Deploying Virtual Connect Enterprise Manageron Microsoft Cluster Service

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Abstract
This white paper is intended to assist IT professionals in installing HP Virtual Connect Enterprise
Manager (VCEM) 1.0 in a Microsoft Cluster Service (MSCS) configuration on two nodes. Using
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition with HP Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager 1.0
can be a simple way of achieving redundancy, availability, load balancing, and failover capability
from this powerful management software.
Introduction
HP Virtual Connect (VC) technology increases data center efficiency and availability by enabling
simplification of networks, server connections and server change management. Virtual Connect
Manager is an embedded management tool for individual Virtual Connect domains that enables you
to move server profiles within a domain. Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager is a central
management console that enables you to display, manage, and administer multiple Virtual Connect
domains, by providing a centrally managed address group for all managed VC domains.
HP Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager offers the ability to run in a Microsoft Windows Server
environment, using Microsoft SQL Server on HP ProLiant servers. By installing HP Virtual Connect
Enterprise Manager as a clustered application, this versatile and simple management product can
also be highly available. In an MSCS environment, a virtual server name and associated IP address
for the Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager service may be created as cluster resources, allowing
failover for higher availability in case of system failure or planned shutdown.
Additionally, by distributing the load for Microsoft SQL Server and HP Virtual Connect Enterprise
Manager on separate systems, more efficient use can be made of cluster system resources.
This white paper describes the steps to install a highly available clustered version of HP Virtual
Connect Enterprise Manager 1.0 on HP ProLiant servers running Microsoft Windows Server 2003
Enterprise Edition and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition. Alternatively, a highly available
clustered version of HP VCEM may also be installed on servers running Microsoft SQL Server 2000.
Refer to the HP Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager Support Matrix for details on the software
installation requirements and supported software platforms for Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager.