Installation guide

Chapter 1. Red Hat Cluster Configuration and Management
Overview
Red Hat Cluster allows you to connect a group of computers (called nodes or members) to work
together as a cluster. You can use Red Hat Cluster to suit your clustering needs (for example, setting up
a cluster for sharing files on a GFS file system or setting up service failover).
1.1. Configuration Basics
To set up a cluster, you must connect the nodes to certain cluster hardware and configure the nodes
into the cluster environment. This chapter provides an overview of cluster configuration and
management, and tools available for configuring and managing a Red Hat Cluster.
Configuring and managing a Red Hat Cluster consists of the following basic steps:
1. Setting up hardware. Refer to Section 1.1.1, “Setting Up Hardware”.
2. Installing Red Hat Cluster software. Refer to Section 1.1.2, “Installing Red Hat Cluster software”.
3. Configuring Red Hat Cluster Software. Refer to Section 1.1.3, “Configuring Red Hat Cluster
Software”.
1.1.1. Setting Up Hardware
Setting up hardware consists of connecting cluster nodes to other hardware required to run a Red Hat
Cluster. T he amount and type of hardware varies according to the purpose and availability requirements
of the cluster. T ypically, an enterprise-level cluster requires the following type of hardware (refer to
Figure 1.1, “Red Hat Cluster Hardware Overview”).
Cluster nodes — Computers that are capable of running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 software, with at
least 1GB of RAM.
Ethernet switch or hub for public network — This is required for client access to the cluster.
Ethernet switch or hub for private network — T his is required for communication among the cluster
nodes and other cluster hardware such as network power switches and Fibre Channel switches.
Network power switch — A network power switch is recommended to perform fencing in an
enterprise-level cluster.
Fibre Channel switch — A Fibre Channel switch provides access to Fibre Channel storage. Other
options are available for storage according to the type of storage interface; for example, iSCSI or
GNBD. A Fibre Channel switch can be configured to perform fencing.
Storage — Some type of storage is required for a cluster. T he type required depends on the purpose
of the cluster.
For considerations about hardware and other cluster configuration concerns, refer to Chapter 2, Before
Configuring a Red Hat Cluster or check with an authorized Red Hat representative.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 Cluster Administration
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