11.1 Planning for NCP Volumes in a Cluster Environment

Creating NCP volumes on a Linux LVM volume group clustered resource allows your NCP users to access the data by using NCP clients. NCP volumes can be used in a cluster environment with some modifications to the load, unload, and monitor scripts for the Linux LVM volume group cluster resource.

Make sure your system satisfies the Requirements for Creating LVM Cluster Resources in the OES 11 SP3: Novell Cluster Services for Linux Administration Guide. The additional prerequisites in this section apply for NCP volumes:

11.1.1 Novell Open Enterprise Server (OES) 11 SP3

NCP Server for Linux runs only on OES 11 SP3 servers. For information about installing and configuring OES 11 SP3, see the OES 11 SP3: Installation Guide.

11.1.2 Novell Cluster Services for Linux

NCP Server for Linux supports Novell Cluster Services for OES 11 SP3 servers. For information, see Installing, Configuring, and Repairing Novell Cluster Services in the OES 11 SP3: Novell Cluster Services for Linux Administration Guide.

11.1.3 NCP Server and Dynamic Storage Technology

The NCP Server and Dynamic Storage Technology (DST) software is not cluster aware. This OES install option must be selected and installed on every OES 11 SP3 node in the cluster where you want to fail over shared NCP volumes.

For install information, see Section 3.0, Installing and Configuring NCP Server for Linux.

11.1.4 Shareable Devices

The NCP volume must reside on a shareable device. For more information, see Shared Disk Configuration Requirements and SAN Rules for LUN Masking in the OES 11 SP3: Novell Cluster Services for Linux Administration Guide.

  • You need an unpartitioned disk or LUN that is connected via Fibre Channel or iSCSI protocols to the OES 11 SP3 server.

  • The disk or LUN must be able to be managed by LVM.

11.1.5 LVM Volume Groups

Novell Cluster Services for Linux requires that shared devices be managed by LVM and uses an LVM volume group that is activated exclusively on one node at a time. For information, see Requirements for Creating LVM Cluster Resources in the OES 11 SP3: Novell Cluster Services for Linux Administration Guide.

11.1.6 File Systems

In a cluster environment, NCP Server supports NCP volumes on Linux POSIX file systems, including Ext3, XFS, and ReiserFS. For information about requirements and caveats, see Requirements for Creating LVM Cluster Resources in the OES 11 SP3: Novell Cluster Services for Linux Administration Guide.

11.1.7 Novell iManager 2.7.7

The Clustering plug-in to iManager 2.7.7 is used to configure cluster resources, load scripts, and unload scripts for the Linux LVM volume group clustered resource. The Directory Administration plug-in is used to create the virtual cluster server object for the NCP volume.

11.1.8 Novell Remote Manager for Linux

The NCP Server plug-in to Novell Remote Manager for Linux is used to configure the NCP volume (or share) on the LVM logical volume on a clustered LVM volume group.