Dell PowerEdge - Blade Server Requirements

Introduction 19
Figure 1-6. Network-Attached Cluster Connected to an External SAN Using Embedded
Switch Modules
NOTE: It is recommended that you configure the paired inter-switch links (ISLs) as
shown in Figure 1-6 for clusters with Fibre Channel storage systems. In an iSCSI
cluster configuration, multiple connections between internal switch modules and
external switches may not be practical depending on the Ethernet switch features.
Blade Server Requirements
Your cluster requires the following components:
• Server modules (cluster nodes)
• Fibre Channel or iSCSI storage subsystem interconnects
• Cluster interconnects (private network)
• Client network connections (public network)
• Operating system and storage management software
cluster node
cluster node
private network
storage system
embedded
switch module
public network
external
switch
embedded
switch module
external
switch
inter-switch link
inter-switch link
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