clustering

[zogg]

Where can I get some good information on clustering. I got a new job with a wireless company that supplies wap gateways,application servers and suites to isp's,corporations and others. We build,intergrate and service these IBM netfinity servers along with other equipment and black box switching devices. I found out that they dont have anyone that is an expert on clustering with NT enterprise in my department but are looking for someone. I took enterprise in school but I hardley know anything about clustering and the microsoft cluster agent. The applications are for beeper systems,cell phones and wirless internet.
They are using a new protocol that was authored by one of the founders of the company called WAP..wireless application protocol that is to wireless as tcp/ip is to ethernet. It uses wml, "wireless markup language" which is simmilar to html but its organized in cards and decks.
The software that is bundled with our systems is called the WAP Advantage System.

I need a good source on clustering,redundancy control applications, and phoneline switching as well (HADX). I know I can use a search engine, but I thought that maybe there are some experts on the forum that can steer me in the right direction.
Thanks fo your help.

 

[Vegito]

Consider W2K enterprise.. A lot of NT4 based program does not run well in clustering mode.. I useCo-Standby Servers

ie.

Exchange Server
SQL Server

You'll need a big ass drive.

In Legato's system, you install SQL on 1 and Exchange on other. You then install the other piece of software for fail over. Each system will run the co-standby server and makes a dummy netbios name if the other one dies. So when your SQL/Exchange dies, the costandby server remapps you to your Exchange/SQL backup and stuff. Too much to explain but w2k is better for clustering.. Too much work too.

Two Network cards on each machine. First nic card uses tcp/ip and has physical LAN address, the other can be either NetBeui or TCP on a different subnet so it hooks to the other server using cross over cable and it'll establish a data link there.

 

[zogg]

we have 2 9.1 or 18 gig drives in each node and then there is a rack of 8 18 gig drives. We use the advantage software which was written by my company. No problem with the drive space.I think I found a mistake in the confriguration of the netfinity severs when they dont use all four xeons but I am not positive on that yet. If all of the cpus arent used, shouldnt the empty slots be filled with the blank card that has the resistors on it? One of the techs said its only for show. Then why is there a card that can go in the empty cpu slots that has a bunch of resistors on it? Isnt that to balance the load on the mother board eletrically and to keep the emi down?

 

[Superunknown]

Zogg, the cards that go into the processor slots you are talking about are terminators. They terminate the processor slot if a cpu isnt used in that slot. We use Compaq servers and our some of our 4 ways have 2 terminator cards in them since only 2 cpus are used in them. I think it depends on the hardware vendor, but many servers will NOT function without these terminators in place.