9.1 Overview

You can add OES nodes to an existing NetWare 6.5 cluster without bringing down the cluster, or you can create an all-OES cluster. With a mixed cluster, you can transfer services between OS kernels, and if services (such as NSS) are alike on both platforms, you can set the services to fail over across platforms.

Typical cluster configurations normally include a shared disk subsystem connected to all servers in the cluster. This disk subsystem can be connected via high-speed Fibre Channel cards, cables, and switches for best performance, or by a shared SCSI or iSCSI for a low-cost SAN. If a server fails, another designated server in the cluster automatically mounts the shared disk directories previously mounted on the failed server. This gives network users continuous access to the directories on the shared disk subsystem.

Novell Cluster Services can be set up on OES in several ways:

  • Implementing a new installation on OES that is separate from your NetWare cluster. The pattern install also installs these complementary services:

    • Novell Backup/Storage Management Services (SMS)

    • Novell Linux User Management (LUM)

    • Novell Remote Manager (NRM)

  • Adding OES nodes to an existing NetWare cluster

  • Changing existing NetWare cluster nodes to OES cluster nodes (Rolling Cluster Conversion)

  • Using a mixed NetWare/OES cluster

Using the Novell Cluster Services tool to manage live cluster transfers from the Novell NetWare OS to Novell SUSE Linux via a rolling conversion is one of the easier methods and is documented here.