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July 28th, 2014 13:00
PowerVault NX400. It is possible to work with a SQL Cluster Server 2012?
Hello, A customer of me is asking if the current NAS solution they have (DELL PowerVault NX400) will permit them to work as a Cluster Shared Volume attending a SQL Server Cluster using SQL Server 2012. If no which other low end (for small business) will serve for these purposes? Appreciate your response. Regards Diego VP
Dev Mgr
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July 29th, 2014 12:00
Yes, if you use the iSCSI target option on your NX400, you could effectively use your NX400 as a SAN and allow 2 other servers to run a shared-storage-cluster.
A few things to keep in mind:
- When your NX400 needs to reboot (for patching or any other reason), you'll need to down both your clustered servers first
- I'd recommend to put the iSCSI traffic on 2 separate subnets and switches (or at least isolated vlans on 2 separate physical switches). In other words; avoid running iSCSI traffic across your LAN for reliability and performance reasons. I'd suggest to read some of the Equallogic iSCSI switch documentation to see how you should configure switches for iSCSI.
Dev Mgr
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July 28th, 2014 18:00
My understanding is that the NAS OS that comes with these systems doesn't allow running anything other than shares (clustered or stand-alone).
However, if you were to format and install a retail/volume license version of regular Windows Server you can do whatever you want with it.
Also; if you're wanting to use the NX400 for shared storage for 2 other servers so that they can run a SQL cluster, this may be possible if it came licensed with an iSCSI target software solution.
DiegoVp
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July 29th, 2014 06:00
Thks. DevMgr.
In that sense, considering the NX400 comes with Windows STORAGE Server 2012, which has a iSCSI Target Server (as service) will permit that 2 external servers (active, active cluster) running Windows Server 2012 to use the NAS as shared storage? .
DELL-Sam L
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July 29th, 2014 08:00
Hello DiegoVp,
So with the NX400 & the OS that comes with it does support failover clustering but that option is not turned on by the OS so you will have to enable it. Also with the NX400 I am not sure that it supports active –active clustering. Here is a link to an MS technet article with failover clustering options & updates. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn265972
Please let us know if you have any other questions.