Dell PowerVault MD3620f - Introduction

Introduction 7
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Introduction
This document provides information for installing and managing your cluster
solution using Dell PowerVault MD3600f and MD3620f storage systems. It is
intended for experienced IT professionals who configure a cluster solution
and for trained service technicians who perform upgrade and maintenance
procedures. This document also addresses readers who are new to clustering.
Overview
The Dell PowerEdge Cluster with Microsoft Windows Server Failover
Clustering combines specific hardware and software components to provide
enhanced availability for applications and services that run on the cluster. A
failover cluster is designed to reduce the possibility of any single point of
failure within the system that can cause the clustered applications or services
to become unavailable. It is recommended that you use redundant
components like system and storage power supplies, connections between the
nodes and the storage array(s), connections to client systems, or other
systems in the multi-tier enterprise application architecture in your cluster.
This guide addresses the configuration of your Dell MD3600f and MD3620f
Fibre Channel storage arrays for use with one or more Windows Server
failover clusters. It provides information and specific configuration tasks that
enable you to deploy the shared storage for your cluster.
For more information on deploying your cluster, see the Dell Failover Clusters
with Microsoft Windows Server Installation and Troubleshooting Guide at
support.dell.com/manuals.
NOTE: Throughout this document:
• Windows Server 2008 refers to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 x64 Enterprise
Edition or Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 Enterprise Edition.
• Dell PowerVault MD36x0f storage array refers to both Dell PowerVault
MD3600f and Dell PowerVault MD3620f storage arrays.
For a list of recommended operating systems, hardware components, and
driver or firmware versions for your Dell Windows Server Failover Cluster, see
the Dell Cluster Configuration Support Matrices at dell.com/ha.
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