3.1.2 Matrix Server Administration Guide

Chapter 2: Matrix Administration 20

• For best performance, we recommend that you monitor the matrix

from a separate administrative station rather than from a server in the

matrix. The Management Console can be installed on Linux or

Windows systems.

• Matrix Server components can fail if the /var filesystem fills up. To

avoid this situation, move /var/opt/polyserve to a separate partition

containing at least 200 MB.

• To ensure that file times are consistent across the matrix, it is

important that all matrix servers operate with synchronized time-of-

day clocks. An NTP server is one commonly used mechanism for

synchronizing system clocks.

• When fabric fencing is configured, do not enable or disable the

FibreChannel ports used by the matrix. Matrix Server must have

complete control over these ports to protect the integrity of the shared

filesystems on the SAN. Matrix Server will reenable a port if it detects

that the port has been disabled manually.

• Changing the hardware configuration, such as adding or replacing

switch modules, is not supported while Matrix Server is running. This

restriction applies only to FibreChannel switches that are under the

control of Matrix Server.

• You should not add or delete a network interface device from the

operating system while Matrix Server is running. Attempting to do

this can adversely affect the entire matrix. If you need to add or delete

a network interface on a particular server, first stop Matrix Server on

that server. Then make your administrative change and restart Matrix

Server.

• A network interface cannot be modified or taken down while Matrix

Server is running. If any part of a network interface definition needs to

be changed, stop Matrix Server on the affected server, shut down the

network, and then make the change. When the change is complete,

bring up the network and restart Matrix Server.

• The Linux kernel can access only partitions 01 through 15 on SCSI

disks. However, the fdisk and cfdisk utilities allow you to create

partitions with numbers greater than 15. If you use these utilities for