Multi-node clusters on a fibre channel SAN with the SAN SSO

In this configuration, one or more clusters are attached to a fibre channel storage area network (SAN), with cluster-aware Backup Exec and the SAN Shared Storage Option (SAN SSO) installed on the controlling node in each cluster. Shared secondary storage devices are attached to the fibre channel, although a single storage device can be shared between one or more clusters. Failover occurs (in alphabetical order of the machine name) to other designated nodes in the cluster.

Note:

When using multiple clusters in a SAN SSO environment, it is strongly recommended that the cluster nodes be connected to the storage devices using a fibre switch. If you use a hub rather than a fibre switch, the hub will receive a reset command during a failover event that causes all other components attached to the hub to be disconnected. You can designate any server on the fibre channel SAN as the Shared Storage Option Database server.

You should create a failover device pool for the cluster.

See Creating device pools for Microsoft Cluster Servers.

This configuration offers increased performance since backups are performed locally instead of over a network. Additionally, centralized media catalogs are available. Because the SAN SSO uses a shared catalog database, a tape that has already been cataloged can be physically moved from one device to another and not have to be recataloged.

Note:

The SAN SSO option must be installed on each failover node, with the same settings that were used on the primary node. Either all nodes should be database servers or all nodes should be secondary member servers.

Following are examples of multi-node clusters:

Figure: Two 2-node Clusters on a Fibre Channel SAN with the SAN SSO

You can have a four-node cluster.

Figure: Four-node Cluster on Fibre Channel SAN with the SAN SSO