 Availability in a CI VMScluster
      6.7.1      Introduction
      6.7.2      Components
      6.7.3      Advantages
      6.7.4      Disadvantages
      6.7.5      Key Availability Strategies
    6.8 Availability in a VMScluster with Satellites
      6.8.1      Introduction
      6.8.2      Components
      6.8.3      Advantages
      6.8.4      Disadvantages
      6.8.5      Key Availability Strategies
    6.9 Disaster-Tolerant VMScluster System
      6.9.1      Business Recovery Server
      6.9.2      Components
      6.9.3      Advantages

  7      Configuring a VMScluster for Scalability
    7.1 What Is Scalability?
      7.1.1      Definition
      7.1.2      Scalable Dimensions
    7.2 Strategies for Configuring a Highly Scalable VMScluster
      7.2.1      Introduction
      7.2.2      Scalabilty Strategies
    7.3 Scalability in CI VMSclusters
      7.3.1      Introduction
      7.3.2      Two-Node CI VMScluster
      7.3.3      Three-Node CI VMScluster
      7.3.4      Seven-Node CI VMScluster
      7.3.5      Guidelines for CI VMSclusters
      7.3.6      Guidelines for Volume Shadowing in CI VMSclusters
    7.4 Scalability in DSSI VMSclusters
      7.4.1      Introduction
      7.4.2      Two-Node DSSI VMScluster
      7.4.3      Four-Node DSSI VMScluster with Shared Access
      7.4.4      Four-Node DSSI VMScluster with Some Nonshared Access
      7.4.5      Guidelines for Volume Shadowing in DSSI VMSclusters
      7.4.6      Triangular DSSI Configurations
      7.4.7      Guidelines for DSSI VMSclusters
    7.5 Combining CI and DSSI VMScluster Systems
      7.5.1      Communications Paths
    7.6 Scalability in VMSclusters with Satellites
      7.6.1      Introduction
      7.6.2      Six-Satellite VMScluster
      7.6.3      Six-Satellite VMScluster with Two Boot Nodes
      7.6.4      Twelve-Satellite LAN VMScluster with Two LAN Segments
      7.6.5      Forty-Five Satellite VMScluster with FDDI Ring
      7.6.6      High-Powered Workstation VMScluster
      7.6.7      Guidelines for VMSclusters with Satellites
      7.6.8      Extended LAN Configuration Guidelines
      7.6.9      System Parameters for VMSclusters
    7.7 Scaling for I/Os
      7.7.1      Factors That Affect I/O Scalability
      7.7.2      MSCP Served Access to Storage
      7.7.3      Disk Technologies
      7.7.4      Read/Write Ratio
      7.7.5      I/O Size
      7.7.6      Caches
      7.7.7      Cache ``Hit'' Rate
      7.7.8      Managing ``Hot'' Files
      7.7.9      Volume Shadowing

  8      VMScluster System Management Strategies
    8.1 Overview
      8.1.1      About This Chapter
      8.1.2      Simple and Complex Configurations
    8.2 System Disk Strategies
      8.2.1      System and Environment Files
      8.2.2      Single System Disk
      8.2.3      Multiple System Disks
      8.2.4      Multiple System-Disk VMScluster
      8.2.5      Dividing a VMScluster System
      8.2.6      Summary:  Single Versus Multiple System Disks
    8.3 VMScluster Environment Strategies
      8.3.1      Environment Files
      8.3.2      Common Environment
      8.3.3      Putting Environment Files on a Separate, Common Disk
      8.3.4      Multiple Environments
    8.4 Additional Multiple-Environment Strategies
      8.4.1      Using Multiple SYSUAF.DAT Files
      8.4.2      Using Multiple Queue Managers
    8.5 Quorum Strategies
      8.5.1      What Is Quorum?
      8.5.2      Quorum Disk Considerations
      8.5.3      Quorum Strategy Options
    8.6 State Transition Strategies
      8.6.1      Introduction
      8.6.2      Dealing with State Transitions
    8.7 Multiple OpenVMS Versions in a VMScluster
      8.7.1      Migration and Warranted Support
    8.8 AXP and VAX Computers in the Same VMScluster
      8.8.1      Introduction
      8.8.2      VMScluster Satellite Booting Across Architectures
      8.8.3      Restrictions
    8.9 Determining Backup and Storage Management Strategies
      8.9.1      Why Back Up?
      8.9.2      Steps for Determining a Backup Strategy
    8.10 Disk Backup
      8.10.1     Backup Methods
    8.11 Tape Backup
      8.11.1     Backup Media
      8.11.2     For More Information
      8.11.3     Benefits of Unattended Backup
      8.11.4     POLYCENTER Archive/Backup
      8.11.5     StorageTek 4400 ACS
      8.11.6     Tape-Drive Performance and Capacity