Metadata server prerequisites

This topic defines the hardware and software prerequisites that you need to obtain for the metadata server.

Hardware prerequisites

SAN File System supports from two to eight metadata servers running on hardware known as storage engines. For each engine, you must obtain a rack-mounted, high-performance, and highly-reliable Intel™ server (such as IBM® eServer™ xSeries® 345 or equivalent) with the following options:
  • Two processors, minimum 3 GHz each
  • Minimum of 4 GB of system memory
  • Two internal hard disk drives with mirroring, minimum 36 GB each
  • Two power supplies (optional but recommended)
  • One Gb port for Ethernet connections (fiber or copper)
  • Two 2 Gb Fibre Channel host bus adapter (HBA) ports (must be compatible with the Linux operating system and the storage subsystems in your SAN environment)
    Important: Verify that the HBA card is compatible with the switches in your environment.
  • CD-ROM and diskette drives
  • Remote Supervisory Adapter II card (must be compatible with the Linux operating system and the storage subsystems in your SAN environment)

Consult your IBM sales representative or product specialist for direction in hardware configuration and ordering.

Example hardware configuration

Software prerequisites

The metadata servers requires that you obtain the following software for each metadata server:
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 8, with United Linux Service Pack 3
    You need a licensed copy of SUSE Linux for each engine. You can obtain SUSE Linux operating system by going to the following Web site and then clicking Online Store:

    www.suse.com/us/business/products/server/sles/

  • QLogic QLA2340 or QLA2342L version 6.06.64
    You can obtain appropriate version of the QLogic driver by going to the following Web site:

    www.qlogic.com/support/oem_detail_all.asp?oemid=22.

  • Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server

    An LDAP server, which is available and configurable by the SAN File System administrator, is required to provide authentication and authorization. If you do not already have an LDAP server in your environment, install it on a computer in the network that is accessible to the metadata servers and master console. Do not install the LDAP server on the metadata server or master console hardware.

    You can download a free copy of the OpenLDAP server from the following Web site:

    www.openldap.org/software/download/

  • Time synchronization software (optional)

    Time synchronization software, such as Network Time Protocol (NTP), ensures that the system clocks on each engine in the metadata-server cluster are synchronized. Having synchronized clocks on each engine will ensure that the log files on each engine accurately reflect the sequence of events in SAN File System.

Parent topic: Gathering the hardware and software prerequisites

Terms of use | Feedback
(C) Copyright IBM Corporation 2003, 2004. All Rights Reserved.