4.7 Software Requirements for Cluster Resources

4.7.1 NCP Server for Linux

NCP Server for Linux is required in order to create virtual server names (NCS:NCP Server objects) for cluster resources. This includes storage and service cluster resources. To install NCP Server, select the NCP Server and Dynamic Storage Technology option during the install.

NCP Server for Linux also allows you to provide authenticated access to data by using the OES Trustee model. The NCP Server component must be installed and running before you can cluster-enable the following storage resources:

  • NSS pools and volumes

  • NCP volumes on Linux POSIX file systems

  • Dynamic Storage Technology shadow volume composed of a pair of NSS volumes

  • Linux Logical Volume Manager volume groups that use an NCS:NCP Server object, such as those created by using the Logical Volume Manger (NLVM) commands or the NSS Management Utility (NSSMU)

WARNING:Cross-protocol file locking is required when using multiple protocols for data access on the same volume. This helps prevent possible data corruption that might occur from cross-protocol access to files. The NCP Cross-Protocol File Lock parameter is enabled by default when you install NCP Server. If you modify the Cross-Protocol File Lock parameter, you must modify the setting on all nodes in the cluster.

NCP Server does not support cross-protocol locks across a cluster migration or failover of the resource. If a file is opened with multiple protocols when the migration or failover begins, the file should be closed and reopened after the migration or failover to acquire cross-protocol locks on the new node.

See Configuring Cross-Protocol File Locks for NCP Server in the OES 2018 SP3: NCP Server for Linux Administration Guide.

For information about configuring and managing NCP Server for Linux, see the OES 2018 SP3: NCP Server for Linux Administration Guide.

For information about creating and cluster-enabling NCP volumes on Linux POSIX file systems, see Configuring NCP Volumes with OES Cluster Services in the OES 2018 SP3: NCP Server for Linux Administration Guide.

4.7.2 Storage Services File System for Linux

Storage Services (NSS) file system on Linux provides the following capabilities used by OES Cluster Services:

The NSS pool configuration and NCS pool cluster resource configuration provide integrated configuration options for the following advertising protocols:

  • NetWare Core Protocol (NCP), which is selected by default and is mandatory for NSS. See NCP Server for Linux.

  • OES Apple Filing Protocol (AFP). See OES AFP.

  • OES CIFS. See OES CIFS.

4.7.3 LVM Volume Groups and Linux POSIX File Systems

OES Cluster Services supports creating shared cluster resources on Linux Logical Volume Manager (LVM) volume groups. You can configure Linux POSIX file systems on the LVM volume group, such as Ext3, XFS, and ReiserFS. LVM and Linux POSIX file systems are automatically installed as part of the OES installation.

After the cluster is configured, you can create LVM volume group cluster resources as described in Section 13.0, Configuring and Managing Cluster Resources for Shared LVM Volume Groups.

NCP Server is required if you want to create a virtual server name (NCS:NCP Server object) for the cluster resource. You can add an NCP volume (an NCP share) on the Linux POSIX file system to give users NCP access to the data. See Section 4.7.1, NCP Server for Linux.

4.7.4 NCP Volumes on Linux POSIX File Systems

After you cluster-enable an LVM volume group, OES Cluster Services supports creating NCP volumes on the volume group’s Linux POSIX file systems. NCP Server is required. See Section 4.7.1, NCP Server for Linux.

For information about creating and cluster-enabling NCP volumes, see Configuring NCP Volumes with OES Cluster Services in the OES 2018 SP3: NCP Server for Linux Administration Guide.

4.7.5 Dynamic Storage Technology Shadow Volume Pairs

OES Cluster Services supports clustering for OES Dynamic Storage Technology (DST) shadow volume pairs on OES 11 and later. DST is installed automatically when you install NCP Server for Linux. To use cluster-enabled DST volume pairs, select the NCP Server and Dynamic Storage Technology option during the install.

For information about creating and cluster-enabling Dynamic Storage Technology volumes on Linux, see Configuring DST Shadow Volume Pairs with OES Cluster Services in the OES 2018 SP3: Dynamic Storage Technology Administration Guide.

4.7.6 NCP File Access

OES Cluster Services requires NCP file access to be enabled for cluster-enabled NSS volumes, NCP volumes, and DST volumes, even if users do not access files via NCP. This is required to support access control via the OES Trustee model. See Section 4.7.1, NCP Server for Linux.

4.7.7 OES AFP

OES Cluster Services supports using OES AFP as an advertising protocol for cluster-enabled NSS pools and volumes.

OES AFP is not required to be installed when you install OES Cluster Services, but it must be installed and running before you enable AFP as an advertising protocol for an NSS pool cluster resource. Otherwise, the resource will be in a comatose state, and cannot be brought online. The AFP daemon should also be running before you bring resources online that have AFP enabled.

To install OES AFP, select the OES AFP option from the OES Services list during the install. For information about configuring and managing the OES AFP service, see the OES 2018 SP3: OES AFP for Linux Administration Guide.

4.7.8 OES CIFS

OES Cluster Services supports using OES CIFS as an advertising protocol for cluster-enabled NSS pools and volumes.

OES CIFS is not required to be installed when you install OES Cluster Services, but it must be installed and running in order for the CIFS Virtual Server Name field and the CIFS check box to be available. Select the check box to enable OES CIFS as an advertising protocol for the NSS pool cluster resource. A default CIFS Virtual Server Name is suggested, but you can modify it. The CIFS daemon should also be running before you bring resources online that have CIFS enabled.

To install OES CIFS, select the OES CIFS option from the OES Services list during the install. For information about configuring and managing the OES CIFS service, see the OES 2018 SP3: OES CIFS for Linux Administration Guide.

4.7.9 OES Domain Services for Windows

OES Cluster Services supports using clusters in Domain Services for Windows (DSfW) contexts. If Domain Services for Windows is installed in the eDirectory tree, the nodes in a given cluster can be in the same or different DSfW subdomains. Port 1636 is used for DSfW communications. This port must be opened in the firewall.

For information using Domain Services for Windows, see the OES 2018 SP3: Domain Services for Windows Administration Guide.