Russ,
We have just installed clustering using 2 F740s. We had one F740, bought a second with clustering, and it was installed Monday night. A couple of things have happened:
1. We had to replace the disk array shelves onthe existing filer last night because the cluster partner (the new F740) could not see all of the disks on the "older" F740. Also, we had to upgrade the disk firmware on the "older" F740.
2. The existing filer has now started to crash. We had one crash Tuesday before correcting the disk problem above, so the cluster partner did not take over. We had a second one today on the "older" filer, and this time clustering worked fine.
3. However, it is not seemless. The failover breaks file shares (we are a CIFS-only environment, but I understand it would do the same to NFS mounts). So, users/application may get file errors if they are in the middle of performing a file operation. When you do a "giveback", you either have to manually break file shares again, or do a "cf giveback -f" which forces the share break. Only then, after the shares have been broken, does the filer you are do the "giveback" to reboot. This means, once again, file errors to clients.
4. Netapp believes the crashes may be the result of a bad ServerNet card (the card that connects the two filers together for clustering). If true, that means that we will have suffered 3 bad/faulty parts in one install/purchase.
If you want, I'll let you know the end of this soap opera.
Sam Schorr
-----Original Message----- From: Russ Amidon [mailto:amidon@pico.sps.mot.com] Sent: Thursday, March 04, 1999 1:56 PM To: toasters@mathworks.com Subject: Future Newbie Needs Advice
Hello Everyone,
I am about to purchase two F760's w/ Cluster Failover Software and Hardware because we need a system that is 100% available and rock solid. I was convinced after talking to other Net App users that this was the way to go. After a week of reading this mailing list, I am no longer convinced. Does anyone out there have the system I described? Are you happy with it? I am particularly concerned about the fiber channel problems and all of the OS upgrades and patches.
We are also considering the new Auspex NS2000. Does anyone know of an Auspex
mailing list like this one?
Thank you in advance for any advise you can offer to the "future newbie".
Russ Amidon UNIX Sys Admin