HP StorageWorks Scalable File Share System Installation and Upgrade Guide Version 2.2

Planning the connection to the site network 2–25
2.5 Planning the connection to the site network
NOTE: Use the worksheet in Table B-5 in Appendix B to record the information you gather in this section.
You need to identify the following site network information, which you will supply when you are installing
your HP SFS system:
• The IP address of the default gateway router.
Use the IP address of a router on your site network. If you do not specify a gateway router, client
systems and the Network Time Protocol (NTP) server must be on the same network as the system alias
IP address.
• The IP addresses of up to three DNS servers.
You have the option of entering up to three DNS servers, so that if one server is down, an alternative
server can be used. DNS is only configured on the administration and MDS servers.
• The IP addresses (or host names) of up to three NTP servers.
You have the option of entering up to three NTP servers, so that if one of the servers is down, an
alternative server can be used. If DNS is configured on the system, it may be more appropriate (for
your system configuration) to enter the host name of the NTP servers rather than the IP addresses.
CAUTION: The time on the servers and client nodes does not need to be synchronized in order
for Lustre to work correctly; however, if the system time drifts compared to other external systems,
diagnosis of logs will be more difficult. HP strongly recommends that NTP is used on the servers
and on client nodes, and that the servers and client nodes are synchronized, to make support
easier.
• The IP address (or host name) of a mail server.
Note the following points:
• If DNS is configured, it may be more appropriate (for your system configuration) to enter the host
name of the mail server rather than the IP address.
• If DNS is not configured, or if DNS is configured but the HP SFS system cannot access the mail
servers directly, you have the option of configuring a mail server on your site network to relay the
email messages generated by the HP SFS email alert mechanism. See Section 9.1 of this
document for more information.
• You can enter the mail server information during installation, or at a later time (refer to Chapter
7 of the HP StorageWorks Scalable File Share System User Guide for information on changing
system parameters). However, you will not be able to use the email alert mechanism in the HP
SFS system until you have specified a mail server that can be used by the HP SFS system.
• The default email address for email alerts.
The HP SFS system sends email whenever a significant event occurs. HP strongly recommends that you
specify one or more email alert addresses (other than, or in addition to, the root user, which is the
default value) to which such email will be sent by default.
After you have finished installing the system, you can (optionally) specify different addresses on
individual alerts. Any alert that does not have a specific email address configured for it uses the
default address (or addresses).
The information that you gather in this section is entered at the Network Services menu during
installation (see Section 6.8.3 or Section 7.4.3, depending on the type of storage used).