4.6 Software Requirements for Cluster Resources

Ensure that your system meets the following software requirements for creating and managing storage cluster resources:

4.6.1 NCP Server for Linux

NCP Server for Linux is required in order to create virtual server names (NCS:NCP Server objects) for cluster resources. This includes storage and service cluster resources. To install NCP Server, select the NCP Server and Dynamic Storage Technology option during the install.

NCP Server for Linux is required to be installed and running before you can cluster-enable the following storage resources:

  • Novell Storage Services (NSS) pools and volumes

  • NCP volumes on Linux POSIX file systems

  • Dynamic Storage Technology shadow volume composed of a pair of NSS volumes

  • Shared Linux POSIX file system if you want to give it an NCS:NCP Server object that can be seen in the tree view.

This is necessary in order to provide authenticated access using the Novell Trustee model. NCP Server must be installed and running in order for the NCP option to be available as an advertising protocol for the NSS pool cluster resource.

WARNING:Cross-protocol file locking is required when using multiple protocols for data access on the same volume. This helps prevent possible data corruption that might occur from cross-protocol access to files. The NCP Cross-Protocol File Lock parameter is enabled by default when you install NCP Server. If you modify the Cross-Protocol File Lock parameter, you must modify the setting on all nodes in the cluster.

NCP Server does not support cross-protocol locks across a cluster migration or failover of the resource. If a file is opened with multiple protocols when the migration or failover begins, the file should be closed and reopened after the migration or failover to acquire cross-protocol locks on the new node.

For information, see Configuring Cross-Protocol File Locks for NCP Server in the OES 2 SP3: NCP Server for Linux Administration Guide.

NCP Server for Linux is not required when running Novell Cluster Services on a Xen-based VM host server (Dom0) for the purpose of cluster-enabling the configuration files for Xen-based VMs. Users do not access these VM files.

For information about configuring and managing NCP Server for Linux, see the OES 2 SP3: NCP Server for Linux Administration Guide.

For information about creating and cluster-enabling NCP volumes on Linux POSIX file systems, see Configuring NCP Volumes with Novell Cluster Services in the OES 2 SP3: NCP Server for Linux Administration Guide.

4.6.2 Novell Storage Services File System for Linux

Novell Storage Services (NSS) file system on Linux provides the following capabilities used by Novell Cluster Services:

The NSS pool configuration and NCS pool cluster resource configuration provide integrated configuration options for the following advertising protocols:

  • NetWare Core Protocol (NCP), which is selected by default and is mandatory for NSS. For information, see NCP Server for Linux.

  • Novell Apple Filing Protocol (AFP). For information, see Novell AFP.

  • Novell CIFS. For information, see Novell CIFS.

4.6.3 Linux POSIX File Systems

Novell Cluster Services supports creating shared cluster resources on Linux POSIX file systems, such as Ext3, XFS, and ReiserFS. Linux POSIX file systems are automatically installed as part of the OES 2 Linux installation.

After the cluster is configured, you can create Linux POSIX cluster resources as described in Section 13.0, Configuring and Managing Cluster Resources for Shared Linux POSIX Volumes. Linux POSIX file systems must be created in EVMS in order to first lay down the Cluster Segment Manager on the shared device (disk or LUN).

NCP Server is required if you want to create a virtual server name (NCS:NCP Server object) for the Linux POSIX volume cluster resource. However, this object does not give the users NCP access to data unless an NCP volume is also added. For information, see Section 4.6.1, NCP Server for Linux.

4.6.4 NCP Volumes on Linux POSIX File Systems

Novell Cluster Services supports clustering for NCP volumes on Linux POSIX file systems. NCP Server is required. For information, see Section 4.6.1, NCP Server for Linux.

For information about creating and cluster-enabling NCP volumes on Linux POSIX file systems, see Configuring NCP Volumes with Novell Cluster Services in the OES 2 SP3: NCP Server for Linux Administration Guide.

4.6.5 Dynamic Storage Technology Shadow Volume Pairs

Novell Cluster Services supports clustering for Novell Dynamic Storage Technology (DST) shadow volume pairs on OES 2 Linux. DST is installed automatically when you install NCP Server for Linux. To use cluster-enabled DST volume pairs, select the NCP Server and Dynamic Storage Technology option during the install.

For information about creating and cluster-enabling Dynamic Storage Technology volumes on Linux, see Configuring DST Shadow Volume Pairs with Novell Cluster Services in the OES 2 SP3: Dynamic Storage Technology Administration Guide.

4.6.6 NCP File Access

Novell Cluster Services requires NCP file access to be enabled for cluster-enabled NSS volumes, NCP volumes, and DST volumes, even if users do not access files via NCP. This is required to support access control via the Novell Trustee model. For information, see Section 4.6.1, NCP Server for Linux.

4.6.7 Novell AFP

Novell Cluster Services supports using Novell AFP as an advertising protocol for cluster-enabled NSS pools and volumes on OES 2 SP1 Linux and later.

Novell AFP is not required to be installed when you install Novell Cluster Services, but it must be installed and running in order for the AFP option to be available as an advertising protocol for the NSS pool cluster resource. The AFP daemon should also be running before you bring resources online that have AFP enabled.

To install Novell AFP, select the Novell AFP option during the install. For information about configuring and managing the Novell AFP service, see the OES 2 SP3: Novell AFP For Linux Administration Guide.

4.6.8 Novell CIFS

Novell Cluster Services supports using Novell CIFS as an advertising protocol for cluster-enabled NSS pools and volumes on OES 2 SP1 Linux and later.

Novell CIFS is not required to be installed when you install Novell Cluster Services, but it must be installed and running in order for the CIFS Virtual Server Name and CIFS option to be available as an advertising protocol for the NSS pool cluster resource. The CIFS daemon should also be running before you bring resources online that have CIFS enabled.

To install Novell CIFS, select the Novell CIFS option during the install. For information about configuring and managing the Novell CIFS service, see the OES 2 SP3: Novell CIFS for Linux Administration Guide.

4.6.9 Novell Samba

Novell Cluster Services supports using Novell Samba as an alternative to using Novell CIFS. It provides CIFS/Samba access for users. Users must be enabled with Linux User Management.

Samba is not integrated as an advertising protocol option for NSS pool cluster resources.

For information about configuring and managing Novell Samba, see the OES2 SP3: Samba Administration Guide.

4.6.10 Novell Domain Services for Windows

Novell Cluster Services supports using clusters in Domain Services for Windows (DSfW) contexts for OES 2 SP1 Linux and later. If Domain Services for Windows is installed in the eDirectory tree, the nodes in a given cluster can be in the same or different DSfW subdomains. Port 1636 is used for DSfW communications. This port must be opened in the firewall.

For information using Domain Services for Windows, see the OES 2 SP3: Domain Services for Windows Administration Guide.